Talk About Yourself with Ease on Your "About Me" Page

You’ve probably heard that the "about me" page is the most visited on nearly any website. And that makes sense if you think about it: Your potential customers and team members want to know who they’re doing business with.

The trouble is, getting that information across without being too personal (i.e. unprofessional) or too formal (read: unreachable) is tough. Especially when you’re writing about yourself.

Let Your Personality Show

This is, after all, your “about me” page. So it makes sense to let the real you shine just a little bit. Write as if you’re having an email conversation with a friend. Don’t worry about being too formal, and if you start to sound like you’re writing a cover letter, lighten up a bit.

However, you can go to far. You probably should not use swear words (even if in real life you have a potty mouth), and you should leave out the details of your rotten divorce and how you’re trying to raise three kids and that’s why you’re working from home. That much “personality” is a turn off for potential clients.

Also, be sure to include your photo. It will make you seem more like a real person and less like some faceless website owner. Just be sure the photo you choose leans more toward professional than not. You don’t have to spring for expensive headshots, but don’t use the Halloween costume party photo, either.

But What Should I Say?

Here’s where most people really get stuck. Some things you might want to include in your “about page” are:

• Who you work with
• How long you’ve been in business (unless you started less than a year ago)
• Your core strengths
• What makes you different from others in your field

Not sure where to start? Take a look at the “about me” pages of those who are doing similar work, and who have a similar style. What do you like about their pages, and what do you think isn’t working for them? Make some notes including specific details so you can refer to them as you write your own page.

Remember, your "about me" page doesn’t have to be long or formal, but it does have to give people a sense of who you are and what you can do for them.

Really Stuck? Get Outside Help

Writing about yourself is hard. If you’re struggling, it may be time to get some help. You might choose to hire a writer – there are even those who specialize in “about me” pages – but it might be just as easy to get a friend to help.