Author profiles are a great way to add a personal touch to your blog and give your readers some insight into who is authoring your content. However, if they aren’t set up correctly, these profiles can do more harm than good.
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure that your author profiles are looking their best. Once you’ve optimized them, they can help you and your writers stand out from the crowd.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of having author profiles on your blog. We’ll then show you how to display them on your WordPress.com blog, and make them as useful and visually engaging as possible. Let’s get started!
Why Author Profiles Are Important
Before we get into the how-to, let’s first take a look at why author profiles are so important. An author profile is like a mini-biography of the person behind the blog. It helps readers connect with you on a personal level and learn more about your story. They add a human element to your content.
When they’re well-written and properly formatted, an author profile can also help build trust with your readers. If they feel like they know you and can trust you, they may be more likely to return to your blog and recommend it to others.
In addition, an author profile can also be an effective way to promote your content and build backlinks to your blog. For instance, if you have a profile on another site that links back to your blog, it can help increase your traffic and search engine rankings.
How to Add Author Profiles to Your WordPress.com Blog
Now that we’ve gone over some of the reasons why author profiles are important, let’s take a look at how to add them to your WordPress.com blog. To start, navigate to Users > Profile in your admin dashboard:
Here, you can enter the name you want to display on your website, as well as a short bio. When you’re ready, click on Save profile details.
Some themes will display an author box on blog posts. This is normally located in the sidebar. However, if this feature is not available with your theme, you can add it to your posts as a block.
To start, click on the plus sign (+) to add a new block in your post, and type in “author”. As you can see, you’ll get different options:
If you select the Author block, you’ll get a box where you can add a name, photo, biography, and a link:
Meanwhile, if you click on the Post Author block, you’ll get a box with the photo and name of the post’s assigned writer. You’ll also have the option to write a byline:
If you choose the Post Author Name block, you’ll just get the name of the writer, and if you click on Post Author Biography, the block will pull the bio from your user profile. Once you add and customize your author box, you might want to save it as a reusable block. This way, you won’t have to re-write your bio every time you create a new post.
How to Optimize Your Author Profiles (3 Ways)
Once you’ve added an author profile to your blog, you’ll need to make sure that it’s optimized. Let’s take a look at some tips for enhancing your bio.
1. Choose Quality Professional Headshots
When adding a picture to your author profile, it’s important to choose a quality image. A professional headshot is always a good choice. If you’re wondering what this looks like, just think of an image that you would use for a job application.
You’ll want to make sure that the image is well-lit and in focus, without any distracting background noise. It’s also a good idea to smile in your photos – it will help you look more approachable.
Below is a good example of a headshot, taken by professional photographer Julia Nance:
Let’s look at a few additional tips for taking professional headshots:
- Use a plain background and wear clothes that suit your personality or brand.
- If possible, take the photo in a well-lit environment, preferably where there’s plenty of natural light.
- Avoid wearing sunglasses – lack of eye contact can make you look distant and unapproachable.
Additionally, you could edit your image to make it more visually appealing. For instance, you might want to make sure it’s neatly cropped, and adjust the brightness to remove any dark shadows on the face.
2. Write an Engaging Author Bio
Once you’ve added a quality profile picture, it’s time to write an engaging author bio. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself to your readers and tell them a little bit about yourself.
You’ll want to keep this brief, ideally between 100 and 200 words. You might also want to use a friendly tone, and avoid using jargon or overly technical language. You want your readers to feel like they know you, and that they can relate to you.
If you’re struggling to write your author bio, you could try to answer these questions:
- What are your professional qualifications?
- What are your areas of expertise?
- What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
- What is your favorite thing about your job?
Let’s look at two examples of good author bios. The first uses an informal, light-hearted tone:
Meanwhile, here’s an example of a formal and more serious biography:
Now, let’s look at some important tips to keep in mind when writing your bio:
- Write in the first person to sound more approachable.
- Be brief and to the point.
- Avoid bragging, but try not to be too modest, either – this is your time to shine!
If relevant, you might also want to tell readers where you’re based. Additionally, you could state the mission of your blog or website (e.g., “I share plant-based recipes to help you eat healthier”).
3. Include Relevant Links
Finally, you might also consider adding links to your social media profiles and any other relevant pages. This can be an effective way to grow your following and engagement on social media, and showcase your best work.
For example, if you’re a writer, you might want to include links to your Twitter and Instagram accounts, as well as your profile on Wattpad. Meanwhile, if you’re a graphic designer, you might want to include links to your portfolio site and your Behance profile.
Remember, the goal is to make it easy for your readers to learn more about you and your work. Therefore, you’ll want to include the links that will be most helpful to them.
When adding links to your author bio, it’s important to make sure that they work and that they’re up to date. You’ll also want to use anchor text that accurately describes the linked page (e.g., “Follow my journey on Instagram”).
You’re Ready to Optimize Your Author Profiles
Optimizing your author profiles can be a powerful way to improve your online presence and connect with new readers. What’s more, it’s a quick and easy way to improve your brand image and engage with your followers.
To recap, here are three tips for optimizing your author profiles:
- Choose a quality, professional headshot.
- Write an engaging author bio, using a friendly and professional tone.
- Include links to your social media pages or portfolio.
Now make your author profiles look their best!
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