Why You Need a Killer Bio, Photo, and About Me Page (and Step-by-Step Instructions for Creating Them)

If you’ve got a blog, you should add a bio, a photo, and a link to your About Me (aka the About the Author) page at the end of every post. (And if you don’t have a bio, photo, or About Me page, you should create them ASAP.) Even if the blog is on your personal website and you’re the only contributor, tacking on these three elements to every post will support your SEO strategy and drive growth.

For one, a thoughtful bio will exemplify expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T). In addition to reassuring readers you actually know what you’re talking about, a good E-A-T score will impress Google, which can help your site climb the rankings.

Second, a good bio and photo that link to an awesome About Me page will help readers feel connected to you. They’ll want to hear what you have to say, so they’ll return to your blog again and again. If your story is compelling enough, they’ll also be inclined to sign up for your newsletter, and eventually, they may even buy your products or services.

So, how do you create a killer bio, photo, and About Me page? We decided to turn to an expert. Brandon Gaille of the Blogging Millionaire podcast had a lot to say on the subject, and we’ve broken it down for you below.

On Writing a Killer Bio

In the episode titled “How to Write a Blog Bio that Makes You More Money,” Brandon explains that your bio, the description at the end of every post, should be short and sweet. The ideal length is roughly three to four sentences, with no more than 300 characters.

To drive engagement, the first sentence should share some of your biggest accomplishments. If you can quantify them, all the better. The second sentence should delve a little deeper into your accolades, while the third should direct readers to your About Me page where they can learn more. You can also direct readers to your Contact page, where they should be able to find a form that’s easy to fill out if they want to get in touch with you.

To avoid coming off as “braggy,” it’s wise to write your bio in the third person. This will serve as the bridge between you and your readers and let them know they can trust you. It will also pave the way for them to feel like they have forged a strong personal connection with you. For maximum impact, your bio should always be accompanied by a photo.

On Taking a Killer Photo

The photo that’s placed next to your bio needs to convey competence, likability, and influence. If you’re wondering how to do all there, there are a few proven strategies. Statistically speaking, readers connect most with authors who are:

• Not wearing sunglasses
• Smiling big enough that their eyes are squinting
• Smiling big enough that their teeth are showing
• Dressed sharply
• In a well-lit area

If you don’t already have a photo that meets the criteria above, enlist help from a friend or get familiar with your phone’s self-timer, do some business casual garb, and have a little photo shoot. Take at least a dozen photos, and choose the one that looks warm and engaging for your bio.

On Telling Your Story

If your bio is the synopsis on the back of the book that draws readers in, the About Me page is the whole story, and that’s precisely how you should approach writing it. So, what’s your story?

Written in the first person, the content on the About Me page should reveal who you are, how you ended up where you did, and why you’re qualified to write about what you do.

In The Blogging Millionaire’s episode titled, “Turning Your Visitors into Raving Fans with an Epic About Me Page,” Brandon discusses how he approached the writing process, which yielded nearly 5,000 words on the three biggest struggles he’s faced in his life.

When drafting your own story for the About Me page, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Start with an intriguing title that compels visitors to read your story.
2. Open with a gripping hook. Mention some of the biggest hurdles you’ve faced, and use creative foreshadowing to hint at those that have molded you into who you are today.
3. Go into detail about each struggle you mention, and then explain how you overcame it.
4. Wait until the end of the story to showcase your successes.

Along the way, try to stay in “Story Mode.” Don’t be afraid to get vulnerable, and don’t start pitching your products or services. If you include any advertisements in the content, readers will instantly lose trust in what you’re saying. Instead, stick to the narrative, which should be your life story.

Another common mistake people make is talking about their accomplishments too early and too often. While you should certainly mention your biggest successes, they should not be the focus of your story. Instead, they should be woven seamlessly into the rest of the content. It’s far easier to connect with someone flawed but honest than it is to perceive a bond with an intimidating professional who boasts about accolade after accolade.

Writing about your struggles may feel counterintuitive when you’re trying to establish credibility. Still, readers will appreciate you so much more if you give up the need to be perfect for the opportunity to be authentic. Remember Pixar’s number one rule of phenomenal storytelling? People admire a character more for trying than for succeeding. And on the About Me page, you’re the character, and your life is the story.

Once you’ve crafted your story, it’s time to select the photos to accompany it. Colored visuals increase a visitor’s willingness to read the content all the way through by 80%. It’s also worth noting people remember about 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see. That means if you want to leave a lasting impression on readers, you should include photos of you at every stage of life on your About Me page. These images will create a perceived level of intimacy that would otherwise be impossible to achieve. They’ll also prompt readers to support your endeavors by subscribing!

Maximize the Impact of Your About Me Page with Help from BSM

If you follow the tips above when creating your About Me page, it should start supporting your SEO strategy as soon as it goes live. It should also yield many more conversions in the form of newsletter signups. Remember, however, that connecting with readers is just one component of your strategy. To climb the rankings, you’ll need to implement other tactics, which is where Boulder SEO Marketing can help. Founded by international SEO expert Chris Raulf, we use innovative Micro-SEO Strategies℠ to help clients outrank even the largest competitors in their respective industries. Check out our tailored SEO packages today!

[Image credit: https://unsplash.com/@etiennegirardet]