I don’t know about you but I hate that headline. It lacks personality and isn’t nearly as fun as writing something like The Oral Adventures of Blogging.
Of course that particular headline is a reference to a Thanksgiving dinner where after I was asked to explain the point and purpose of blogging and social media to the table, but only after I had partaken of some ‘spirits.’
Twenty-five years ago those same ‘spirits’ wouldn’t have been an issue because in those days I was far more ‘spiritually inclined’ than I am now so I could have given a proper description about these social media platforms we use.
What Is Your Blog About?
Since I knew I wasn’t providing the sort of clear and concise explanation about how to use some of these platforms I flipped back to blogging because that is easy.
Your blog is a place to tell stories. If it is a personal blog you focus on your stories and if it is a business blog you focus on your customer’s stories and how your business can help them.
In the midst of this ‘spiritual encounter’ I realized that it is probably time to look at what my blog says about me again and to determine if I am happy with it.
The Most Important Page
I suppose we could debate about how to determine about what a blog says about you. We could spend time talking about content, design and whether there is a mission statement.
But I’d rather focus on the “About Me” page of a blog because if people are really interested in you that is where they go to learn more about you.
I wrote my “About Jack” page more than a year ago and have made very few changes to it. It is probably time for an update.
How Often Should You Update The “About” Page?
My best answer is to review your page quarterly and then determine if any significant changes have taken place that are worth noting.
I see several things worth tweaking on mine, but I’ll keep those items to myself..for now.
On A Serious Note
On a serious note what we post can last forever so it makes sense to think about what we are doing and if it is in line with whatever goals we may have.
Sometimes these words and pictures are all that people have to judge us by. So what does your blog say about you.
Hello Jack, I don’t think my blog really tells stories. I struggle with whether my About page should be about me or the blog. I would prefer it to be about my blog but people keep telling me that it should be about me.
Maybe I should be telling stories instead. Can my About page be fictional? 😉
Hi Carolyn,
I am willing to bet many “About” pages are fictional. Fictional characters can be a lot of fun, you could do it.
You made me laugh so thank you!
I do love an “About” page. I think it says so much about the author and yours certainly says a lot!
When I started blogging I developed 2 blogs: one personal, one business. The business one now has 30ish posts and the personal – 1. My blog is far less “formal” than my website and speaks volumes for my personality. On the up side I think this definitely makes me more approachable and when you’re in communications this can only be a good thing!
My blog also gives me an opportunity to showcase work that people (clients) wouldn’t otherwise get to see. It also populates my Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Maximising the ROI for my 10-15 minutes spent writing (when I get the time).
PS – I wish we celebrated Thanksgiving so I could be more spiritual.
Hi Jane,
Nice to meet you. I see blogs in a very similar light. They are a living edition of our C.V. and an excellent opportunity to try to provide people with more expansive sense of who we are.
That is important and I agree it makes you far more approachable.
P.S. My cousin in Melbourne celebrated Thanksgiving so I think you can certainly make plans for next year. 😉
Stories. I love them because they turn the mundane, black and white into emotion and color. They hook me. They do more to demonstrate something than how and why-to’s ever could.
My blog this time around was purposeful. I love the theme- pink, scrolled lettering, sort of simple. It expresses the feeling part of me. The title, “What If Today…” gave me the freedom to play with whatever came to my mind. It’s evolving as all blogs do. Come January my plan is to start a site with this blog as a tab. We’ll see.
I tried to explain blogging over Thanksgiving, too. “Interesting,” was the common response. What was lacking was their personal experience with blogging, and the community it provides. Maybe I should have related it to hockey-EVERYONE of them plays hockey: blogging is like joining a hockey team- you go to the rink, join a team, and give it your all. Some times you win the game. Sometimes you don’t. But you love your team, how you feel when you play, and know that people who don’t play don’t get it!
Hi Betsy,
Stories are among the great gifts of life and I am always grateful when I am given the opportunity to listen to one.
Sometimes the best way to tell a compelling story is to find that hook that everyone relates to, hockey sounds like it would have been perfect for your crowd.
I think about this all the time. What does my blog say about me…
My worst nightmare is someone crucial like a bank loan officer or my children’s teachers google me and find my blog only to make some hasty judgement call on me based on my writing.
On the one hand I try to be myself (my writing voice), on the other hand i have this worry of what other people will think of me if they saw the real un-corked me..
Funny story, I have built a following of Christians. Don’t ask why, anyways, some of them have befriended me on facebook. I have nothing against Christians mind you. I am catholic myself. I posted a meme with the word “Ass” in it and these same people were up in arms telling me to delete the meme, that I should be ashamed of myself blah blah blah.
I made the decision right then and there to write more like myself within reason to repel these people. “unfriend unfriend unfriend and so on.
Anyways, I have to toe the line with my blog in being myself, attracting like minded people who like what i have to say but also repel people who won’t gag when they see a glimpse of my other side that likes to say the word Ass every once in a while.
But i digress. Have a great day Jack..
Hi Annie,
Your comment speaks to me. I used to be far more cavalier about what I write but as time has passed I have developed similar concerns to those you voiced.
It is not always easy to show who we are here without being concerned that someone will read a post and make a split second judgment.
I wrote a post about getting arrested that has generated many emails and comments but the thing that makes me laugh is that it was fiction. Not only was it fiction, it was marked as such.
But I hear you, the line we straddle as we try to be ourselves and not repel potential customers and employers isn’t always clear.