About the Author Examples
Lesson 9 from You Can Make Money Writing
The author's resource box, also known as the "about the
author" box, is probably the most important part of your
article. You can write a great article, get lots of people to
read it, and get nothing out of it. They have to come to your
website for the article to be of value to you. Let me repeat
that:
They have to come to your website for the article to
be of value to you.
The resource box is where that link to your site is, and also
where the "sales pitch" is that gets the reader to
click on it. Now, lets look at some guidelines for creating a
good resource box and a few "about the author" examples.
Understanding the Purpose of the Author's Resource Box
It isn't a place to brag about yourself. I saw one resource
box in which the author listed eight different degrees and awards
he had received. How did that help him? I didn't click on his
link, because I wasn't given any reason to. His degrees and awards
and great personality weren't reasons for me to visit his website.
Perhaps you should say something about yourself. Readers want
to know that you are a real human. However, try to say something
about yourself in one sentence. Then tell the reader why they
should visit your website. Convince them to click on that link
- that is the purpose of the author's resource box and the purpose
of the whole article.
I will outline some of the ways you get a reader to click
on that link. Of course there are always other ways. The true
test is to objectively look at your resource box and ask yourself:
If I had just read this article and this paragraph about the
author and his website, would I feel compelled to click on that
link and visit the site?
About the Author: Examples
1. Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. Learn
more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo
of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, at http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
2. Steve Gillman hit the road alone at 16, and traveled the
U.S. and Mexico. Now 47, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he
met in Ecuador. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets
e-book, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com
3. Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on How To Increase Brain
Power, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts,
visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com
These are much shorter than most, but they have served me
well. The first example gives the reader two reasons to visit
(to get the free course and to see the $17,500 house).
The second offers a free e-book, as well as tips and stories.
To be honest, though, it says too much about me (I don't use
this one any longer).
The third says nothing about me, but offers a newsletter and
"other free gifts." These are all acceptable, and there
will be more on how to make them even better in a moment.
I recommend that you have just one link in each resource box
(you are usually limited to two by the directories). I'll explain
why in a moment. I also think that you should limit your resource
box to a total of four or five sentences. I could be wrong on
this, and most of these "rules" can be profitably broken
at times, but I think that people get overwhelmed if you say
too much, and my short "pitches" have worked well for
me.
Another Look at the Tease
Suck that reader into your site with curiosity. Some of my
articles with the best click-through rates mention the photo
of our $17,500 house. Aren't you curious about what we could
buy for that? Many readers are!
Tease those readers with your resource box. There is something
they would like to see on your site, right? Hint at it - but
don't give too much away. By the way, which is the best page
on your site to link to? You'll find out on the next page (that's
a tease).
Continues here with more "about the author" examples...
The Resource Box
Note: This is part of the book, You Can Make Money
Writing. There are links to all the all the lessons/chapters
on the home page.
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