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Yes, Your Small Business Needs an 'About' Page

Pratik Dholakiya
Pratik Dholakiya
business.com Member
Mar 15, 2019

Your website's About page wields more marketing muscle than any other piece of content.

Though the About page is fundamental to nearly every website, most business owners tend to simply "get it over with" by filling it with a brief, uninspiring bio, not realizing just how valuable an asset it really is.

As a matter of fact, it is one of the most frequently visited pages on your website. A 2015 study reveals that 52 percent of people tend to visit a company's About page when they first land on the homepage.

Why your 'About' page matters

So, why do so many people exhibit such behavior? Shouldn't they check out the Pricing section first? Or perhaps all the content and resources that you offer?

It's simple. Here's an analogy: when you meet a new person at some event, what's the first thing that you do? You check for similarities. By asking about their background, hobbies, favorite food, and so on, you try to discern whether they have a "similar story" as you. It is only when you find them credible that you start forming a meaningful connection with them and consider investing effort in maintaining the relationship.

Similarly, when a prospect visits your website for the first time, they head to the About page to find out if they can trust you. They want to know your story and judge whether you "get them" and their problems. They want to understand why you're doing what you're doing. Therefore, if you create a personal, likable, and believable About page, your prospects are more likely to be comfortable buying from you.

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How to create a cogent 'About' page

Finding your company's unique identity and voice, and then translating it into a well-crafted copy will take time. However, keep the following guidelines in mind and you'll be well on your way to creating a compelling About Us page.

Keep it customer-centric

Your About page does not have to be all about you. Your customers are on your website because they are facing a problem/challenge with which they need your help. If you are able to prove that you understand their problem, they'll feel more inclined to trust you.

So, don't glorify your company by just writing big, philosophical missions and visions. Instead, do write them but keep it real and very clear that you're here to solve their problems. Also, don't hesitate to parade some genuine client testimonials to prove your quality of work.

Tell your story

Storytelling is an extremely powerful means to captivate your audience's attention. An engaging story about your business's humble beginnings can establish an immediate trust in your customer's mind.Share how your product or service was developed to improve lives. Talk about the problems or challenges which you faced yourself which led you to start this business. Genuine stories humanize your brand, providing context and meaning for your business.

Confirm you're not a robot

Feature your best employees with their photographs and short bios. It makes your business look more authentic and human. So, for example, if someone wants to reach out to your human resources department, they know exactly whom to ask for when they call. 

Make it memorable

Whatever you do, do not make your About page boring. Strive to create a lasting impression on the minds of your prospects so they don't forget you the moment they close the tab. People are far more likely to do business with people they like. Forming the right first impression with your 'About' page can make all the difference. While the above example is different from BuildFire's one, it still looks professional and authentic. And a bit of humor is always welcome. 

Finish with a call-to-action

Last but not least, don't leave your prospect hanging. If you've done your 'About' page right, ending it with a call-to-action can seal the deal. Some examples include:

  • "Check out our [product name]"
  • "Start your free trial"
  • "Browse our catalog"
  • "Schedule an appointment"

Even a simple "Shop Now" button can work well if crafted well.

Your About page is not just a requirement that needs to be fulfilled because everyone has one and is considered "standard." Especially for small businesses which lack brand value, creating an amazing About page is akin to making a lead generating machine.

 

 

Image Credit: Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko / Shutterstock
Pratik Dholakiya
Pratik Dholakiya
business.com Member
Pratik Dholakiya is the Founder of The 20 Media, a content marketing agency specializing in content & data-driven SEO. He regularly speaks at various conferences about SEO, Content Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Digital PR. Pratik has spoken at 80th Annual Conference of Florida Public Relations Association, NextBigWhat’s UnPluggd, IIT-Bombay, SMX Israel, SEMrush Meetup, MICA, IIT-Roorkee and other major events. As a passionate SEO & content marketer, he shares his thoughts and knowledge in publications like Search Engine Land, Search Engine Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fast Company, The Next Web, YourStory and Inc42 to name a few.