Blogging 101: How to Write Your ‘About Me’ Page

Image by GuySie

Are you a blogger lost for words? Seems like a strange position to be in, but most writers find themselves stumped when asked to describe themselves.

An ‘About Me’ (or ‘About Us‘) page on your blog is an opportunity to let your readers find out more about you, so the importance of writing a good page shouldn’t be overlooked, even if the thought of blowing your own trumpet makes you cringe a little. It’s also likely to be one of your most visited pages, especially for new readers or marketers who want to find out more about you.

Here are a few of the main points to remember when you’re crafting your online profile.

Let Your Readers See Who You Are

An essential element of your ‘about me’ page should be a photo. While you may want to be better known for your words than your face, your readers will still want to see the person behind the words.

People instantly relate to faces – while they may enjoy and engage with your writing, your face will create an instant connection. Most importantly, your readers can see that you’re a real person. Too shy for a photo? Illustrations and caricatures can also work well, as Carrie demonstrates.

Include the Basics

It may sound obvious but your ‘about me’ page needs to convey some basic information about you. You should include:

• Where you’re based – great for fans and useful for PRs
• A way to get in touch, like an email address –  without one, your blog is just a one-way conversation
• Include a name – it doesn’t matter whether it’s your full name, first name or even a nickname, so long as there is an identity that people can use if they want to contact you

How to get the Ideas Flowing

Start a first draft and push through that ‘cringe’ feeling by going as over the top as possible. Just get some ideas down and don’t worry if it sounds arrogant. The first draft can give you something to work with; you can refine and tone down your writing later on. Plus, by going overboard, you’re next draft is likely to seem much less cringe-worthy.

Another tactic to get the words flowing is to pretend you’re someone else who’s writing about you. Distancing yourself mentally from your own life and achievements should help you write honestly and passionately about who you are and what you do.

Sell Yourself (because no one else will)

What you’ve got to remember when you’re writing your ‘about me’ page is that people have clicked on this page because they want to find out more – so tell them!

Unless you show the best of your achievements and personal attributes, no one will know. Think of it like writing a CV – a potential employer can only work with what you tell them about yourself. A list of brands you’ve worked with, blogging awards you’ve won or been shortlisted for and publications you’ve appeared in could all be featured on an ‘about me’ page.

Talk to your Readers and tell them a Story

Surprisingly, your ‘about me’ page is not just about you. If you think about it, it makes sense – you’re not writing this for yourself but for your readers. Think about your audience and talk to them.

To achieve this, keep your tone conversational and write in first person. One of the best ways to engage with people is to tell a story. And by story, we don’t mean your life story. Take something from life your life and make it into a story which sums up who you are and what you’re about. Choose something that was a turning point in your career or personal life, which makes you who you are, or is the reason you started blogging – Belleau Kitchen does this really well.

Be Yourself

Writing an ‘about me’ page is very similar to writing an online dating profile and the same advice applies to both – be yourself.

It’s important to consider what you want to achieve with your blog because an authentic profile can help you get to where you want to be. By being yourself, you can attract the right readers and right opportunities. Copying someone else’s page or pretending to be something that you’re not will only give you unsuitable opportunities. Just like in dating, you’re looking to attract the people right for you.

Give your Readers an Opportunity to get Involved

Lastly, you should aim to finish your ‘about me’ page with a call to action of some kind. Whether this is your email address, a link to your social media profiles or your newsletter, you should use the opportunity to explain how your readers can get more involved with your blog.

Hopefully this guide has helped you start the tricky task of writing about yourself. While you still may hate the experience, this guide should make the process a little easier. If you want to read some good example, check out this list of great ‘about me’ pages.

Do you have any great tips for crafting your ‘about me’ page? Share your thoughts below.