About Page Upgrade

by Franklin Bishop on September 16, 2008

Do you ever go through your blog statistics and see which pages are viewed the most? Well, I did and I found out the number one page that was viewed on my blog was the about page. Like I mentioned when I just started this blog, I’ve learned a lot from my first two blogs but I didn’t learn everything.

My bounce rate for my about page was 60% which was a little higher than my average bounce rate for my whole blog, which was 48%. This tells me one thing, that people really liked my blog posts because my bounce rate for my whole site actually got better even though my most viewed pages had a high bounce rate.

The other thing it tells me is that my about page was not persuasive enough to keep people on my blog. It also is telling me that if I would have had an about page of my other two blogs I could’ve probably persuaded more people to become a reader or subscriber. People seem to want to know about the person they’re going to take advice from or anything else.

I’m going to spice up my about page to see if I can get a better bounce rate. If I have learned anything from the top bloggers it is that you should talk as the narrator on your about page. Here’s an example of what I mean:

Franklin Bishop became a blogging millionaire after selling two of his successful blogs. He then started his personal blog to help other bloggers with all of their needs. The things that Franklin talks about on his personal blog are blog tips, social media, making money online, SEO, and anything else he feels the need to talk about.

Franklin’s main beliefs when it comes to blogging is making lists and being controversial. When you do those two things then Franklin believes there is no way that your blog could not become successful.

That is kind of the sample of my new About page and I have taken ideas from the absolute best to help me create it. Just try to spice it up and show your creative side so that the people that come to your blog will want to read your content.

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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }

Writer Dad September 16, 2008 at 8:12 pm

That’s a really good idea. I’ve paid no attention to my about page since I put it up. I really need to. Thanks.

Writer Dads last blog post..Are You Questioning Me?

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 5:04 pm

Yeah, you should really check your statistics and see whether people are checking out your about page and what the bounce rate is. I really think your about page is fine though, unless you’re bounce rate is really bad. I’ve read your about page and I think you hit it right on the spot.

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy September 16, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Great post. I definitely check out the “about” page of every new blog I come across because I want to know, as a whole, what the blog is about. One of the first pages I completed on my own blog was the About page because I wanted to set a tone and structure for my blog. Whenever I quesiton the relevancy of a post, I just check to see if it fits into the philosophy I present on my About page and if it does, I post away!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guys last blog post..Xbox’s And iPod’s: Can Consumer Electronics Be A Good Niche To Fill For Computer Consultants?

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 5:01 pm

I always check out the about page also. It gives me a little bit of information about the person I will be taking advice from. I know I have been scared away from many blogs after I have read the about page.

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James September 16, 2008 at 11:12 pm

I had long neglected the About page but really when you think about it, it is one of the most important pages of a blog. It explains who you are and what your blog is all about. Yet I find myself rarely checking out About pages and my own About page only ranks #36 in terms of pageviews (at least the bounce rate is 0%!).

I’m not entirely sure about narrating in the third person – it just sounds so, well, impersonal…

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Jamie September 17, 2008 at 1:57 am

I can’t remember which of the newsletters in my inbox discussed this last week, but it must be a popular topic lately. Since I write for SEO companies, we often collaborate on how to change the feel of a website. this often requires providing a more personal feel for customers. One way to do this is to include personal and professional bios for employees, and include a smiling picture for each bio.

Jamies last blog post..9 Steps to Clearer Writing: Keep it Flowing

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James September 17, 2008 at 4:53 am

I agree with taking a more personal approach. That way it is easier for readers to relate to you – they are not just reading words on the screen. I don’t mind using my own picture both in my about page and as an avatar on all my comments across the blogosphere. I just think that it is easier to relate to a smiling face.

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 4:55 pm

I completely agree about using a picture. People want to feel like they know you they really don’t want to guess what you look like. That’s how I feel anyways.

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TheContestBlogger September 17, 2008 at 2:50 am

Are you sure that’s the way you want to go? Definitely, writing from third person’s view will make your About page more professional and attractive but there are some who think that bloggers should write about themselves from first person perspective. Perhaps you can get people to write about you from third person perspective and you can include that in your About page? I have also seen people posting pictures relevant to themselves such as working place, car, house, favorite card games, books, etc. This would be a creative way for people to know about you with least words, pictures paint a thousand words, don’t they?

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Yan Shall Blog September 17, 2008 at 9:37 am

I do agree on the importance of “about me” page as your readers deserve the right to know who is talking to them and who they are talking to.

Nonetheless, I’m not too sure if “…became a blogging millionaire”..sounds like a hard-hitting sales copy. Personally I prefer a more toned down version of it..

Yan

Yan Shall Blogs last blog post..Post Install To-Do List – 10 Plugins You Ought To Install

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James September 17, 2008 at 2:20 pm

At the same time (even though anyone could write anything) it helps establish some authority for the author within this niche. Personally, I am more inclined to read an author who clearly has already had a lot of success doing what he is essentially writing about. That is far more attractive to me than say, ‘I made $100 this month!’ – although that type of blog may have its place.

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 4:48 pm

I really understand what you’re saying. I always wonder what attracts the person to a blog. But it isn’t always about content, content. I also like to read blogs from people that are successful. I just find inspiration in what they actually talking about. I have to find inspiration somewhere because even though I have made quite a bit of money I can’t find the inspiration. I am just as normal as any other person.

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 4:54 pm

I think we just all have to have our own pitch to get people to subscribe. considering that I have many million dollars I just thought it is a good pitch for me. Yaro Starak’s pitch has been I make six figures only working two hours a day blogging. He has admitted that it isn’t even true.

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Yan Shall Blog September 17, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Well, you certainly have your point..and why not if you really did make your million dollars..

Yan

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Eric September 17, 2008 at 1:16 pm

That’s great information, and I have honestly really have not given much thought to my about page and it’s something that I am going to have to look into more. That does make sense that people are always wanting to know more about the person or the idea behind the blog…Great information!

Eric

Erics last blog post..$200 For Being a Commentator It’s Just That Simple – Keep it SEO Simple

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Chelle September 17, 2008 at 1:58 pm

I just recently updated my about page and many other things on my site as I am planning a new redesign in the next week (waiting for the theme to be finished now!) I added bios for my guest posters also, so hopefully it looks a little more polished now.

Chelles last blog post..Love Homework: Include Your Spouse

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 4:51 pm

You sound like you are getting your blog together. I cannot wait to hear about your successes down the road. If you would ever be interested in guest posting on this blog just let me know.

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Eric September 17, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I was wondering though, what actually do you mean by this statement, “My bounce rate for my about page was 60%”. Does this mean that 60% visitors are visiting your about page. Or that 60% visit your site straight to your about page. I am sort of confused on what you actually mean my this statement.

Thanks,

Eric

Erics last blog post..$200 For Being a Commentator It’s Just That Simple – Keep it SEO Simple

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Franklin Bishop September 17, 2008 at 4:49 pm

I’m basically saying that 60% of the people that go to my about page leave my blog and the other 40% that go to my about page go on to another page of my blog.

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Ryan McLean September 17, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Hey franklin,
I hope you look forward to me commenting a lot on your blog because I want to win that $200.
Just a question. Do you count as a top commentator because I noticed that you are number one in the top commentator spot…that seems a little wrong to have yourself in there

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Franklin Bishop September 18, 2008 at 2:28 am

I know you wanna win that $200. Just make sure to read the rules because it only counts if you comment once every hour. Don’t bother looking at the top commentator widget. It doesn’t mean much.

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Yan Shall Blog September 18, 2008 at 2:36 am

Here comes the comment king, Ryan “the kid” McLean…Good to see you, pal…

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Tiffany Silvers September 18, 2008 at 12:30 am

I think this should be one of the beginning steps when creating your blog. You need a good about page right away so that you never lose someone that is possibly going to be a subscriber. For the people that do not have an about page, I think you’re just turning yourself because it does build credibility.

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Ryan McLean September 19, 2008 at 5:26 am

THis is a pretty cool about page. The word “millionaire” really sticks out to me. I didn’t know you were a millionaire. This is amazing, I really want to become a millionaire online. If I save up $1,000,000 then I can stop working and retire. I am only 20 and I would love to retire before I turn 25 so I have just 5 years to save $1,000,000.
I am doing that through my blog.
I really like your about page

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Debo Hobo September 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm

I originally had a ton of info on my page I jus recently last week slimmed it down. but, I feel I need to add more specific information so mine is still a ork in progress.

Debo Hobos last blog post..Blog Expo-Problogger Suffers Jet Lag John Chow Still On The Move

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Keep It SEO Simple September 25, 2008 at 11:17 am

I’ve known for a while that the “About us” page is the one that many people come to my web sites to view first. In fact, I myself go there when I want to know more about a certain web site. In any case these are some good tips for livening them up and I look forward to trying them out myself.

Keep It SEO Simples last blog post..Application Letter For Copywriting Position

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sean September 28, 2008 at 11:35 am

Hey Franklin, the more i read your stuff the more i can see that you know what you are doing. “about page” is so important because having a unique site is so hard – there is almost definitely other similar sites.

My about page was a lot worse and i have improved it a bit but i still need to work on it.

sean

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James September 28, 2008 at 6:02 pm

My about page still only ranks #34 but represents only 0.068% of all page views. I guess that this goes to show that for some sites people just are not all that interested in it. As for you, I can understand why it would rank so high. People are probably more interested in finding how more about this so-called self-made blogging millionaire than little old me.

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my blog February 11, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Can you provide more information on this?

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james February 12, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I really liked your blog!will chck back soon again thx

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ben cotten March 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm

I want to say that i agree with the original posters comments.Ca someone else make a better point?

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will bendz March 24, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Can you provide more information on this?

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Government Loan Modification Program March 28, 2009 at 12:02 am

Nicely said, I enjoy the time that it took to research and write. Great work.

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SEO Optimizer April 25, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Useful information. Helped me figure out few things. Keep up the good work.

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things to do in seattle April 29, 2009 at 6:22 am

Great work! I also have my own blog I just find it hard to write quality content like this.
I guess I really don’t have the time.

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chandler May 3, 2009 at 3:06 pm

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader.

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