So you're ready to write your 'About' page?
So you're ready to write your 'About' page?
Week 2, task 2 - (Set up your home page on Substack - a 30 day challenge).
Hi! 🙋🏽♀️ I’m Claire. I’m an Engagement Consultant and Mentor and director of a company called Creatively Conscious. I teach folks how to grow joyfully and sustainably on Substack here at
. I’m delighted you’re here. Set out your chair, grab a cup of tea, come cosy in, we have time, there is so much time. Welcome to Sparkle on Substack, welcome to the place you make your Substack dreams a reality.https://www.creativelyconscious.co.uk/
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Hi all,
How are you? ✨
WELCOME to task 2 of the set up your home page on Substack in 30 days challenge.
Great for beginners but there are some advanced tips too! It’s a long one today…
How often do you refresh your about page?
I refresh mine every 3 months. I’ve been here for two years now.
In that time, there’s been more to say, some re-writes, some kind words added… a photo or two switched up.
Let’s get into it…
If you missed last week’s post on creating your ‘logo’ it’s here in your Simple Substack Advice section here at
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Your about page is (really) important.
It’s important for those reading in the app and it’s important to capture those reading on desktop too.
It’s also a place that lives and breathes with you and it’s ok if you just have a few words of invitation there for now…
It’s a place people might check if you send an email/ post out. They might circle back to check what they signed up for and who they signed up to. On that - make sure your writer name is ALWAYS attached to your posts like mine above…
It isn’t your CV! It’s MORE about what your reader will experience and find here on your Substack.
It’s less about who you are and what you’ve done in the world…it’s a part of your heart.
Some journalling prompts to explore to help you approach your about page…
I’ve supported over 30 writers and 250 members to re-write their about page. The creative process of feeling the about page is finished helps us feel ready to receive our readers…
This week on the Sparkle Members Call we explored what should be there, how we could enhance it and how we can get out of our own way. Come check out the replay and catch up with us?
NB - If you are NEW here, please delete the survey button automatically placed on your about page by Substack - you can circle back to that later and add it back in if it serves you.
What do we NEED in there… let’s break it down.
We’ll come to the page and press edit (top left) later.
For now…. write some notes and as much as you can on each of these components of your about page… leave anything that’s not relevant… set a timer for 20 minutes and see how much of this (in bullet points) you can explore?
WELCOME - how do you want to welcome people, invite folks in - with a phrase, a quote, a photo? Something from your brand if you have a strong brand figured out…
Where are you in the world?
What’s around you as you write?
Why are you writing, why are you sending newsletters/ posts/ audio/ pieces of letter writing connection…
About your ideal reader/s - who do you hope will join you?
About me… /A photo of you/ the life I/ things you love… yes cake, pets, places are welcome - remember it’s not a CV…
Why you’re here on Substack right now…did you move your mailing list, want to start one, want to write, want to explore a new space, tell your readers why…
What sets you apart?
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What I hope to publish and when…
What I hope to publish for free subs…
What I hope to publish/ do publish for paid subs…/ What I hope to offer ‘founding members’ (if anything)…
BONUS - how do you want to put off the subscribers that aren’t your people! In other words - how are you a beacon of light for YOUR people?1
A THOUGHT - depending on how you are looking to find subscribers you might need a line on what Substack actually is - eg ‘the platform I use to deliver my newsletter’
TECH - you can add video, you can’t upload audio but you could add a hyperlink to your pod or another place you have audio…
READ a handful of of your Substackers about pages.
Here are some of my favourites from a mix of writers/ creatives;
& ,, , , , , , , ,https://inhaste.substack.com/about
https://jessicarosewilliams.substack.com/about
https://thehyphen.substack.com/about
https://laurenbarber.substack.com/about
https://hypeyourself.substack.com/about
https://www.introvertdrawingclub.com/about
https://clarealbans.substack.com/about
https://bethkempton.substack.com/about
https://www.tenminuteartist.com/about
https://sarahshotts.substack.com/about
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You’ll see an about page has a perfect length decided by whoever writes it!!! You!
What (I think) definitely needs to go in you about page…
Social proof - quotes, kind words, awards, books published etc - I have a file on my desktop called kind words so I’m never short of those. If you haven’t got any yet make a note to ask for some as part of your 3 month plan…
A SUBSCRIBE button - I’d advise no other links if you can help it, at least until further down the page. You can pop plenty of links in your ‘welcome email’ - we’ll look at those soon!
Consider your style - emojis, bullet points, breaking up the page… imagine someone skimming the page, someone reading every word, someone pressing subscribe after sentence one - your readers are ALREADY on their way! ✨
Once you’ve written everything out, come to the keys and write… For the purpose of this challenge and getting it DONE, ✅ aim for THREE PARAGRAPHS then edit then save then keep the rest to refer back to WHEN you have time.
Ok we have 7 days to get something we LOVE in the about page space! Go wide then hone in and KNOW it’s enough…
Ready?
Yay!
REMEMBER, you can add to it and you can change it of course but I’d love you to get something you are happy to stick with in place of the standard Substack message and grow into, something that you feel represents you and your publication.
When you’re happy with your page post the URL here in the comments and go find someone else’s to read and then come back and cheerlead their progress!!?
I’ll be back here next week with your next challenge as part of the Set up your Substack Homepage in 30 Days Challenge - let’s go!
Questions? There are NO silly questions; let me know what you need in the comments.
What’s the first step you’re going to take to write up your about page? If you LOVED this mini journalling class on about pages re-stack it to Substack Notes and share so more people can share in this work. Remember, you know you and you will get to know your readers - this is simply advice from how I understand Substack the world to be right here and now.
Let’s SPARKLE on Substack!
Claire
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PS - don’t forget to circle back, post your about page link in the comments and choose someone else’s page to take a look at too.
When I called this publication Sparkle on Substack I knew I would exclude a lot of people. People who want to discount sparkle as a real thing to aim for in life and that’s been both my experience and my joy here. ALMOST everyone who arrives is a great fit for my work - that’s the beauty of a strong invite, a considered and clear brand, a place where people know in their gut if it’s for them or not.
Oh my goodness, haha, a subscribe button. How had I managed to forget to include a subscribe button? Thank you so much!
This is my about page, now complete wjth subscribe button!
https://returntoyourtrees.substack.com/about
This was such a helpful prompt! It made me realise I hadn't edited my 'about' page in 18 months, so thanks to you, I have just given it a big makeover. If anyone would like to take a look, it's here: https://janeporter.substack.com/about
Thankyou for your always-inspiring posts Claire!