Your about page is one of the most important pages on your blog. It‘s often the first page visitors check out when they land on your site. An awesome about page has the power to turn casual visitors into loyal followers by allowing you to share who you are, what you‘re passionate about, what makes your blog different, and how you can help your readers.
In this comprehensive 2600+ word guide, you‘ll learn:
- Why your about page is so critical for your blog’s success
- 15 must-have elements all about pages should include (with examples!)
- Storytelling techniques to craft a compelling backstory
- Tips for writing approachable yet authoritative blogger bios
- How to tailor your content to what your readers really want to know
- The #1 way to boost email list conversions
- Visual design tips to make your page shine
- Common about page mistakes to avoid
Let‘s dive in!
Why Your About Page is Your Secret Sales Page
Driving traffic is great, but an about page turns visitors into subscribers and buyers. Here‘s why it‘s so valuable:
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About pages often rank highly for your name – That means lots of newcomers land here to vet you, not deep blog posts. It‘s your best chance to hook them.
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It builds authority and credibility through your origin story. It shows you‘re a real person readers can relate to, not a faceless brand. Studies show 59% of people won‘t engage with a website that lacks an about page.
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An excellent about page immediately inspires trust in you as the blogger behind the content before readers buy anything.
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Optimize About Us pages drive up to 2x more email list signups according to marketing data.
In other words, treat your about page as the highest converting sales page on your site! Let‘s talk step-by-step how to create about page magic…
15 Must-Have Elements to Include on Your About Page
While you want to infuse your unique personality into your about page, there are certain elements all stellar bios include.
Make sure to cover these essentials:
1. Profile Photo or Avatar
Include a high quality, well-lit headshot style photo of yourself smiling warmly right at the top of your page. Studies show content with faces receives up to 3x more views and comments.
Pro Tip: Have some fun with it like food blogger Gaby of What’s Gaby Cooking, who includes photos of herself with her adorable dog. The goal is to show your relatable personality.
This allows readers to immediately connect a face with your name and content. It also helps humanize your blog in a sea of faceless corporate sites.
2. Your Name
State your first and last name clearly at the top of your page. Then briefly explain who you are in 1-2 quick sentences right underneath your name and photo banner.
For example:
Hello! I’m Wendy Li, the face behind Adventure Travel Mom. I created this site to help families plan epic budget-friendly adventures.
3. Where You’re From
Share where you grew up, your hometown, where you live now, or places that have shaped your perspective on life.
This gives readers a glimpse at what makes you tick. It also explains any quirks in your writing style if English isn’t your first language.
Geographical details work especially well for food, travel and culture bloggers by spotlighting diverse experiences:
I was born in Taiwan but moved around a lot as an expat kid. The spices and flavors of India, the pasta perfection of Italy and the hospitality of good ol’ Texas all collided to create my multi-cultural palate.
4. Your Origin Story
Dish on experiences growing up that set you on this path and nurtured your passion before you ever hit publish on your first blog post.
Be real by getting vulnerable in sharing the highs and lows along the way. This allows readers to connect with the human behind the content.
Pro Tip: Structure your origin story chronologically like a journey for maximum impact. Start with childhood memories, pivot to key events or challenges, and end with finally starting your website.
5. Your Credentials
List any formal education, training or certifications you’ve earned that provide credentials as an authority in your blogging niche.
If you’re self-taught, highlight advanced proficiency in your specialty gained through extensive self-directed learning. Don’t sell your expertise short just because you don’t have traditional qualifications.
6. What You Do For Work
Let readers know if content creation is your full-time passion or if you blog part-time around another job to follow your dreams. Long-time readers care and want the behind-the-scenes peek.
Pro Tip: If your blog is your full-time business, share a bit about when/how you made the jump without overselling. Vulnerability around past money worries or freelancing woes turns readers into loyal fans.
7. Your Passions & Interests
Show you’re human too by highlighting hobbies or activities you geek out over unrelated to your core niche. Quirky sidelines give readers a glimpse into your personality beyond your expertise.
For example, an accountant-turned-finance blogger may fangirl over historical fiction novels or be low key obsessed with collecting Pez dispensers.
These fun facts make you more relatable. Readers crave knowing the real you, not just the authoritative expert persona.
8. Mission Statement or Tagline
Distill your driving passion for helping others into a memorable max 1-2 sentence slogan for your blog that new visitors will never forget.
Feature this tagline prominently under your name/photo header for maximum impact as the first thing new visitors read when scanning your page.
For example:
Helping you ditch debt forever & live abundantly. Your positivity guru and financial sherpa.
9. Niche Expertise
Succinctly explain your unique approach, why you stand out among peers, and what value you provide readers seeking guidance in your niche.
Don’t assume visitors already understand this context from poking around your site’s categories and content. Spell it out clearly here on your about page.
Pro Tip: Address both popular newbie struggles as well seasoned veteran questions to demonstrate wide-ranging niche mastery.
For example:
I help overwhelmed moms build organized routines blending homeschooling, healthy living and house management without losing their minds or identities!
10. Who You Help & Common Questions
Paint a detailed picture of your target audience, including demographics. Also address their pressing pain points and unanswered questions around your niche topic.
When readers feel seen because you intimately understand their problems, you build instant connection and trust. This motivates them to keep exploring your advice knowing you offer solutions.
11. Your Signature Approach
What special twist do you put on tired topics in your niche that flips convention on its head?
Do you empower singles to travel safely outside resorts? Do you fuse supernatural wisdom into modern manifesting? Does your real food meal planning optimize for allergies and autoimmune disease?
Shout what makes your message unique from the blogging masses. These deltas attract your ideal audience.
12. Backstory on Your Site’s Name
The cherry on top? Drop some insider inspiration into how you chose your quirky blog or business name. These origin stories give rare insight into your world that fans relish.
The more meaningful the name is tied to your personal journey, the more intriguing for readers.
Pro Tip: Tell the story of any big "aha moments" when you realized a creative name perfectly encapsulating your vision.
For example, food blogger Alyssa Rimmer of Simply Quinoa shares:
When I was deciding on a name for my blog, it came down to two options…I could either name it “Alyssa’s Healthy Kitchen” or go for something that specifically described the type of recipes and content I’d be sharing. I decided to go the descriptive route and named my site “Simply Quinoa” since the bulk of my recipes featured the mighty seed. It’s been the perfect name to capture my brand’s focus in a nutshell – pun intended 🙂
13. Your Team
Established sites should introduce key players such as photographers, developers, assistants, and guest contributors that comprise "Team [Your Brand]”.
Giving virtual high fives to those working behind the scenes running your online business builds goodwill and gives readers a peek into site operations.
14. Contact Information
No about page is complete without easy ways for readers to get in touch, ask questions or share feedback with you.
Provide the best email address, contact form link, social media handles, etc. for connecting directly.
Pro Tip: List only one primary contact email to avoid confusion. Provide social handles, but don’t clutter with every platform you’ve ever dabbled in.
15. Free Reader Offer
Last but not least, include an irresistible free offer for new readers to subscribe to your email list, like a lead magnet related to your niche.
Offering juicy freebies in exchange for an email address allows you to turn cold traffic into loyal fans that buy from you repeatedly.
For example:
Sign up below to receive my free printable family passport workbook & yearly travel planning pack!
Now let‘s move onto crafting an unforgettable backstory readers connect with on a soul level. Storytelling is everything…
Captivate Readers by Becoming the Storyteller-in-Chief
Remember, your about page is your chance to establish an instant bond with your readers right off the bat before they read a single blog post.
You accomplish this through compelling storytelling focused on their struggles rather than just your accomplishments.
Stories have connected humans for ages. Master storytelling techniques to foster an intimate connection with readers that keeps them coming back for more.
Share Your Origin Story Chronologically
Structure your background intro as a timeline unfolding your journey to blogging passion discovery.
Start with childhood moments setting the stage, key events adding intrigue, obstacles faced adding vulnerability, and eureka moments launching your website.
Pro Tip: Use chapter-style subheadings to break up your origin story segments for enhanced flow.
For example:
Chapter 1: My Hungry Beginnings
I still have vivid memories of my grandmother’s….
Chapter 2: Weekend Wanderlust (or the next meaningful life segment)
Offer Just Enough Personal Detail
Personal anecdotes make your story resonate. But oversharing intimate struggles loses reader trust quick.
Aim for that sweet spot balancing vulnerability with boundaries. When in doubt, keep stories focused mainly on your niche discoveries rather than deeply personal tales.
Include Meaningful Anecdotes & Adventure Tales
Did a health diagnosis inspire your wellness site? Did solo travel adventures spark your location independent lifestyle?
These specific episodes build reader intrigue even more than broad generalizations. They also forge a trusting “I’ve been there” empathy.
Use Setbacks as Stepping Stones
Show how early business fails, brutal feedback, or rocky starts paved the way for future wins. Present failures as lessons rather than excuses.
Readers connect through imperfect stories, not picture-perfect journeys! This builds authentic community.
Name Drop Mentors or Guides
Sharing key people who sparked ideas or offered guidance gives props while adding richness to your path.
Did an entrepreneurial aunt give business advice? Did a chance encounter with a CTO mentor transform your tech skills?
Call out those who lifted you up along the way.
Write With Your Reader In Mind
Here‘s a common about page mistake: talking only about yourself rather than what matters to readers.
Remember, your about page convinces new visitors to stick around and see if you understand their pain points. This means speaking directly to what they care about most.
Let‘s explore some reader-focused content strategies:
Spotlight Their Struggles
Will the mother struggling with cooking fast family meals relate? Does the stressed out college student see you get where they are coming from?
When readers feel understood and heard, you build instant trust and goodwill. Don‘t make them work hard searching for those golden nuggets of insight tailored to them.
Answer Pressing Questions
New visitors likely have burning questions around your niche. Anticipate the top ones and answer directly on your about page.
Not only does this demonstrate your expertise through sharing, it shows you did your homework understanding reader concerns.
Pro Tip: Embed reader questions as subheaders for easy scanning for the answers.
For example:
Craft Relatable Reader Personas
Bring your target audience avatars to life by giving them names, faces, backgrounds and quotes. Populating your about page with these fictional yet realistic characters helps readers visualize themselves joining your community.
For example:
“As a busy accountant and mom of two, I barely get a minute to myself, much less cook homecooked meals. I used to pour my coffee over fast food every morning just to survive! Annie’s meal plans showed me batch cooking healthy dinners is possible even with my insane schedule and picky eaters.” – Becky, Alabama
Use Conversational Language
Talk to readers using warm phrases like “you” and “we” instead of distancing language like “I” and “me”.
Contractions also lend a casual vibe:
👎 “I am going to share my struggles here.”
👍 “I’m gonna share my struggles here.”
This friendly writing tone fosters connection with readers right off the bat.
The #1 question to ask as you write every sentence is: “Will my target reader care about this?” If no, rewrite or scrap it.
About 50% of your page should directly address reader questions, worries and goals in your niche. The rest covers your origin story and credentials.
Close With a Clear Call to Action
You‘ve crafted a stellar combo of engaging backstory and reader-tailored content. Now end with a strong call to action (CTA) to convert visitors into email subscribers.
This turns cold traffic from search engines and social media into warm leads for repeat business.
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