Apr 13 2012
Do NOT Read this Post If YOU Think an About Page is NOT Important to Your Site or Blog!
When it’s your first time to a website or blog, what is the first thing you look for? What if you are thinking of buying something from this website? If you have lasted long enough to not be one of their click-through stats, one of the first pages you go to is the “About” page, right? What if they don’t have one? Believe it or not, there are sites out there that don’t. AND there are people who think an “About” Page is NOT important.
Wait … What?!?!?! Not important???? Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!
Personally, being a web designer myself, I would NEVER tell my clients that an “About” page is not important and I am here to tell you how wrong that type of thinking is! Have you done your own research? Or are you just basing your “opinion” on what your webmaster or designer is telling you? Well, guess what? Having a small blurb or link on your pages does NOT help a person learn more about your site, your business or your blog and neither is referring your potential customers to a FAQ page.
So what is SSSOO important about having a separate and stand alone “About” page? For starters, you get your message out there which focuses on building the relationship with your potential customers/clients/readers. If you need to shift your mindset, think of your “About” page like your mission statement. Important tip — focus on what you can do for them: how you can help, what you can provide, etc.
You can break down your “About” page into sections for any kind of blog. For a business focused blog you can have your “here’s what I can do for you” message, a mission statement — if you have one, a little history — nothing too long or draining, and maybe a brief bio of yourself.
Use your “About” page to your fullest advantage, People!! You can include your “call to action” — you can use this page to build your list as well. Not only are you letting your readers get to know a little bit about your business, what you do, etc, but you are also showing them a glimpse WHO you are as a person!
On a personal note, me being the website/page/blog snob that I am, if you don’t have an about page, I am less likely to stick around and 9 times out of 10, I am one of your click-through stats on your Google Analytics 
So if you don’t have an “About” page, at least do your OWN research into how it can help you build better relationships with your readers. Please do not base your opinions on what others tell you. Especially if you are paying them. It’s their job to make your website/blog site as user-friendly as possible for your VISITORS and to help YOU build YOUR business.
If you do have an “About” page, what do you include? How do you use it to your advantage? Please share in the comment box below.
photo credit: wilhei55 via photopin cc ~ altered by Blogging w/ Gypsy @ Gypsy’s Treasures
Apr 13, 2012 @ 13:52:05
My About pages are usually about me – I hadn’t really thought to add how I can benefit the viewer…. but I know “what I can do for you” is the big seller right now, so I need to apply that to a lot of my stuff.
What bugs me the most is people who don’t bother to fill in anything on the About page on Facebook or Google+… I mean, the sections are divided and labeled for you already… it isn’t that hard to say a couple lines about what you do, who you are, and why I should follow your business….
Apr 13, 2012 @ 15:02:02
Sometimes the “about” sections on social networks get overlooked if they have specific welcome tabs — like with FB. however with the timeline switch, it’s really a focus now when setting up. Every article or post about setting up a good/better/best FB page, the about section is in the top 5 things to do
I don’t use G+ enough but I believe I have a lot of info filled out. Something I need to check. I am also redoing my Twitter bio, my LinkedIn bio and my Pinterest Bio … another reason the about section gets overlooked, is that people don’t utilize their social accounts as often as others. I’m seeing a shift where its changing but it’s slow.
As for the “what’s in it for me”… if anyone has been retail knows this motto! Every cashiering job I had, that was part of the training — every customer only cares about themselves and “what’s in it for me” mentality. C’mon, you know the people I am talking about. Also, if you have done any kind of sales, that is the focus. In all reality, that is exactly how a customer thinks — What can this site do for ME? How can it help ME? What products/services to they have that will help ME make MY life better? … so why not use that to your advantage?
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..Do NOT Read this Post If YOU Think an About Page is NOT Important to Your Site or Blog!
Apr 13, 2012 @ 16:59:12
I’ll definitely be working on figuring out how I can help my customers/readers/etc soon. It just needs to happen. Been getting ready for this show, but next week I should be getting back to “normal” as far as online stuff is concerned.
Is it strange for me to ask “What do you see that I have to offer?” Guess it can’t hurt to get a little extra insight…
Apr 13, 2012 @ 17:44:34
You offer beautiful wood burned gifts for all occassions
You can give a brief into on how you got into wood burning and you may even offer up how you come up with some of your designs. You can also talk about how you use your “gift” to for projects like the Turn Peace Around and other things you are involved in
Hope that helps!!! Good like with your show!!
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..Do NOT Read this Post If YOU Think an About Page is NOT Important to Your Site or Blog!
Apr 13, 2012 @ 14:09:48
My about pages/sections are probably more personal than they ought to be, but that’s who I am
Blog: http://heksebua.com/linda/so-who-am-i/
Business site:
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/heksebua/info
Linda Ursin would like you to read..H is for Hilarities
Apr 13, 2012 @ 15:22:13
Mine is too! LOL I need to update it … only because my focus on this blog has changed almost drastically since I started it last October! LOLz … Your pages are awesome, Linda! Thanks for sharing them!!!
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..Delusions of Grandeur
Apr 16, 2012 @ 11:48:56
Thanks
I’m planning to change my business description in the near future. I’m moving away from computer services, more to the creative stuff.
Linda Ursin would like you to read..H is for Hilarities
Apr 16, 2012 @ 10:00:10
This is so true in the publishing world. New start-up publishers without an About page generally have a reason why they’re not telling people who they are. It’s important to know who you’re working with, no matter the field. Like you, if I’m on a new-to-me site or store, I like to go to the About page and see who they are.
Great post!
Mary would like you to read..Healing Old Wounds: Forgive, but don’t Forget (Part 3/3)
Apr 16, 2012 @ 11:46:12
Thank you, Mary!
I just get so frustrated when I hear people say or read what people write about thinking an “about” page is NOT important. I am especially horrified when I hear they were told by their designer or web master … UGH …. That is no better than someone claiming to be a Tarot reader and telling the client that the death card they just pulled means there will be a death in their near future!!! Such crap!!! and it so UNETHICAL!!! of course, the client is just a accountable because they are taking this person’s word for it and NOT doing their own research!!! But I digress …
If you can’t tell me who you are or what you are about, then why should I buy from you — that is my biggest issue. Or worse … people using ecomm software like zencart or oscomm and NOT FILLING OUT THE PAGES — leaving them with the original code still there! UGH … and we know a few of them, you and I! Rolling my eyes and shaking my head ….
off to read and share your posts — catching up with “sharing”, writing and posting today!
Gypsy ~ Kimberly would like you to read..Fact or Fiction ~ Is The Perfect Client a Web Designer’s Holy Grail?
Feb 23, 2013 @ 17:26:14
Great post, Kimberly! I don’t necessarily *need* to see an About page when I read someone’s blog post, but I find it incredibly frustrating when I don’t know the name of the blogger. It doesn’t have to be their real name, it just has to be something they let me know they’re happy being called by, so that I can write… well, the kind of comment I did in the first sentence on this one.
However, if the blog is part of an overall website – especially one where I might be considering buying something from the blogger – it’s a different matter. In that case, the lack of an About page would be a major alarm bell for me. As you say above – if you can’t tell me who you are or what you’re about, how do I know if I should trust you with my money or not?
Blessings
TANJA
Tanja @ Crystal Clarity would like you to read..Getting Unstuck with the Rule of Pie: a guest post from Tina Robbins
Feb 24, 2013 @ 00:46:48
Thanks, Tanja! I tend to view “about” pages when I visit new sites, especially any kind of eCommerce site regardless of the platform. I find myself doing it a lot when I sign up for telesummits and such. I like to know a little about the people I am going to be listening to over the course of the summit. I am actually kind of shocked at the amount I’ve visited that haven’t been updated in like FOREVER, has outdated information and sometimes just is NOT relevant to what the person is conveying via their home page.
I’m especially horrified at that amount of eCommerce sites out there (shopping carts especially are guilty of this) that their owners do NOT fill out the pages or have the starter code still there. This is notorious for so many zenCart and OsCommerce sites. OMG a HUGE pet peeve. Of course, that is what really pushed this post to be written. Web designers/developers giving their clients BAD advice just kills me … I cringe at the thought that it’s done on purpose in many cases. But I digress …