Archive for the Category »About «

Sep

No blogger wants to hear the words, “Your blog is ugly”.

Although most bloggers are concerned how they are perceived online and will ask fellow bloggers what they think of, or how they can improve their blogs, some bloggers REALLY don’t want to know.

They like their blog just as it is.

And that’s okay.

Today’s Lesson

I’ll admit, I don’t like receiving nor giving criticism. If not done correctly, it can project a negative vibe.

In fact, if you asked me what I think of your blog, I’d find something I like about it and pay you a compliment.

And, I’m not saying that just to please you.

Just like I wouldn’t come into your home and say “You need to move that picture.”, I don’t feel it’s my place to tell you how to design your own online space.

After all, your blog a reflection of YOU.

That said, I will share what I like to see on blogs.

What is the blog about?

Oftentimes the name of a blog does not reveal what a blog is about. That’s where the tagline comes in. A simple sentence will let readers know what our blog is about and what they can expect from us in the future.

Recent/favorite and/or random posts

When I land on a blog I’m not familiar with, I may want to read something other than the current article. If I can’t find older posts, I leave. I don’t have time to dig for them, nor do I want to keep hitting “previous” or “next”.

Where’s the “about me” page?

An “about” page doesn’t have to be long, but I like knowing a little about the blog author(s). Need help writing one? See this post on how to write an “about” page.

So there you have it, three things I look for when I land on a blog.

What about you?

Today’s Assignment

What do you look for when you land on a blog?

Would you want others to tell you how to improve your blog?

Care to share?

P.S. The same may not apply to business blogs which should look as professional as possible.

P.S.S. I’m not saying my blogs are perfect, rather they’re a work in progress – always evolving.

Category: About, Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Writing Tips Tags: About me page, Blogging, improve blog, Writing Tips 90 Comments

May

Psssst! Did You Know?

Barbara Swafford

I enjoy learning about fellow bloggers.

I like learning what makes them tick. What they’ve learned in life. What their dreams are, and those little quirks which make them unique.

Today’s Lesson

I’ve seen several blogs where the blog author has published 100 things about themselves; sort of like an “about me” page. It’s a fun read and the information shared gives readers a better idea of who’s behind the blog (even if they don’t share a photo).

The “100 Things About Me” lists are the basis for today’s lesson.

Let’s have some fun and share a tidbit or two about ourselves which others probably don’t know. I see this as a great way to not only share a little more about who we are, but possibly meet new friends in the process.

I’ll go first.

A hobby of mine is genealogy.

After searching for over a year, I finally found copies of the ship’s manifest showing when my Grandmother came to the United States from Finland. (Conflicting stories from relatives had sent me on a wild goose chase.)

In elementary school, penmanship was my favorite class.

To this day I still enjoy “hand writing’”.

I drove an 18-wheeler semi-truck.

When I lived in Alaska, my husband’s business was to haul freight to Prudhoe Bay and Valdez. On a return trip from Valdez, he taught me how to drive the truck so I’d know what to do in the event of an emergency.

Now it’s your turn.

Today’s Assignment

What are some tidbits about you others might not know?

Care to share?

P.S. I’ve seen blogs and Facebook pages where TOO much information is shared; information which could easily be used by identity thieves. Please do not leave personal information in your comment which could jeopardize your identity.

Category: About, Blogging, Blogging Lessons 99 Comments

May

What Does It Say About You?

Barbara Swafford

The “About Me” page of a blog is often the first thing a new visitor will read. After all, they want to know who is behind the words.

They may want to know, can the words be trusted? Is the author an expert of some sort? Or, what makes the person who is writing the blog, tick?

Unfortunately, for some, the “About Me” page is the hardest page to write.

Today’s Lesson

For those who have trouble writing your about page, I’d suggest starting with the five “W”s.

Who
Here’s your chance to tell your readers who you are; a brief description of yourself. A place to show your personality. Your humor.
What
What can a reader expect to find on your blog? Now, or in the future.
Why
You could include a paragraph or two of why your started blogging. What you hope to accomplish with your blog.
When
If you want to let your readers know how often you’ll be updating your blog, you could include it in your about page
Where
Where else can readers find you? On Twitter? Facebook? Other blogs? Via a feed? Or updates via email? Don’t forget to include the links.

If you feel comfortable having your photo online, your about page is a great place to publish that, as well.

What I would advise NOT to include on your about page:

Your full birthdate
Publishing your birthdate online could lead to identity theft, as could publishing a post stating “I turned 40 today”.
Your physical address
Although some bloggers feel the need to publish an address where others can contact them, I’d suggest using a contact form or post office box instead. Publishing a physical address could lead to stalking.
Childrens photographs.
I’d also advise bloggers with children or grandchildren to be careful of the photographs they publish of children online. With so many sickos frequenting the internet, one never knows what could be done with those photos or where they could end up.

For those of you who are publishing blog posts under an alias, readers still want to know “something” about you and what they can expect to find when they visit your blog.

In the guest post by Greg Blensoe of “Positive Waves Baby”, Greg mentioned how he incorporates a page titled “100 things About Me” as a way to tell his readers a little more about himself.

Today’s Assignment

What do you like to see on “About Me” pages?

What’s on yours?

Care to share?

signature for blog post .

P.S. For earlier discussions on the about page, see the archived post “About me – The Most Important Page On Your Blog”

P.S.S. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on this post, professional blogger and social media consultant Vered, shared a link on Facebook to a post titled,”Consumer Reports: Half of Social Network Users are “Oversharing”; Endangering Privacy. It’s a great read which reiterates the necessity of self monitoring that which we share online.