11 Elements of a Super-Star About Page That Stands Out From The Rest

56 Comments / Blogging Tutorials, Guest Posts / By /

This has happened to you.

A new post is up on your favorite bloggers site.

You grab your coffee (or tea) and get ready to read the blog post. You then realize that this new post is by a guest blogger.

The guest blogger has their bio at the bottom of the blog post. And so naturally, you click through to check them out.

Where's one of the first places you go before you read a single blog post they have written ?

I'll take a wager and say you clicked on some link that allows you to learn more about the person.

You've heard it over and over again.

The About page  for your blog is the second most visited page on your blog.11 Elements of a Super-Star About Page

It may even be the most visited.

So it makes sense that your “About” page should be unlike the millions blogs that are started across the globe every single month.

Is your About Page going to make you a million bucks just because it's cute, fancy and follows all the rules (or not) ?

Probably not.

However ;

  1. You have about 30 seconds to make a lasting impression on visitors to your blog or else it's bye-bye forever. The end.
  2. If you want an inkling of a chance of building any kind of relationship with the people who land on your blog, you need to start somewhere. That somewhere is usually your About page. So it follows that it has to be really good.

No matter how amazing your content is, the readers you have attracted to your brand and personality are the ones who make you successful.

Your “About” page” is the gateway to that relationship.

How do you build a super-star “About” page ?

Here are 11 elements you could utilize in building one.

Let's dive right in.

1) Tell stories that fascinate

TED talks are wildly popular because of the stories the speakers tell.

Books that have a moral message to convey usually do so with stories.

Stories connect you with people because stories have the power to connect and captivate.

People remember stories.

Telling readers who land on your blog the circumstances that surrounded you starting your blog allows you  to connect with people on a human level. And if your story is unique, it becomes etched in their minds.

I love Pat Flynn's story of how he started his Smart Passive Income empire. He lost his job just like many people did around that time period (connection). Unlike many people that enter the online space as a way to escape the 9 to 5, Pat loved his job and was pretty much forced to become an online entrepreneur.

A few years later, he's making a killing online and wants to help others climb the ladder too.

I had come across several other online entrepreneur blogs before his. But for some reason, his stood out because of his story. That simple story of struggle and triumph gripped me when I stumbled onto his blog by accident one late night in December 2013. I have been an ardent follower of his ever since.

That's the power of story.

[tweet_box design=”box_09″]Use the Power of Story on Your Blog's About Page to Engage Your Readers[/tweet_box]

2) Share who's on your team.

The first blog I came across that did this was Spencer Haws on Niche Pursuits. I was so impressed!

Spencer describes Perrin Carrell, a major team member in his online business, as his “secret weapon”.

Why should you include your team on your About page ?

It shows humility. It shows that contrary to popular opinion, great bloggers are not a super species who do everything by themselves. They get a lot of help to get them where they are and they are not ashamed to say so.

Another online personality I have seen do this recently is John Lee Dumas.

3) Hire someone to draw a cartoon/infographic about you

Neil Patel has a very informative cartoon of himself on his QuickSprout blog.

John Lee Dumas has an infographic describing the timeline for his successful podcast, Entrepreneur on Fire.

These stand out for obvious reasons.

A cartoon that gives a brief overview of who you are, what you do, and which also reveals fun and quirky facts about you immediately makes you stand out because I mean, how many people are brave enough to have a cartoon drawn of them ?

An infographic that outlines your personal journal into blogging or online business ? Well that just takes story-telling to another level.

4) Tell readers what you do in a unique way

Give yourself a title.

Chief Sumo.

The Communication Stylist.

The Blog Mechanic.

The Legion of Boom (Fine. That's not really something on someone's blog About page but I could not help the NFL reference).

5) Have social proof to back it up

Tweets. E-mails. Recommendations written by your readers on a product you have created. Places you've guest blogged or contributed. Mainstream media appearances.

These all count as social proof and yell “I know what I am doing and other people are saying it too” to visitors who land on your blog.

I especially like one on Jeff Goins blog that reads

My 4-year old just saw a picture of Jeff Goins and said, ‘Hey, isn’t that Luke Skywalker?!’

It is not your regular “Oh my, this guy is the best thing since sliced bread” kind of social proof. However, it delivers on its' purpose – giving a visitor to the blog a slight chuckle as well as letting them know that there are people who are actively connecting with this blogger.

6) Include links to your most popular blog posts

This one is such a no brainer but so many bloggers forget this. In fact, until recently, I had not done this myself. Include 5-7 links of your most popular blog posts on your About page.

If you want to take it a step further, create a few categories for the different types of blog posts you have that have been popular/most useful to your reader base and display 3-4 posts under each category.

7) Use video

Interestingly,  even though video is such a powerful medium, I don't see many bloggers use this as a way to introduce themselves.

Of course, people could eventually stumble over your YouTube videos or Podcast and get to hear the “real you” but it's great (and unique) if they can be introduced to you and your brand via a 1-minute video.

8) Include a way for readers to contact you

Don't make it hard for people to contact you on your blog. Even if you have a “contact me” tab, it doesn't hurt to include a link to your contact form on your About page. I like how MMs. Ileane uses SpeakPipe so that her readers can leave record their question as an audio file.

9)Don't forget list-building !

This is another obvious one that is easy to overlook. If someone reads your story and immediately connects with you, it's only logical that you invite them to subscribe to your e-mail list so that they can receive more of your content.

Even if you have a fancy pop-up, it's A-okay to include a sign up form to your About page.

10) To write in third person or not ?

I have seen About pages written in third person and vice versa. I've always preferred a conversational , first person style of About page. It just brings a person down to earth and makes them relatable.

11) This page is about you but not TOTALLY about you.

Last but not least, if a potential blog reader does not immediately recognize what benefit your blog/brand will provide them with, they will leave and never come back.  Ultimately, helping your readers solve a pressing need they have so that they can achieve their goals is what will make any blogger a successful one.

Tell people the benefit they will derive from reading your blog and connecting with you.

Wrapping it Up

Want to up your About page game ?

I can't promise you outrageous results right after you have cartoon made of you telling us that you enjoy eating peanut butter with bananas.

I can say however, that employing just 3 or 4 of these elements on your About page is sure to make you stand out  in a world that's already noisy with bloggers.

56 thoughts on “11 Elements of a Super-Star About Page That Stands Out From The Rest”

  1. Gordan

    Hello Gertrude Nonterah,

    Well “About Us” page for every blog/website must be creative so that every reader can know about the blog and also the aim of the blog,

    Thanks

  2. Fakharuddin

    Hi Nonterah,
    About page is one of the important page for a blog or website that help to attract visitors. Most of the webmasters and bloggers create a poor about page for their site/blog which create a negative impact. You mention here some awesome tips that’s will really help anyone to create an effective about page.

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hello Fakharuddin,

      First of all, I would like to say a big thanks for making the time to leave a comment. I am also really glad you enjoyed the post.

      Yes, I have also been a perpetrator of less than stellar “About” pages and so finding out that it is one of the most visited sites on a blog really brought me back to reality.

      People connect with other people not faceless brands which makes it super essential that we make an impression immediately.

      Thanks again !

    2. Mohinder Verma

      I do agree with Fakharuddin comment about the about page. Because an about page is your life book and everything written on this page must be accurate and well formatted. So that every visitor stuck up to this page until it is the last line.

      Thanks Fakharuddin, for sharing in-depth comment on this wonderful post.

      Mohinder Paul Verma

  3. Andrew M. Warner

    Hey Gertrude,

    Great post here.

    The about page IS the second most important page a person could have. However, just like every other page on your site, I don’t think you have 30 seconds, I think you have only 8 – 10 seconds at most.

    But that’s up for debate.

    I’d ultimately like to tell more of my story. Get more in-depth about it on my own about page. But I actually like the idea of a video instead. So that may be something I have to try out in the future.

    Great post here, Gertrude.

    Congrats on getting a guest post on here. Hope you have a great day.

    – Andrew

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hey Andrew,

      8-10 seconds, huh ? I guess that an even bigger reason why the “About” page should really wow on impact.

      I absolutely love video and it’s something I will be doing really soon on my own blog. I’ve always felt that you connect with people more when they can hear your voice and “see” you.

      Thanks so much for your comment Andrew.

      Enjoy the rest of your weekend !

  4. Sue Anne Dunlevie

    Hi, Gertrude,

    I love this post! I cannot tell you how many times I have told clients that your “About” page isn’t totally about you!

    Totally agree with your points,
    Sue

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Thanks for commenting , Sue. It means A LOT to me.

      I think sometimes it’s so easy to get focused on what we are doing and what the big plans for our blogs are without factoring in the component that ultimately makes a blog successful – the readers and what’s in it for them.

      I learned that the hard way and refuse to repeat THAT mistake.

      Thanks Sue 😀

  5. darlaina rose

    I absolutely love Gertrude! ! I have learned so much from her. She cares about people and goes above and beyond to help fellow entrepreneurs.

    Thanks Gertrude don’t ever change!

  6. Christy

    Hiring someone for the cartoon picture and uploading them on about us page is really brilliant idea for getting attention from the readers. Or may be a great way to show readers about our creativity.

    Thanks

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Christy,

      I think having a cartoon drawn of yourself is not only creative but extremely brave. But if you can do it, it will definitely make you stand out !

      Thanks for the comment!

  7. Katie Jenkins

    Awesome post Gertrude! I think all the tips rocked, but I especially liked number 7. Thank you for this!

  8. Romany

    hey Gertrude,

    Thanks for sharing these tips. As a new blogger it’s great to get some pointers from someone more experienced. Thanks again

    Romany

  9. Chris

    Awesome post Gertrude! So right, the about page is extremely important. Need to make that first impression. Its funny that it is called the about page when the good ones, the ones that convert visitors into fans have very little about the blogger.

    People want to know what you can do for them!

    Chris

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Yes indeed, Chris. People ARE in fact looking for what we as bloggers can do for them. It’s that or we go home !

      Thanks for taking a minute to leave me a comment Christ. So grateful.

  10. Diana

    Great article–love #3 and am going to do #6 and #11 right away. I’ve not paid any attention to my about page since I wrote it (oops). Thanks for a great list–

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Diana,

      I love it when people take immediate action on what they’ve read. You are very welcome & thanks so much for taking time to leave a comment 😀

  11. John Sam

    Very nice if attention to all of the above. Most bloggers do not pay attention to this. Of course , all these points are very useful for the beginner blogger like me. Thanks for sharing, Gertrude Nonterah.

  12. Carol Amato

    Hello, Gertrude,

    What a wonderful, article, I really enjoyed it. I’ve made my About page personal but have had this on the back burner to update, so this comes at a great time for me. Thank you!

    I couldn’t agree more! It is a highly visited page. Yeah, I like visuals too, so you mentioning infographics is a great tip and one I’ve recently started implementing for blog posts, but now will consider it for my About page. Thanks!

    The suggestion for using video and popular posts is a good one. I share a video in my welcome email when someone becomes a subscriber, and I have a list of popular posts on my side bar, but am missing those on my About page. I do, however, have a way for folks to ’connect with carol’ at the bottom of my About page, so am including a list building component.

    You’re like me, I prefer first person as well and think it’s much more of a personal experience for the reader.

    Ilene: Thanks for having Gertrude to share her thoughts, you made a great choice. 🙂

    Have a great afternoon.
    ËœCarol

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Carol,

      Oh yes I prefer things in first person. Third person always sounds like something out of a documentary or something. 😀

      Thanks so much for the comment.

  13. Edwin Torres

    About pages are great for building connections with your readers. It gives them that personal touch which goes a long way. People are more likely to buy from people and not a company which is a BIG lesson.

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      “People are more likely to buy from people”. – that’s the truth right there.

      Thanks for taking a minute to leave a comment Edwin. I really appreciate it.

  14. Corina Ramos

    Hello Gertrude,

    Thank you so much for sharing these tips. I was just thinking about updating my About Me page so me finding this was perfect timing.

    I love the idea of doing a video, I’m seriously thinking about that but then I also love the infographic. Either way, I can’t go wrong with either of those :).

    I personally prefer an About Me in first person. I agree, it is more perosnal that way.

    Hello Ms. Ileane,

    Thank you for having Gertrude share her great suggestions with us here.

    Have a great new week ladies :).

    Cori

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hello Cori,

      I am glad this came in for you at the right time. Yes you cannot go wrong with video or an infographic. I believe both of them are powerful ways for you to welcome people to your blog.

      I honestly am not sure why many people do not use video for their About pages though (including yours truly, lol).

      On a more serious note I think people usually don’t think of video on their About pages sometimes because they are nervous about standing before a camera. Once a blogger is able to overcome that though, I think it’s a powerful tool to use.

      Thanks so much for your comment, Cori. I really appreciate it.

  15. Shaina Braun

    Oh wow! I just started blogging and I have to say I totally neglected the about page. I thought nobody would read the about section anyways and just be interested in the content. I saved this page and I will start working through all the points tomorrow. The only thing that will be hard for me is the cartoon part of course. My drawing skills are not that great and I can’t afford to hire somebody to draw a cartoon about me haha.

    Have a great night everyone!

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Shaina,

      So nice of you to stop by and leave a comment.

      You know, it’s funny you say you thought nobody would read the about section. To some extent, that could be true –> nobody will read the about section if it’s long, boring and full of highfalutin platitudes .

      However, if it engages a visitor, tells them your story and how you can help them, you could have a devoted fan for life.

      You don’t need drawing skills or a cartoon drawn of you (yet). I can tell you are interesting just through your comment. 😀

      Enjoy the rest of your day.

  16. Cent

    Hi Gertrude,

    Thanks for highlighting the importance of the first page created in a website (most often) and least updated page. I believe I have some work to do on my About page. I like the idea of linking some sort of social proof and also linking popular posts.

    Cheers,
    Cent

  17. Gabe Johansson

    Epic post, Gertrude!

    What if I told you I purposely omitted an about page and have no plans for adding one?

    Despite that, I’ve always known an “about me” page should be more of an “about you” page, sharing the who/what/where/why/when/how you and your blog are going to help or entertain your visitors. Of course, storytelling is an excellent way to do so as it builds the connection and can attract the right people when done properly.

    Thanks for the great tips!
    -Gabe Johansson

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Gabe,

      You bring an interesting dynamic to the conversation. I like interesting dynamics !

      I just glanced at your blog and it looks really great and as soon as I hit the blog it’s clear what you’re doing (as it should be !).

      I do think it’s possible to go without an about page and be really successful. So in your case, what would be an alternative(s) you’d employ to get people to get to know you and what you offer your readers ? Just curious.

  18. Arpan

    Hello,

    Super awesome post, I never cared about ‘About Us’ page and I think I did all wrong in that. You’ve shared really great tips and points to be considered while creating an about us page.

    Cheers

  19. Martin Lindeskog

    Gertrude: Have you tested an interactive About page with a FAQ section? I have used Formspring.me, but it seems that the site has morphed into a new kind of social site (spring.me). I am looking for a new alternative way of telling my story. How about Quora or a Wikipedia page?

    I

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hello Martin,

      I think a Quora page or Wikipedia page is great but you the end you really do not “own” them. If Quora or Wikipedia or a social media platform you may be building a following on decides they longer want to be on the web, there goes any impact you created on the platform.

      So I will say yes to creating profiles on Quora and other platforms as a way to engage others and/or even build your audience however, I believe in having a “home base” where people can come to and connect with you. Think of your blog and all the content (including the About Page) as “home” and everywhere else as a vacation spot.

      As far as an interactive About page, I am actually new to that but it sounds really interesting and may be a great way to go. I have not tried this myself though so I can offer no expertise there.

      Thank you for taking a moment to comment Martin.

  20. Antonio Matos

    Hi Gertrude,

    What could I say a amazing post I been trying to come up some ideas I’m happy that I came across with this article.

    I do feel that the about page is one important area that visitors judge you. I also feel that some site owners don’t take time to work at it.

    So Gertrude, thank you again.

    Warm regards,
    Antonio Matos

  21. Alishakhan

    Awesome post Gertrude! So right, the about page is extremely important. Need to make that first impression.

  22. Jenna Dalton

    Loved this post, Gertrude!

    I actually opened up my about me page and checked it out after going through the post to see where I could make some improvements. Happy to say I had already included a lot of your tips!

    Definitely a great post that I’ll share with beginners (and even experienced) bloggers who need to spruce up their about page 🙂

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Jenna,

      So honored to have you comment & I am super glad you went through your blog to make sure you’d included some of the elements.

      I actually am planning to include video on mine. Now, if only I my son would allow me to be uninterrupted…

      1. Jenna Dalton

        Hahaha! Perhaps your little sidekick could just make a “guest appearance” 😉 I actually think that could be super cute and – if your audience includes busy moms – I’m sure they’d appreciate that you know all about the busy bee life of a mom!

  23. sherman smith

    Hey Gertrude,

    I revamped my About Me page about a year ago reading a similar blog post about it. I really like this one even more because you gave some great detail and ideas of how we can revamp our About Me page so that it’s more on the level of the readers themselves and to show that it’s really about them.

    I really like the idea of adding a list of most popular blog posts. This gives them a preview of what they will get if they happen to become a subscriber. Doing a video is also a great way so they can see the person behind the blog. This adds on the connection you already have with the blog itself.

    Thanks Gertrude for sharing! You have a great weekend!

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hi Sherman,

      Glad you enjoyed the post and found it useful

      On a completely different side note, I did not even realize the weekend was upon us until you said “Have a nice weekend”. Ha. Have a nice weekend too !

  24. Mike Z

    I try to create online videos and tutorials to improve my “star power” on the web. Professional looking photos also go a long way in improving how people think of you and your blog.

  25. Graham Maghill

    Thanks for some great tips here, I’ve got a lot of work to do now, Im first of all going to do an about me page, Now that is not going to be easy writing about myself.

    Graham

  27. Janet Nevins

    Hi Gertrude! Great article! I love the idea of putting a video on my about me page. I am going to use quite a few of your tips. Thanks.

    1. Gertrude

      Hello Janet,

      Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment & I am so glad you found it useful. Report back on which of the elements you will be implementing. I’d love to know how it works for you.

      Gertrude.

  28. Brian (

    Hi Gertrude,

    In my opinion, the about page is very important for a blog. I like the idea of story telling on the about page because it tells the audience your story and what you’re about.

    The best thing to do would be to provide a contact method. If the audience likes your story they would be able to contact you.

    Thanks for sharing these great tips.

  29. Darren

    I think about pages can have so much impact for building that trust. I work with small/local businesses and always spend some time educating clients on the reasons behind the importance of earning likability and familarity.

    One thing I’d like to see on more about pages is a short podcast of say, 10 minutes, introducing oneself. Soundcloud offers three hours fre which is more than enough to produce an embedded sound clip with the “story” of the individual and how the website came to be.

  30. Thomas

    Hi Gertrude
    No doubt that the about page on a blog is very important. I always think it is difficult to write something outstanding that make my about page stand out from all the rest, but I often rewrite it anyway, because I know how important it is.

  32. Jordan

    Great Article Gertrude! Very well written and informative. Just added a bunch of these elements to my about page 🙂 – Site Bookmarked! Thanks Again.

    1. Gertrude Nonterah

      Hello Jordan,

      I am so glad you enjoyed this article and found it useful ! I hope it makes you the super-star you want to become 😉 Have a great weekend !

Comments are closed.