Why you MUST have an About page on your blog--a good one!

I look at a lot of blogs and websites through a wide variety of channels. Some from Twitter, some from myspace or other social networking sites, some from video sites, and some from less informational sources, such as Entrecard. I'll be honest, most of the sites I run into aren't very interesting to me unless it's a specific topic I'm really interested in with a lot of very useful content right up-front. If it's a personal blog (as in not a marketing blog, get-rich-quick site, payperpost, etc), and I'm not taken by the content immediately, then there's one thing I always do--look for the About page.

But oh no! Your blog doesn't have an About page! Or if there is one, it's not filled out, or just a generic Blogger/Blogspot profile page with no info. What do I do now? Most likely, never take the time to read your blog again. Why is that? Because...

The About page on a blog tells me about YOU. What you do, what you like, what you talk about, where you're from, etc. This one single page oftentimes is the deciding factor as to whether I want to keep following your blog. And if I decide to follow it, follow it I will--I'm addicted to my Google Reader. Friday, I had 1000+ posts waiting for me. Now? None. Well, there's one now, but you get my point.

I'm a very social person, always have been. If I'm reading a blog, I'm interested in the person, not just the content. You have an About page that says that you're a tech support specialist by day, musician and photographer by night? Ohmigod, me too!!1!1!!1111!one!

Here's an example, and it's a really appropriate one, I think. Nick Campbell's greyscalegorilla is a photo/personal blog I've been following for a while. I like his photography, personality, and his other topics (such as his work with Digital Kitchen, a very awesome digital production house I've been a fan of for a long time now). Well, one day (recently, I might add) I got bored, checked out his about page, and read further down than I had before. "Waitaminute, Nick won a grand prize on America's Funniest People? I used to watch that show ALL the time as a kid! I wonder if I've seen him on it," I thought as I clicked the youtube link. It loads up, shows the first contestant (Nick) and sure enough, I remember watching that whole thing, and remember seeing him win! Absolutely hilarious, and it made my day completely. I don't know Nick personally, never spoken to him, really, but by what he had posted on his About page, I felt a little more knowledgeable about Nick Campbell as a person.

See, there's a bond--however minuscule and insignificant it is--that instantly makes me want to know more about you. And because I don't have your phone number, or work with you, a blog--or Twitter these days--is how I do that.

Now I'm not saying I'm all codependent and trying to stalk you and shit, that's not what I'm getting at. What I'm trying to say is this:

The internet gives us a way to connect to not just information, but other human beings. Without barriers, borders, or any other impediments. So why would you want to create a blog--your persona online, so to speak, and not show your face? Your behavior? Your own self?

So when you go back to your blog, and think about "What can I do to make this blog better? Make my readers stick more? Care more?", just remember this post, and put up a kick-ass About page that will make your readers care, and feel more connected to you--therefore to your blog as well.