Want to connect with your blog readers and turning them into loyal fans? You, my friend, need a fantastic About page.
So what exactly is an About page? Simply stated, an About page’s purpose is:
- to introduce the blogger to the reader
- to explain the purpose of the blog
- to make a connection with readers
For the family or personal blogger, the About page is a simple way for readers to learn more about the people behind the blog photos. Who are you? Why do you maintain this blog? What will you provide for those who read it — entertainment, updates, encouragement? How can readers connect with you?
The About page can be one of the highest traffic pages on your blog. It is often the first place readers click when they arrive on your blog for the first time. Use that page to your advantage.
To get started, simply do a search for tips on adding a page to the blogging platform that you use. Here is a tutorial for adding a page to a Blogger blog, a WordPress blog, and a TypePad blog.
In addition to an About page, Blogger/Blogspot users can create an About Me profile that appears in the sidebar, but a full-fledged About page is an even better idea.
Read on for tips to create a fantastic About page:
1. Include photos of yourself (the blogger) and your family, if you’d like.
I mentioned The Pioneer Woman’s About Page in an earlier post, but take a closer look at her page again. Notice how she shares photos of the important people (and animals) that make her blog great.
2. Be personable.
Speak in first person. Envision your blog readers sitting at their computers reading the page, and write About page wording that speaks to them.
3. Include information about the blog and about you, the blogger.
For example, the About page here at FBT includes information about the blog and about me, the author. Tell readers what types of posts they can expect from your blog.
4. Make the page accessible from the Home page of the blog.
Make it obvious. Use a colourful graphic or put it in a prominent place. Give it a simple, easy-to-recognize name: About Us, About Me, About XYZ (name of blog), etc.
5. Provide a way to contact you.
Link to your contact form or provide your email address. Some readers might not be comfortable leaving comments on your blog (I know this from personal experiences with my own family). They might prefer to contact you by email instead. Give them this option.
6. Drive readers to other parts of your blog.
Include photos of family members and then link to favourite posts about them. Have a whole section on your blog about your hobby? Include a link to that category. Through links on your About page, you can send readers on a journey throughout your blog. The longer a blog visitor stays on your blog, the stronger the connection you’ll make.
7. Drive people toward other social media venues that you use.
Include links to your Facebook page, your Twitter account, your Pinterest profile, your email newsletter, etc.
8. Use blogging terminology that even a non-techie can understand.
Remember that some of your blog readers might not be familiar with blogging and its terminology. If you want them to subscribe to your blog so they don’t miss any posts, explain the process in easy-to-understand terms. Terms like categories, comments, and RSS might be foreign to some readers.
9. Update the page frequently.
Set an appointment on your blogging calendar to update the page on a regular basis (perhaps every quarter?). For example, the About page on my family blog mentions the age of my son. If I make a note on my blogging calendar, I’m much more likely to remember to update the page as he gets older.
10. Include a call to action.
Encourage visitors to contact you, sign-up for your email list, check out your photo archives, follow you on Facebook and/or Twitter, follow your Pinterest finds, etc.
4 Bonus Ideas to Spice Up your About Page
Here are four more outside the box ideas to spice up your About page. Read on for some bonus tips for taking your About page to the next level:
1. Link to a few favorite (popular) posts from your blog.
If it’s a family blog, choose a favorite post about each member of your family (include pets too). Use wording such as “Here are just a few favourite posts about ___” (insert name of family member here). Change the favourite posts once in a while, as you publish new posts that are popular with readers.
2. Include a Frequently-Asked Questions section.
I stumbled across this idea on Michael Hyatt’s blog recently. While I am certainly familiar with the concept of FAQs on company websites, I never really considered adding an FAQ section on my blog. This would be especially helpful if you find that your readers consistently ask you the same questions — what type of font you use, what type of camera you use, what WordPress plugins you use, etc. A great place to include an FAQ section is your About page.
3. Add a “Little-Known Facts About Us” section.
This is certainly not necessary on an About page, but wouldn’t it be fun? This section could include a silly list of details your readers might not know about you. Fun things like:
- “We like to take walks in the moonlight on summer evenings.”
- “We once had a pet spider.” (true story!)
- “We’ve watched every episode of The Andy Griffith Show.”
Include little tidbits of information that give your readers a sense that they know you better. Use a lighthearted tone and have fun with this!
4. Link to other social media venues that you use.
Allow your readers to connect with you in places other than your blog. This would include your blog’s Facebook page, your Pinterest link, your Twitter feed, your Instagram page, etc.
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YOUR TURN:
How is your blog’s About page coming along? Which of these ideas might you try to spice up your About page?
Written by Julie for familyblogtips.com