creating a great about page {3 questions to ask}

It’s been on my blogging to do list for almost two months.  It looms over me like a dark cloud.  I dread it.  It’s hard.  It’s awkward.  It’s the one thing I never feel good about when it’s done.  My about page.  It is awful!

I’ve been researching what makes a great about page.  {I should probably admit at this point researching may be code for procrastinating. Full disclosure and all.}  This is what I discovered:  There is no perfect about page formula.  I really, really wanted one.  I scoured the internet for an article offering up the secret.  Instead, I realized creating a solid about page is rooted in asking the right questions.  There are common traits of the best about pages, but the particulars are as unique as the websites and blogs they are on.

Does your about page reflect your personality?

The about page is the most-often viewed place on most blogs and websites.  For that reason alone, it needs to be amazing!  And part of being amazing is making certain it reflects your {or your business’s} personality. After looking at countless lists of “great about pages,” I can say with 100% certainty, it doesn’t really matter what the style of the page is — as long as it reflects you.

Does every element of your about page have a clear and useful purpose?

It’s too easy to include whatever everyone else has without thinking about the point of each addition. Don’t! Carefully consider each aspect of your about page for its usefulness in helping the reader learn more about you or your business.

Does your about page persuade the reader to take action?

What do you want the reader to do?  Subscribe to your newsletter, read more posts, sign up for an e-course, buy your books, shop in your store … whatever it is, make sure you give them the opportunity to do so on your about page.  This is probably the place most about pages need the most work.  In fact, after we’d started developing this post, we read Amy Lynn Andrews’ newsletter this week where she mentions how important offering a call to action on the about page is and shares how she recently updated hers to encourage readers to subscribe to her weekly tips.

Now, I’m off to work on my personal about page! It definitely needs some updating.

When was the last time you updated your about page?