Here's the hardest thing for a writer to write
Want to know how to stump a writer? Ask them to write this.
I’m in the middle of a redesign and relaunch of my personal website and the website designer has asked me to fill in several pages of content including:
home page
services
lead magnet content
about me
pricing
I’ve rewritten one of the pages three times and still don’t know if I’m happy with it. Care to wager a guess which one it is?
Ding ding! The About Me page.
Why is it so hard for writers to write about everyone else but themselves?
The trouble with about me pages
The first draft I wrote was very professional, talking dryly about my professional accomplishments and why someone should hire me.
BORING!
The second one took a more geographical approach, mapping out where I came from, why I moved, how I’m happier where I am now, etc.
WHO CARES?
The third, and I’m hoping the final, version, takes the reader on a journey through why I went into journalism, the path I’ve taken since the decision, and the type of person I am now.
The difficulty arose when I started looking at “advice” for about me pages and found a mixed bag of recommendations.
Some suggested that I “get personal.”
Others said to “show them what you bring to the table.”
Still, others suggested including my story, mission, value, and competitive advantage.
I started looking through fellow writers about me pages and when that took me in other directions I decided to take my chances with my own.
Trial and error is the name of the game
What I’ve resigned to do is test my new about me page for a while.
If it turns out my website analytics show that visitors are jumping ship when they visit the page, I’ll know that something is amiss.
How’s your own about me page?
Need some help?
Here are a few websites that offer some great advice on about me pages:
Have you seen an awesome about me page (maybe your own)? Share it in the comments, please.
Have a great weekend!
—Liz