How to Write an About Page
You’ve chosen your blog topic, picked a blog name, signed up for hosting, installed and setup WordPress, and started working on your content. One of the next steps to getting your blog live is to create the pages that help turn your new blog into a complete website, starting with your About page.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through what an About page is, why your blog needs one, and what information to include when you create yours.
What Is an About Page?
An About page is a permanent page on your website that introduces your blog and the person behind it. It tells new visitors what your blog is about, who you created it for, and what they can expect to find if they stick around.
Unlike a regular blog post, your About page will not move down your blog feed as you publish new content. It stays in one place and is usually linked in your main navigation menu and/or footer so readers can find it easily.
Your About page can also share a little more about you, including why you started the blog and what experience or interest connects you to the topic.
Why Does Your Blog Need an About Page?
When someone lands on your blog for the first time, they might enjoy one of your posts but still have questions about the website.
- Who created this blog?
- What other topics do you cover?
- Is this a website I want to keep reading?
Your About page gives readers one place to find those answers. It explains the purpose of your blog, who you created it for, and what readers can expect to find when they look around.
It also gives you a chance to introduce yourself and explain your connection to the topic. You might have professional experience, personal experience, or simply a genuine interest that led you to start writing about it. Sharing that background helps readers understand where your perspective comes from without turning the page into a résumé. And it might even allow them to feel connected to you as the author!
An About page can also be useful when you are ready to monetize your blog. Brands, potential partners, and other bloggers may visit the page to learn more about you and decide if your website is a good fit for an opportunity.
Most importantly, your About page helps the right readers recognize that your blog was created with them in mind. Once they understand what your website offers, you can direct them to your best content and give them a reason to stick around.
What to Include on Your Blog’s About Page
If you’re still staring at a blank page, wondering what to put on your about page, here’s the exact structure I use below!
Steal it, tweak it, and make it yours. Just don’t overthink it past this point.
You only need to cover three main things on your about page:
- what your blog is about
- who you are
- an image that helps readers connect with you or your brand
1. Explain What Your Blog Is About
Start your About page by clearly explaining what your blog is about and who you created it for. A new visitor should not have to read your entire page before they understand what kind of content they will find on your website.
For example, the blog you are on now, Blogging After Hours, has an about page where I explain that it’s for people who want to start and grow a blog while working a full-time job. The blog covers how to set up your website, find time to work on it, write better content, grow your traffic, and eventually make money from your blog.
Next, briefly introduce the main topics you plan to cover. These topics will usually connect to the blog topic you already chose and the content you want to create. You do not need to have a full library of published blog posts yet. This section simply gives readers an idea of what they can expect from your blog as it grows.
If you already have a blog post published, you can finish this part of your About page by directing readers to it. If you do not have anything published yet, you can leave this out and come back to it later. Your About page can grow along with the rest of your blog and it’s a good idea to update it as your content and niche evolves.
2. Introduce Yourself
Next, introduce yourself and tell readers who is behind the blog. Start with your name or the name you plan to use publicly, and explain how you connect to the topic you write about.
Share why you started the blog and what made you interested in the subject. You might have professional experience, personal experience, a hobby you enjoy, or something you are learning and documenting along the way. Keep this focused on the details that help readers understand why you created the website.
You can also add a few personal details to make your introduction feel more like you. Mention a hobby, favorite food, pet, location, or something else you are comfortable sharing. You don’t need to share your entire life story or include personal information in this section if you would rather keep private.
This part of your About page can be as short as a few paragraphs. Give readers enough information to get to know you while keeping the focus connected to your blog.
3. Add a Photo or Brand Image
Add a photo to your About page to give readers a visual connection to you or your blog. If you are comfortable being part of the brand, use a clear photo of yourself that fits the personality of your website.
This does not have to be a professional headshot!
You can use a casual photo, a picture of yourself working, a selfie, a photo of you on vacation, or an image connected to your blog topic. A food blogger might use a photo in the kitchen, while a travel blogger might choose one from a favorite trip. This part is completely up to you!
If you do not want to use a personal photo, use your logo, an illustration, or another image that represents the blog or you. Some bloggers even just use their likeness here in the form of a caricature or a drawing of their face. This can work well for anonymous blogs, niche websites, or sites you plan to sell later.
Choose a clear, good-quality image that feels consistent with the rest of your website. You can always replace it later when you have a better photo or your blog’s branding changes.
Publish Your About Page in WordPress
Once you have written your About page, log in to WordPress and go to Pages → All Pages. If your theme already created an About page for you, open that page and replace the sample content with your own. If you loaded in from a wordpress theme or child theme you likely already have an about page you can use.
If you do not already have one, go to All Pages → Add New Page and create a new about page. Paste in your content, upload your photo or brand image, and preview the page to make sure everything looks right.
Make sure you create this as a Page and NOT a Post. Posts are used for the articles (blog posts) that appear in your blog feed, while Pages are used for permanent website information such as your About, Contact, and legal pages.
When you are happy with everything, hit publish. If your theme already included an About link in the navigation, click it from your website to make sure it opens the page you just updated.
And that’s it! Your About page is finished and published, and you are one step closer to getting your new blog ready to launch.
Drop a comment below and let me know when your About page is live!
