This is the most unusual post I have written, partly because it will be SHORT! But I am putting this together with the plan to submit it to the link parties I try to participate in regularly, but also other followers will see this and comment.
I love my Word Press site and not looking to leave it. But because I am so new to blogging (almost a year and a half) I did not understand what to do with the “About Me” section or the contact page. I admit I share a lot of personal information in my blog, it is a memoir after all. But I have hesitated to put anything more specific in terms of contact, my exact geographical location, phone, etc. I have listed my personal e-mail, because one account is plenty to keep up with for me.
I have come to realize that as a result of this lack of knowledge, I did not really have a functioning menu, or a helpful one.
A fellow (sister) blogger recently mentioned that my “About” page was impersonal. I was not insulted by that at all, in fact I was challenged and then inspired by her comment. Inspired enough to take action. Another blogger several weeks ago mentioned an inadequacy about my contact page.
I looked at the blogs of several people that I follow to see what their “About” page lists. It was helpful. I decided to try something I hope is creative, and a little different from everything I have seen. I used a lot of picture and attempted to “show” in pictures and “tell” less in words. I did use my words, I am a writer after all.
My hope is that looking at my “About” page give you a good enough idea of what you are likely to find inside the blog itself.
I am so pleased to have a functioning menu. Part of being new is that I acted under the assumption that interested readers would go right to the post without checking out the home page or menu.
What I have done is not set in stone, and I am not married to it. Like my writing, which is almost always long, there are a lot of pictures. Because of the nature of my blog is memoir, some of the pictures are old and worn. I am a little too!
So dear reader, please go to my site, https://msomervillesite.wordpress.com to the menu bar and click on About Me and The Beach Girl Chronicles. Constructive Comments welcomed.
Not holding back the tide,
Michele
Copyright 2020-2024 Michele Somerville, The Beach Girl Chronicles and https://msomervillesite.WordPress.com
Linking up with Esme Senior Salon, #Life This Week (Denyse Whelan) and Natalie the Explorer’s #Weekend Coffee Share
msomervillesite 
Hi Michele
I thought I’d reply here rather than in the comments section.
I love all the pics and info in your new About page – this page is different for all of us – I actually googled what to put in an About page (after several different pages over the years) and ended up with two versions (both under my “About” menu tag) because one was a general overview with some links in it for people to click to get an idea of what my blog’s about and the other was more info about me for anyone who was curious.
A couple of things I’d suggest for you to think about……(feel free to ignore them!) is putting a profile pic and a little intro in your sidebar – one consistent thing I’ve read over the years is that people like to associate a face with the blog when they find you. Also the “Contact” link on your menu is empty – I can see that you’ve put a link on your home page, but the actual one on the menu comes up as a page not found.
My last thought is that the very top picture on your blog would work better as a long panorama type pic rather than a square one because it takes up the whole page when you initially click through to your blog and people have to scroll down to see the blog itself. You could crop it and resize it to be more of a banner rather than a big photo.
I’ll leave it all with you – it’s great that you’re having fun tweaking things – I know my blog was REALLY basic when I started and it’s gradually evolved into something that I haven’t done much to for years. Maybe it’s time for a refresh for me too…..
Cheers Leanne http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
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Thank you for those great comments and suggestions. Replying from my phone but will sit with them with my computer. Food for thought. Blessings, Michele
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Hi Michele, well done on setting up your About page. It looks good and gives lots of information, I also love photos, so these are great! I would agree with most of the issues Leanne has mentioned. I know having a blog is a work in progress and it takes time to set it all up the way you want. You are doing really well!
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Cant wait to read and comment!
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Thanks Denyse, I’ll post it on #Life This Week on Sunday (Your Monday) when I get back from church.
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I am back…and thank you for sharing your thoughts. I admit when I first started my blog, it’s an self-hosted one using a wordpress theme, I looked to other bloggers for help and got it.
There is no point of reinventing the wheel but the About Me page needs to reflect you and the why you blog.
Mine gets updated a bit because my blogging focussed changed once I got cancer. I call my About Me “Who’s Denyse Whelan?”
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. It’s a great community that I enjoy hosting and your posts help make this so! Next week the optional prompt is 24/51 Nourish. 14 June. See you then I hope. Denyse
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Thanks very much Denyse, and thanks for taking the time to read through. I used a lot of pictures, more than I use in my blog, trying to do in some way what my college writing professors said often, “Show” don’t Tell”. Next week maybe:) Best and blessings, Michele
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Hi Michele, I just finished reading your “About Me” profile on your blogging site. I loved it. The pictures add so much, making you seem even more knowable and loveable. I had no idea you lost weight to become the you you are today. Such a challenge (I’m always defeated and the pounds roll on) and what a great success. I hope your other readers like what you’ve done as much as I do. I imagine it took some time to put all that information together with pictures to enhance what you were sharing. Keep writing/blogging. I enjoy reading what you offer very much. Ruby
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Thanks very much Ruby, I love writing these posts and appreciate your following and reading. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Talk with you soon. Blessings, Michele
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Hi Michele, I just visited your “About Me” section and found myself to be inspired by the genuineness that comes through. I love that you saturated the writing with pictures! Thank you for the opportunity to read this. You are a blessing and inspiration to me! I have no suggestions for improvement, I found it to be delightful! Blessings to you, Kathy
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Kathy, thanks for taking the time to read and comment. You are a blessing to me as well. Looking forward to Tuesday. Lots of responses, to this technical part of a blog, and I got to thinking, The Bible is like God’s “About Me” page! Blessings, Michele
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Reading this post prompted me to go back and look at my about page. My page is more of what is my inspiration for the title of my blog. On my gravitar profile there is a general blurb about me. I may be revising some of my site too. I think there is not absolutes. You can share or not share as much as you want. Your about page does explain some of the themes you want to write about in your blog and your background. The photos are a nice touch.
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Michele, I love your “About” page. You have inspired me to revamp mine. Maybe over the blogging break I am taking this summer.
By the way…I ran under the Bourne Bridge on my morning run today. I didn’t go the whole way to Sagamore – just 4 miles out and back, but it feels great to be on the Cape again!
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HI Laurie, I just wrote this to a friend, but wanted to share it with you, food for thought. I was thinking that The Bible is like God’s “About Me” page, pages. I hope you have a great time away. Glad you got to run on that path.
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Hi Michelle I loved your About page. After reading it I felt as though I knew more about who you are. I loved the photos and have to admit I hadn’t thought to put photos on my About page. You’ve reminded me that I really should give mine a make over. A blog certainly is a work in progress #weekendcoffeeshare
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Hi Jennifer, thank you for taking the time to read through both the post and the page and to offer your feedback. It is very much appreciated. A work in progress, you are right. Thanks again, Michele
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Hi Michele, Well done with setting up your About page. I think it’s very useful to have the About page, especially for new visitors to your blog, and the page should be reviewed at least once/ year and updated accordingly. There are things behind the scene to maintain a blog and learning how to do them is part of the fun. Have a great week! Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Love the menu, and remember the blog is yours!
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Thank you!
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You know, Deb of Deb’s World, has a neat layout that merits your consideration too.
Like mine, she has a front page where a photo is too strong, but everything else is great
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Hi Gary, thank you for giving this so much thought and thorough, constructive feedback. I printed your comments and so will delete them from the flow because of length, but I will take them to heart. My email address is msomerville@susumc.org I only use one email so it is or should be on my blog. If you would email me your address we could talk about some of these things, when we both have time, without tying up the actual comments on the site. If I don’t get back to you right away, I am not taking a blogging break. However my husband is having major surgery on the 22nd of this month and I have 3 funerals, besides appointments,, etc. Thanks again and blessings. Michele
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You are doing great. Keep learning the little tweaks and look at sites you like.
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Thank very much!
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I really struggled with my About Me page too! I am always trying to update it and make it a bit more “me” without giving away more information than I feel comfortable sharing.. which is funny since I probably have plenty of personal information scattered here and there about my blog itself. I think your about me page is great! And congrats on the weight loss. I finally shucked 45+ lbs these past two years and am working really hard to keep that weight off.
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This will sound like a kid, instead of a 71 year old woman, but ‘You get me!” On the privacy, but lots of disclosures in my writing, on the weight loss and keeping it off. Congratulations to you and blessings. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Michele
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I like your About page especially the pictures It made me smile. I too didn’t know what to say in mine because everytime I tried it sounded boring. This was my solution to a similar problem as yours. mysidewaysview.com/welcome-to-me/. I hope you enjoy it
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Laugh, Do your part to brighten the world
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Thanks very much, I did read your “welcome to me” and see that you wrote about “things you think about” Thank you for taking the time to read, comment and share. Blessings to you Mr. Ohh, Michele
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God bless you with laughter
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This was serendipitous for me as I know I need to redo my “about page”! I liked that yours tells a bit more about who you are. I never considered adding photos, but liked that as well and might try on mine.
The only thing was once I got to your about page, I couldn’t find my way back to this actual blog. Maybe I missed it – could be me!
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Thank you Pat, I will have to check that out. The writing part of the blog comes easily t o me, the tech, not so much, but I will try to figure that out. Blessings, Michele
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I like what you did with the “About Me” page. Michele. And, I agree with others that a narrow, banner photo would work best as your top photo. Some themes in WordPress make this easy in your dashboard section. Keep up the good work and the fun!
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Thanks very much, Liesbet. I will work on tweaking the photo. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Not sure you recognized yourself in my post, ,but it was a comment you had made to me in response to something I wrote on your post a week or two ago that prompted me to try to make my “about me” more personal. Thanks for the inspiration. Michele
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Yes, I was wondering whether you were referring to me. It seemed like your “About Us” page back then was just a standard WordPress text that still had to get personalized. If you are looking for a great resource regarding blogging and blogging tips, check out (and follow) Hugh’s Views & News. Hugh often mentions how important the “About Us” page is. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/category/blogging/blogging-tips/
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Thanks very much. I will work on that. the next few weeks are full of appointments, etc. But this is something I do for me, so I will find a way to fit it in.
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Michele, I’m not sure if you’ve updated it but what I just read was great. Not at all impersonal and gave me a broad sense of who you are and your history and interests. I think it’s great.
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Thanks very much for your feedback and for taking the time to read both the post and my updated “about me” page. Much appreciated! Blessings, Michele
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Hi Michelle – I love your About Me page. What I would suggest is that you add some links to the posts you mention. For example, “I write about my parents…” could have a link to a post where you’ve written about them. I hope that makes sense.
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That is a great idea, Corinne, thank you.
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