If you’ve been reading up on my blog posts, you already know that I believe the “About Me” section of a website is a critical one for online marketers. After all, it’s the only place where your followers will learn about who you are, why you’re involved in the industry, and why they should trust you with their time and money.
With so many great opportunities available in the “About Me” section of a website, it still amazes me when I visit an entrepreneur’s website…
And I can’t locate their name!
I can’t tell you how many Fan pages or social media profiles I’ve gone to where the business logo is the main picture, and everything is written in the third person. And let me tell you, this drives me absolutely nuts. I know the reason online marketers do this is because they want to create an air of professionalism. But if you’re not even mentioning your name within your profiles and fan pages, how reliable can you really be?
My first reaction to not being able to find a name is frustration, then suspicion. And if this is my reaction, I can guarantee you that it’s other people’s reactions as well. Why wouldn’t you want to put your name on your online business…unless you were trying to hide something? While that may not necessarily be true, it is certainly the way the mind approaches this lack of information.
Do yourself a favor and make your name prominent on all your profiles and fan pages. Your followers and I will thank you for it!
So tell me, am I just being nit-picky, or do you agree having your name on your business site is important?
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To Your Continued Business Success!
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I agree. Why would people do business with someone who won’t even reveal their name. Seems like common sense to have your name on your web site.
Melodie Kantner recently posted..Why Building A Strong Success Mindset is Crucial
You see, that is exactly how I think about it too Melodie. It is common sense! And I noticed on your site, that your name is right there which I love! I am able to feel like I an connecting with you, especially when I am leaving a comment. Including the person’s name is always a stronger way to communicate no matter if you are online or offline.
Thank you Melodie for visiting today and sharing your comments. I look forward to you visiting again real soon. Have a great day.
You’re not being nit-picky at all Lynn. I”m the same way and in fact I also get really sketchy about interacting with people if they don’t have any way to contact them directly. I understand about not having a phone number listed everywhere, but at least have an email. When the contact info only leads to a sales page or worse back to the same page I’m on it makes me wonder what they are hiding and how much they will spam me if I connect.
Bonnie recently posted..An Important Truth About Mindset
That is a good point Bonnie. Everyone online pretty much has an email address. So at least sharing that gives your audience a way to connect with you if they want. So thanks for pointing that out.
I really don’t like it when I’m only taken to a sales page and can’t find a site or any other way to connect. I too will find that suspicious and now I won’t even go further. I just click away. And I believe that is what a lot of other consumers are doing these days as well. So those business owners wondering why they don’t have sales, take a look at the way you come across to people online
Always appreciate your comments Bonnie – thanks for stopping by!
I completely agree. I want to know the who!
Tambre Leighn recently posted..Taking Stock
I agree Tambre, thanks for stopping by today. Appreciate it very much!
The funny thing is that as online marketers, we are also content generators. We write articles to drive traffic to our posts and to our sales pages. We combine articles into reports and even ebooks for the Kindle. Maybe we even turn all the stuff we have in a real book.
And if you have enough content and expertise, it is probably time that you really start monetizing it by hosting your own event. That means you need to have a strong PERSONAL brand. Why would you hide behind a company or a product? People don’t read books or attend events put on by companies. They follow people and buy from people.
Great post and a very important reminder. By the way, one of the tips I give in my post about developing a strong personal brand is using your name and picture in social media profiles.
Daphne Bousquet recently posted..3 Ways To A Strong Personal Brand
Thanks Daphne, I just came from your blog post about Strong Personal Brand and appreciate your emphasis on letting people know who you are. Your name is very important. I didn’t mention this, but I see blog posts where they are still using ‘admin’ or some other ‘aka’ rather than their real name. That doesn’t do any good as today’s consumers are running from information that they cannot fully connect with.
Really appreciate you taking the time today to share your wonderful advice on this topic. Your expertise in event planning and associating that with having a strong personal brand is very important. So I hope others will take some time to visit your site. Have a great day!
Lynn Brown recently posted..Increasing Traffic To Your Blog With Twitter
It is very consistent to use your true name as a professional. I would consider your post as a helpful one for beginners.
Mika Castro recently posted..רב לייטמן
Thank you Mika for your supportive comments. Always good to see you sharing your insights. Have a great day!
Lynn Brown recently posted..Increasing Traffic To Your Blog With Twitter
Thanks Lynn I learned that early thank heavens! I am also gratified that my name is not the same as many others. I like the websites that someone may have a name that is common but they have found something unique about themselves to highlight. Like I met a man at the No Excuses and his name is Tom, but he is the furryhatguy, so his brand is “Tom the FurryHatGuy, and he is very fun to get to know. It brings you in to him. We do have to be willing to be vulnerable enough to let people see us, and that includes our name!
Lynda Cromar recently posted..How To Avoid MLM Deer In The Headlights Syndrome
I agree with you Lynda. Being vulnerable enough is a good message. Our name is our identity and hiding behind anything else just seems suspicious. I really like what you friend Tom has done to show his character with his name. You certainly won’t forget him, right? lol
Thank you Lynda …. Appreciate you stopping by and offering your wonderful advice and sharing how a name really is important.
This is an excellent article, Lynn , thank you for writing about this. I am in the middle of deciding my branding strategy. I like my icon of the sun on the blue background and I use that consistently across the internet. But I also use my name and my photo. So I am deciding whether to go with a photo avatar or stick with the sun icon.
But as far as identifying myself on my site, I do. My about me page is really an about us page, because my wife and I both run our site, but the idea or identification is a good one. A couple of years ago, before the FTC made all those Mommy Flogs persona non grata, it was almost as if, if you saw someone’s photo, you could pretty much think it was fake. Especially if it came from a stock photo site.
Nowadays, however, I think the social media push has made personalization of our online presence a mandatory thing, and more to the better I believe. Thank you again, this is really an important topic.
Michael recently posted..Open Door Policy
Glad you found this article interesting Michael. As you mention, identification is a good practice. I also feel that social media is moving business to be more visible to their audience. And the audience is actually demanding that they know who is behind the scenes, sort of speak. Long gone are the days of those fake profiles and images. And I am glad that they are.
Really appreciate you taking the time today to share your comments and good advice. I like your logo and if you are also adding your picture and your name, I think you have it all covered really well! Best to you and look forward to you visiting again soon.
Hi Lynn, I agree and it drives me nuts also, when I can’t find a name. Also, When I comment on a blog, I like to have the person’s name in my mind and to use it. It seems more like I’m speaking to the author when I know their name.
I don’t like it when people use “fake” photos of themselves either, I love to see a face even if it’s only small like the gravatars.
Julieanne van Zyl recently posted..How to embed your YouTube video into Blog Post
I do too Julieanne. I thought it was just common sense to add your name. I like addressing the person that has written the article or is the owner of the site. That way you feel like you are in a more personal discussion like we are having now!
I know many marketers out there build many sites for the various products that they sell. But it is still a person that people want to meet or know is behind that product. I believe we are gravitating to requiring visibility be the norm and not the exception. It can only help to create quality sites and better business for everyone.
Appreciate you stopping in and sharing your thoughts and advice. Look forward to you visiting again soon. Have a good day!
Yes i am agree with you. I have also seen some about us page they even dont write there name and its really irritating. I think we should write our own name on about us page with our Business logo
Thanks for sharing this unique article. This is my first time i am visiting on your Blog.
Amit Shaw recently posted..Impact of the Recent Google Changes to You
Welcome Amit, so glad that you stopped by and shared your comments. I am glad to hear how important that about me page or adding your name to your site is. Thanks again for visiting and hope to see you again soon!
Hi Lynn,
One thing that was missing from my blog until recently was an about page, I don’t know why I hadn’t add it earlier but it was a big mistake, every website should have a page where visitors can find out what this site is about, thanks for sharing…
Kostas recently posted..Free WordPress Installation Service – Start Blogging Now
I agree Kostas, the About page is a great way to share things about you, your business, purpose and how your audience will benefit from visiting or subscribing. But I have to tell you, that I still will come across about pages and there is no mention of their name, no picture and no signature so you have no idea who you are meeting. That is something I think many business owners and marketers are missing the boat.
People want to meet people, right? So I am glad that you added that About page and shared your thoughts on how important it is. Thanks again Kostas for stopping in today.
There is a myth that people deal with businesses but the truth is people deal with people. And people have names and pictures and voices and that is what people connect with so yes use your logo but SIGN your stuff and put your name against what you create – that gives copyright and even when you write on behalf of someone else you should write your name on behalf of or for and on behalf of…XYZ business
And it helps is your name is uncommon to get found
Roberta Budvietas, recently posted..3 – 5 – 7 Business By the Numbers
How very true that is Roberta …. people deal with people! And you make another good point about signing your name even to the ‘guest posts’ or other information that you are representing. Thank you very much for sharing your comments and adding to the discussion.
I use my corporate name- but almost every post is signed by me. I stand behind what I write.
And, I provide my biographical data.
One thing that Lynn did not mention is that posting your twitter handle (and others you may use, such as Pinterest, StumbleOn, etc.) are very important- if you wish to keep up a conversation and insure involvement by and with your readers.
Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. recently posted..Silent Killer
Oh that is a good point Roy! Our social profiles are really important if we want our information shared with others. Thank you so much for adding that to the discussion!
Yes, I found when I used my own image on Twitter vs. an icon I got much more engagement from other peeps. It made a difference and I’m sure the same goes for about me pages of a website.
Lisa recently posted..Loving the New WordPress 3.3.2 Updates!
Oh yes, that is a good one Lisa. I know for me, when I see that ‘egg’ logo for someone’s account, I pretty much won’t follow them. Thanks for coming by and adding your good advice! Nice to see you again and will see you over on Twitter too!