How to Create a Successful About Page

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About page

When I discover a blog for the first time, it’s rare that I will look at the posts on the home page. Instead, I will usually click straight onto the About page, as this will hopefully tell me about the author and the general theme of the blog itself. If I’m pressed for time, I’ll often make a quick decision based upon what I see there as to whether I wish to delve further. They are also a place where I will go if I want to ask a blogger a question that isn’t related to any of their posts.

Today I noticed that a number of people had clicked on my About page and came to the realisation that it is in need of some serious updating, particularly as the rest of my blog has undergone a huge transformation recently, and I have gained a number of new followers.

In order for me to do this, I had to think about what to include, and with the process came a whole list of ideas of things that I look for when snooping around other peoples efforts. So, before I update my own, I thought I would add to my ‘Blogging Advice’ series and discuss tips for creating a great About page…

Esssentially, the About page is what will draw in potential readers and make them want to find out more. While it is important to remember that there are no right or wrongs in any area of blogging, in my opinion there are three main questions that need to be answered:

Who am I?

This is fairly self explanatory – who are you? Give the reader a little insight into yourself. This shouldn’t be your life story and doesn’t need to include a description of your daily routine and bowel movements, but an interesting short and snappy biography will establish an immediate connection.

Why am I here?

Why did you start your blog? What brought you here? You’d be surprised how many people will have had similar experiences and can relate to your journey.

What is my blog about?

Each blogger, and therefore each blog, is unique, but with millions of blogs out there you have to be able to stand out from the crowd. What makes you unique? Why should anyone read your blog? Some have themes and focus on a niche. Others chop and change on a daily basis, depending on the mood of the author. Regardless, it’s important to make a big fat statement that explains what the reader should expect from you and your musings. What do you stand for? What do you believe in? For example, if your passion and predominant focus of the blog is to talk about your new found love of crocheting exciting hats for your pet cat, then say so.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Once the reader knows who you are and what you do, there are lots of things that you could include that may inspire them to check out even more:

  • A picture or two. Some may want to see you and your cat sporting a rather fetching hat.
  • Links to a few of your favourite and/or your most popular posts. Give readers a reason to stay on your blog.
  • Published a book? Include a link to your Amazon page.
  • Also have a vlog? Include a video.
  • Have a newsletter? Include an opt in.
  • Links to your social media sites.
  • Testimonials. Of course, you shouldn’t include a list of everyone who has retweeted you during #SundayBlogShare (yes, a shameless plug there) or a note from your mother or husband authenticating how great your blog is, but if you have been featured somewhere or have worked in collaboration with others, then be sure to put in the relevant logo.
  • Humour, where appropriate. If someone makes me laugh, (or brings me cake for that matter), they’ve immediately got me on board.

Ultimately, the About page is a guide to you and what you have to offer. Keep it short, keep it snappy, keep it interesting and make it look good.

Right, I’m off to update my own!!

What about you? Have you got any tips for creating a great About page?

You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @suzie81blog and don’t forget to hop on over to my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzie81speaks , my Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/suzie81speaks and my Instagram page http://www.instagram.com/suzie81speaks

169 thoughts on “How to Create a Successful About Page”

  2. What do you think about the overall look, feel and function of my blog/page? I have done some renovations lately. Is it easy to get around and use? Feedback welcome.

  3. I haven’t touched mine in two years now. I guess maybe that is a bloggiversary goal (sometime this month) LOL 🙂

  7. Hm, I’m thinking I need a redo of my ‘about’ page. It’s nice to have an update now and then, makes your blog feel ….well…up to date! 😉

  8. I do not have an About page. What do you think my blog is about? Aviation? I think using the full functions of the Gravatar is good enough. Mind you, my blog is orbiting somewhere beyond the orbit of Pluto, so you might be wary of my opinion. I must say, the blog parties you promoted, Suzie, helped a bit.

  9. I totally agree that the about page is the first thing I click on and if it takes me more than 30 seconds to find it then I give up. I look forward to seeing your new about page and have my fingers crossed there is hats and cats involved. I’ve recently updated my about page and would love to know what you and the Suzers think of it. I’ve decided that your followers shall forthwith be called Suzers 🙂

  10. Suzie, great advice! I just updated my About Page and have included most of what you advise. Not published, so no links. Also have shortened the Welcome page message, and will feature one blogger friend’s sunset or sunrise photo each week. There are so many world-wide photos in the gallery, it may be overwhelming to scroll through all of them. Christine

  13. That is where I have been going wrong (by giving a detailed description of my bowel movements on my blog …)! I would be interested, if you have the time in your feedback on my About page please. Kind regards. Kevin

  18. I’ve started setting up a series of posts relating to blog content (and set up), so this is a wonderful find. (Found it through Chris TSR’s reblog). Mind if I snag a reblog when I get to talking about laying out a blog?

  19. I’ve been avoiding my “About” page, because I just couldn’t decide what to put on it beyond a boring bio. Great ideas here to get me started! 😊

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  21. Love this post! It makes me want to redo my about page. It seems most people stumble when it comes to making their about page pop with information that will help a visitor decide whether to follow or not.

  22. This is a good reminder that I should go revisit mine. I do have links to my social media and my best-of page, but I could probably be more specific about what my readers can expect from me and double-check that my description of myself matches me now, given that I wrote it over a year ago.

  24. It took me about six months of blogging before I knew what I wanted to say.
    I have had many positive comments and lots of excellent feedback since then. I guess one of the only things might be that some might consider the About Me page to be on the lengthy side. I think it accurately expresses who I am and why I write and blog.

  26. Reblogged this on Journey To Ambeth and commented:
    A great post by Suzie Speaks. It made me realise that one of the first things I do when I visit a new blog is visit the ‘About’ page. Then it made me realise that I need to look at my own ‘About’ page!

  27. Hi Suzie, I reblogged this on journeytoambeth.com. It made me realise, with mild horror, that I haven’t updated my own ‘About’ page for quite a while! xx

  31. Thanks for the inspiration. I’ve had “update my About page” on my to do list for at least a year! Your post gave me a much needed nudge. I’m on it! 😉

  34. I have noticed that people do click often on my About Me which is woefully in need of an update. I’ll keep your tips in mind when I do!

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  36. Ah! Revamping this has been on my “to do” blog list for a while now. That and toying with finally doing a Facebook Page for my blog. As far as my thoughts on what I like on “About me” pages? Be genuine and don’t apologize for yourself (ie: I don’t know what I’m doing! Or beating around the bush before stating what you really want – eg: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but no one will ever read me etc….). I’ve sort of landed on the opinion that your blog is where you can do what you want to do with confidence. Sure, you will learn as you go, but tell me what you are really about – be it writing poetry, reviewing books or journaling about family life.

    And yeah – I’ll work on applying most of that when I update my page 🙂

    • Please forgive my late reply my lovely! I love your advice too. I set up a separate Facebook page a while ago and it has indeed been useful for increasing my traffic, but it is something I don’t pay as much attention to as I should!

  40. Absolutely knocked the nail on the head with this, Suzie.

    The main problem I find is actually finding the ‘about me’ page on a blog. If I have to spend more than a few seconds trying to locate it then I give up and move on (usually without pressing the follow button). So I would add to your list ‘make finding your ‘about me’ page easy to find.’ Put it in your menu bar or have it as a widget towards the top of your page.

  41. Writing an about page is all jolly good if you’re a rock-solid stable type of person with some kind of vision or plan for your blog and where it’s going.Although I don’t change with the wind, I have had some significant side=swipes hit me during the 3 years I’ve been blogging and it’s been quite difficult to know how to handle these both in terms of my About page and also in my post content.
    I guess for me, I’ve tried to leave the About page with the bigger, overall picture and not alter it too much with the ups and downs. My chronic health situation has gone up and down and this has been hard to address because it isn’t me and I don’t really write about it a lot on my own blog but I do refer to it quite a lot in comments on other people’s blogs and my About page establishes my credibility. I’ve been through a bit and so I can empathise with suffering and also I hope offer people with some hope and tips on how to get through hard times, especially when they don’t seem to be going away.
    As you can tell, I struggle with being concise but it’s also time to go to bed.
    xx Rowena

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  47. My blog Stacey is Sassy is fairly new. I never thought of adding links to my facebook page and twitter posts, or highlighting a certain post. Thanks for sharing the information 🙂 ♥

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