is your ‘about me’ really about you?
Where do you start writing an about me page?
Despite my experience as a writer, I really struggled with writing my own 'about me' page. My issue with the accepted maxim, "your about page is never really about you" is that real human beings, as opposed to ideal client avatars, make the decision to work with someone based on factors other than their ability to solve a problem.
My first attempt to write my page made me sound like a reporter. I was writing about myself, so essentially it did what it said on the tin, but I’d made the mistake of looking at my work from my own perspective.
When I re-read it, I found no answers to my readers’ questions: Do I need to know this? Why do I need to know? How is your approach the best one for me to achieve my goals? Where will your approach take me that another wouldn’t? Essentially, what’s in it for me? And, why should I care about that?
Despite this insight, my second attempt was not much better! I had tipped the balance too far the other way, and focusing on my client had pushed my language into sales territory. I had taken the “personal” out of my story and replaced it with the “persuasive.” If there’s one thing worse than reporting on your own life, it’s turning it into a stage play that places you as the star.
Back to the drawing board for the last (but never final) about me text - and here are my learnings.
Speak to the issues and dreams of your ideal client but also explain your part in their process.
Consider where your ideal client or customer is right now as they stumble upon your website.
What has brought them there?
What do they need next?
What concerns may they have about this process?
Point out your distinct approach and the value of it.
Consider what you value in the work that you do and why you chose this path as well as why it works for your customers.
What do you stand for?
What values does your business embody that would make it the obvious choice for your particular client?
How is what you do different from what is out there?
What does this change for your reader?
How has your personal story led you to believe so strongly in this method? (If you don’t fully believe in it, know that it will show, so do some journaling here if you need to).
Allude to your personal quirks and attributes.
Your ideal customer is looking to connect with and have fun with the person behind the words.
What would choosing to work with you say about your client?
What does choosing to work with your ideal client say about you?
What lights your fire?
What do you understand about your client as a person because you have been there too?
Why would I want to hang out with you?
Finding the right balance for my about me page was not easy, and it will require constant change to evolve in line with me and my business. The perfect recipe for me was a little of my story, a lot of understanding for my client’s challenges, and a sprinkling of my personality.
After all, online marketing is the ultimate in speed dating - and we are not all suited.
Just because someone has the services I’m looking for and understands my problem does not make them the one for me. Personality and commonality are always the deciding factors.
