No, this is not a philosphical question in the best "cogito, ergo sum" tradition (although I can go there given half a chance if you really want me to).
I have been getting more and more feedback about the lack of an "About" page or a profile. But what do I put on such a page?
I can phrase the question in either a general or a specific way.
General:
What makes a good "About" or profile page?
or,
Specific:
What would you like to know about me?
or,
Somewhere inbetween:
What would you usually like to know about someone whose blog you are reading?
Comments (6)
....from somebody who hates about-pages and needs to set one up for her new blog also......
i think a good about-page gives you a personal feeling for the author of the website.
I believe it's not necessarily about the "whole" person, but about the part of the person that is relevent for the topic of the website.
Here for example i don't think i would want to know whether you have cats and dogs and what you like to eat, but rather whether you are a reader only, or whether you are writing also.
Whether you have to do with books, reading or writing in your professional life, roughly whether you are just starting out with your life, whether you are around 40 or 50, or a wise elderly lady.
I believe an about page is similar to a synopsis of a book. There are so many blogs out there and sometimes i just skip through link lists of blogs. I don't have the time to read the whole archive to get an impression, but a good about-page can do the trick and i get hooked.
warmly
mia
Posted by mia | October 12, 2005 4:25 PM
Posted on October 12, 2005 16:25
I struggled with this too, so went for 40 (now 42) useless facts.
Posted by Em³ | October 14, 2005 12:02 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 12:02
I like relatively brief About pages that scan well (and quickly), that give you a glimpse of the person behind the blog and their blog persona, and suggest topics covered, interests, obsessions.
An About page can help me decide if I want to explore a blog further.
Think about some of the readers you know. What do they like about your blog? What brings them back? (For instance, I like your bookishness, your thoughtfulness, and that you're observant. Nice design and layout too!)
It's a good exercise in thinking about what you and your blog, together, are about. I change mine a lot. :)
Posted by Amy | October 14, 2005 3:13 PM
Posted on October 14, 2005 15:13
Most of the canned profile pages (including my own) concentrate on irrelevant information. What's the difference, e.g., how many tattoos I may have? By the way, my favorite bands and my underwear preference are essentially irrelevant to the content of my blog.
Okay, those are extreme examples. But I tend to glean the most from personal descriptions of personal distinctives. I.e., what is it that makes this blog and blogger different? Age, hair color, etc. are best left to personals sites; this should give clues into what makes the blogger tick, and what one may find this particular blogger dealing with in his or her entries.
Posted by Chrysalis | October 15, 2005 7:38 AM
Posted on October 15, 2005 07:38
actually sivani, i quite like knowing very little.
avoids pre-judgements and creates a bit of mystery.
then whatever you disover you do so almost by accident. through your blog entries.
make sense?
no. didn't think so.
Posted by briggy | October 15, 2005 9:40 AM
Posted on October 15, 2005 09:40
Taking the time to get to know a given blogger is more valuable than all the "About Me" information in the world. "About Me" is what the blogger wants to be thought of as being. The entries are a bit closer to the real person. But then again, we are all much like an onion. Peel away one skin, and there's another to peel away. Is there a core? Or are we, like the onion, merely the sum of our skins?
Posted by Chrysalis | October 18, 2005 7:30 AM
Posted on October 18, 2005 07:30