Why this page matters
On many personal sites, the About page is among the first places a visitor goes after the home page. Someone who has found your name in a search, a message or a conference program usually wants to answer a simple question: who is this person, and are they relevant to me? An effective page answers that quickly and then invites the visitor to take the next step.
It is easy to treat the page as a place to talk about yourself at length. A more useful way to think about it is as a page about you that is written for the reader. Everything on it should help a visitor understand how you might be useful or interesting to them.
A simple structure
You do not need a complicated layout. Many effective pages follow this order:
- A clear opening. One or two sentences saying who you are and what you do or care about, in plain words. Avoid starting with your life story.
- Who you help or what you work on. Describe the kind of work, audience or topics, with enough detail for a stranger to picture it.
- A little proof or background. Relevant experience, training or a few concrete examples. Keep every claim accurate and avoid overstating.
- A personal touch. A sentence or two about interests or values that give a sense of how you work. Keep it brief.
- A next step. Tell the reader what to do now: view your work, read an article, or get in touch.
The top of the page matters most, since many visitors read only the first screen. Put the key information there.
Choose a point of view
Both first person (“I”) and third person (“Jordan is a designer who…”) are used on professional sites. First person tends to feel warmer and more direct, and it works well for individuals. Third person can feel more formal and is sometimes used for a short biography that others may copy for event programs. Whichever you choose, use it consistently throughout the page.
If you need a separate short version, a professional bio of a few sentences is a handy companion to the longer page. It is also worth having a spoken version, like an elevator pitch, that conveys the same core message.
Tone
Write the way you would introduce yourself to a respectful stranger: friendly, clear and not boastful. Plain language works better than jargon, and specific details work better than adjectives such as “passionate” or “innovative,” which many pages use and few readers notice. Showing what you have done is more convincing than describing yourself.
At the same time, avoid false modesty. It is fine to state your experience plainly. The goal of an authentic voice is to sound like yourself on a good day, not like a template.
It also helps to read the page aloud. Awkward sentences and unnatural phrases tend to stand out when spoken.
Photos and visuals
A clear, recent profile photo helps visitors connect a name with a person. Choose an image where your face is visible, the lighting is even and the background is uncluttered. If you prefer not to show your face, a simple image related to your work can serve instead, and the decision is entirely yours. Add alt text to any image so the page works for visitors using screen readers.
Keep the look in line with the rest of the site, using the same colors and fonts you use elsewhere.
Support the claims you make
If you mention clients, results, awards or credentials, make sure they are accurate and that you have permission to name any organizations or people. A kind comment from a colleague or client can add social proof, provided it is real and approved by the person who said it. Do not invent endorsements, inflate numbers or imply connections you do not have.
What to leave out
- A full résumé timeline. A separate resume page or downloadable file can hold that.
- Private details such as a home address, family members’ names or daily routines. Think about what you would be comfortable having read by anyone, including people you would not choose to contact you.
- Long lists of every skill or tool you have touched.
- Negative remarks about past employers or clients.
- Old information that no longer applies.
End with a way forward
Finish with a clear invitation, such as a link to your work or a note on how to reach you. A line like “If you would like to work together or just say hello, here is how to reach me” is enough, and it leads naturally into a contact page where details and expectations can be set out clearly.
Keep it current
Review the page every so often. Roles change, projects end, and a page that describes you as you were three years ago can mislead. Updating a couple of sentences once or twice a year is usually enough.
The best About page is not the most impressive one but the most useful: honest, easy to read and clear about what happens next. Start with a short draft, ask a friend whether it matches how they would describe you, and refine from there.