About Us page Archives | The Professional Writer

December 30, 2020January 2, 2021 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

Business Storytelling to Build Your Brand

When it comes to engaging your audience and building relationships with potential customers, stories sell! If you want your website content to get noticed, business storytelling can help.

What is business storytelling? It’s basically conveying useful information about your business within a narrative. Stories have the power to influence opinions and the attitude of the reader. A memorable story provides the opportunity to entertain, educate and sell to your prospects, while building trust and forming a connection with them.

Gone are the days of writing content or a blog post which is solely about you and your business. Readers connect with stories much more than dry, boring content full of corporate speak. Your prospective customers want to know who you are and how you do business, and storytelling provides the ideal opportunity to convey those messages.

Business Storytelling 101: Start with your Brand Story

Creating an engaging and informative brand story is the ideal first step in successful business storytelling.

A good story contains: Characters, conflict and resolution. Through effective storytelling, you can outline who you are, who you serve, your business approach to business and the outcomes you produce for your clients. Make your client the central character in your story.

What’s your brand story? Do you have one? Is it strong? If not, think about:

Why you started your business – Who came up with the idea for the business? What circumstances led to the business being launched?
What challenges and triumphs have you experienced?
Who are the people behind your business?
What does your business stand for?
What are your business values and how are you different from competitors?
Who are your ideal customers?
What is your “customer experience”?
What are the outcomes you achieve for your clients?

How’s Your ‘About Us Page’ Looking?

Take a critical look at your About Us page. Does it accurately and authentically convey your brand story? HINT: If it starts with “Our company was founded in ….”, you’re doing it wrong!

Instead of writing a boring company history, tell the story of your brand with your reader/customer as the central focus. You want them to feel as though they are your reason for being in business. Talk about how you help people and how you’re driven to continually improve your level of service or product range to help customers. Be sure to clearly articulate “what’s in it for them”.

Using Case Studies for Business Storytelling

Case studies are the perfect way to illustrate how your products or services help your clients. Case Studies can be located on a tab within your navigation pane, or they can be incorporated into your website as blog posts.

Your case studies should revolve around how you helped one of your clients, and the problem you solved for them. To make your story compelling, demonstrate decisions being made, action being taken and problems being resolved, with a happy outcome.

Start by painting a picture of what life was like BEFORE, outline the client’s issue, then detail the potential outcomes you offer. Next you can show why the client chose that particular option, then take the reader through each step towards reaching the desired outcome.

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your UVP or Unique Value Proposition – it’s what sets you apart from your competitors. Anyone can talk about the features and benefits of their product or service but demonstrating HOW you help your customers can truly make you stand out.

Readers want to see your client experience in action, to understand how you operate and to see what the outcome of your product or service is. Back this up with a testimonial from your happy client – third party endorsement is GOLD – and you’re on a winner. Readers LOVE success stories – they want the same success for themselves.

Authenticity is Essential

Whether you’re writing website content, blog posts or your brand story, make sure you’re being authentic. You can’t just make s*%t up!

Particularly since COVID-19 hit, we’ve seen more businesses and business owners opening their workplaces and homes to us via Zoom. We’ve gained an unprecedented insight into how businesses operate and how their owners live. This has inspired consumer desire for more businesspeople to be real and open, rather than cold and corporate.

Try not to simply paint a picture of what you think your readers want to hear and see. It’s important to make sure your story accurately captures the true essence of your business, that it’s relatable, transparent and real.

Connections are Key

The most effective business storytelling makes your readers FEEL something and establishes an emotional connection with your brand. That feeling can evolve into brand loyalty.

Once your prospect has read your story and felt that feeling, be clear on what you want them to do next. Why not invite them to connect with you via social media or email? This is a lot less risky than pulling the hard sell on them at an early stage in your relationship. Of course, this will depend on what type of product or service you offer.

Need help with your business storytelling? We can collaborate with you on your brand story, website content/About Us page, case studies, blog posts or a business award nomination. We’d love you to email us and let us know how we can help you get started.

If you found these tips helpful, please like and/or share with your business associates or LinkedIn connections.

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, business owner and chief word wrangler at The Professional Writer. My team and I write content dedicated to attracting and engaging your ideal clients … and improving your bottom line. This includes website content, capability statements, company profiles, team bios, business award nominations, blog post packages and more. We happily work with clients all over Australia. Email us to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

About Us page, How to write an About Us page, help writing About Us page, Professional Writer, About Us page tips

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How your About Us Page can help win business

Did you know that on most websites, the About Us page is the second most visited page – after the Home page? There’s a good reason for this. The majority of readers want to know who is behind the business and find out who they’re dealing with before they’re willing to commit to buying your product or service.

So, what does your About Us Page say about your business? What story does it tell? Does it capture the true essence of your business and help you to engage your customers? If not, perhaps it’s time for an About Us Page makeover!

Want to tell your REAL story on your About Us page?

Who are you targeting? Who is your ideal customer?

First and foremost, it’s important to know exactly who you are trying to attract. If you think your target market is anyone reading your website, you may want to consider narrowing your audience.

For example, if you sell upmarket baby goods, your target market is not just anyone reading your website. Your primary target market could be pregnant women aged between 20-40, with an income of $75,000+. Because you sell UPMARKET baby goods, your target market would not be anyone looking for baby items – your market is much more specific than that.

Of course, not all businesses have such a narrow focus, however, having a good understanding of exactly who you are targeting is vital if you want to truly connect with your specific readers – and get them to buy!

What problem do you solve?

What product or services does your business offer which can help solve their problem?

You need to not only tell readers that your business solves their problem – but also HOW you go about it. Outline your point of difference and detail how you offer friendly advice, superior after-sales service or whatever is relevant to your offering and the reader’s needs.

What does your ideal customer want to know?

It’s important to know why a reader/potential customer has come to your site. What do they want to know about you and your business? Do they want to connect with you in some way before they buy? If so, it’s a good idea to use a friendly and approachable tone in your About Us copy and encourage them to get in touch with you via your contact page, social media channels, email or phone.

Tell your readers who you really are

A lot of business owners hide behind their company name, while readers want to know who is behind the business. Introduce yourselves, mention the names of the owners and key staff members where appropriate, so readers know who they are dealing with.

ALWAYS use photos

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – photos are important. People connect with – and BUY from – people. By adding a photo of the business owners or the whole team, and your premises or company vehicle allows the reader to gain a greater understanding of your business.

Show your personality

If you want to set your business apart from your competitors, your About Us page needs to show the true personality of your business.

Outline your core values, mission and vision for the business
Tell readers what you’re great at – without sounding too boastful
Detail your background, experience and areas of expertise, and that of your team
Outline some of the types of customers you’ve already helped in your business
Detail any involvement you have in the local community or with charitable organisations
Use a little bit of humour if it’s appropriate to your industry and business
All this can help readers relate to you and your business. Readers want confirmation that you are their best choice.

Tell them your WHY

If you started the business, why did you set it up? Or if you bought the business, why did you choose that particular business? What drives you? What’s your motivation?

Telling the reader WHY you do what you do demonstrates your passion and interest, and is another way to be relatable.

By incorporating some or all of the above information into your About Us page, you’ll increase your chances of engaging your readers and have more influence over their buying decisions.

Now that you’ve read these tips, you may want to review or rewrite your About Us page. If you need professional assistance to write an engaging About Us page which helps you win more business, feel free to contact me – I’m happy to help.

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I write copy dedicated to attracting and engaging your ideal clients … and improving your bottom line. I happily work with clients all over Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project. Or if you’d like to learn how to connect with your audience and build your business, why not input your email address and receive my regular marketing updates in your mailbox? You can sign up for our mailing list at the base of the Home Page on www.ProfessionalWriter.com.au.

in Grow your business / Small Business Marketing / Web writing tips 0 comments

How to use website content to generate sales, web content, professional writer for web content

November 15, 2017January 11, 2021 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

10 ways your website content can generate sales

Your website content has the power to make sales. Yes indeed, it does!

Did you know that up to 75% of a new customer’s buying decision is already made by the time you speak with them or interact with them? The customer’s perception of your business, which is most often based on either word-of-mouth or a Google search, is a major influence on their buying decision.

While the quality of your product or service and your relationship with current customers will influence word-of-mouth, your online presence, and the way it shapes your customers’ perception of your business, is more important than ever. Prospective customers want to know what they’re buying and who they’re buying from. Buyers are more educated than ever before, so your website content must inform, educate and guide them in their buying decision.

Go ahead, cast a critical eye over your website content, and ask yourself:

What do our readers want to know? What are they looking for on our site?
Is this information easy for them to find?
What does our About Us page say about us?
Is our website content interesting, informative and educational?
Does our content guide and influence customers to buy from us?
Could we be making more sales from our website?
Does our website appeal to customers or does it make them click away?

Here are 10 ways your website content can help generate sales:

Your customers want to know about you

Your website content offers the opportunity for reader to know, like and trust you. This is vital in establishing a business relationship. Does your About Us page accurately portray the essence of your brand?

Tell your story

Does your About Us page accurately portray your brand story and help you stand out? The About Us page is an opportunity to use your story to connect with your ideal clients. When you express yourself in a genuine, authentic way, customers will learn your story and brand personality, and this forms a connection with those ideal customers.

Building a foundation

Your website content is often the first step in building relationships with your customers. Great content provides the opportunity to provide customers with great information about what you do and how you do it, and give them a reason to buy from you or return.

Show what you can do

Your website content allows you to clearly demonstrate that you have the skills, products and services your customers require. Your navigation clearly laid out, so readers can find the information they require with ease – and come to you, ready to buy.

Show the benefits of doing business with your organisation

Use your website’s blog is the ideal way to profile case studies, product reviews and to outline the features and benefits of buying your products or choosing your services. It’s a great idea to reinforce this with testimonials from past customers which outline the results you’ve achieved for them. Third party endorsements are highly influential in the buying decision.

Demonstrate your knowledge

Building a library of informative articles helps you position yourself as an industry expert and the go-to person in your field. People want to buy from people to “know their stuff”.

Educate and inform

Your website content can help educate customers about your industry, products, services, how you operate, and reinforce your position as an industry expert. You can also use case studies to demonstrate how you’ve addressed another client’s issue and the outcomes you were able to achieve for them.

Build relationships

You can use your posts as a basis for a regular customer newsletter. This helps to further inform and educate customers, to keep in contact for top-of-mind awareness, and keep them coming back.

Demonstrate your Unique Selling Proposition

Your website content must outline your competitive edge and demonstrate why you’re better than your competitors. That way, the reader feels that you are the only choice.

When it comes to website content, consistency pays

Top-of-mind awareness is vital. The only way to maintain this is to post quality content on a regular basis. Building a library of quality, informative articles not only informs and educates your prospective customers, it will contribute to your Google ranking!

Why your website content matters

While social media is a great influencer, we don’t control it, and the ever-changing algorithms can adversely affect our brand’s visibility. However, you DO control your own website and its content. Your site is your greatest marketing asset.

If you’ve invested in setting up a website, you need to add content on a regular basis to make the site work for you. Adding quality content increases brand awareness and helps build your online profile. A link to your posts can be shared on social media, sending traffic to your site. It’s also a great idea to link to related articles you’ve previously published, leading the reader to further explore your library of articles and increasing your influence.

Your website content has the power to engage the reader and persuade them to do business with you… or it can make your competitors look good! The choice is yours.

If you found this article of interest, please like, comment and/or share with your business associates or LinkedIn connections.

You may also enjoy: Attract more business through website content, How to write an outstanding About Us page and 21 blog post ideas for small business.

in Building authority / Grow your business / Small Business Marketing 0 comments

October 11, 2016November 4, 2016 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to write an outstanding About Us Page

We’d all love to have an outstanding About Us page on our website, wouldn’t we?

So what is it that makes one About Us page outstanding, while others are so dry? A captivating About Us Page holds the reader’s attention as it tells our story and outlines how we help our customers. In order to achieve this, it’s important to know the difference between content which tells your story in a way which draws your audience in closer, and information which bores them and has them clicking away.

Following are 7 top tips for writing an outstanding About Us page:

1. It’s not really about you, it’s about your audience

While the title of the page is “About Us”, the content needs to portray your story in relation to your customers and how you help them, so it’s really about you AND them.

It can be tempting to write a chronological company history to show how long your business has been established, and this can be helpful in building trust, but it needs to be done in a way which is relevant to your audience.

Whatever your story is, make it interesting and authentic.

2. Know your audience

Who are your target audience? Who will read your website? It’s important to know who you’re aiming your message towards. What are their problems? How can you help solve their problems? Where do they live? What’s their family /marital status, etc.

3. Tell them how you help solve their problem

The reader has come to your site because they have some kind of problem they think you can solve. Firstly, you need to know what that problem is. Then you must outline how you can assist in solving that problem. Detail your approach to business – such as your values, vision and mission. Tell your readers how you solve their problem and why you’re the best choice for them.

4. Reinforce the outcomes with social proof

People like to hear about others who’ve used your product or service and how successful it’s been for them. Use brief testimonials or links to them to show social proof and reinforce the outcomes you’ve achieved for others. Include the client’s name and a photo if possible to increase credibility.

Case studies are another great way to demonstrate the results you’ve achieved for your clients. Be sure to use photos included before and after shots to show the outcomes.

5. Don’t write a boring chronological company history

We’ve all seen them – the dry, boring chronological company history on an About Us page. While this information may establish some trust and respect by showing how long you’ve been in business and where you’ve come from, your readers are more likely to be interested in where you’re going. The bottom line is that a detailed and lengthy company history often isn’t relevant to what you can do for the customer today – keep it short and sweet!

6. Show who you are

Remember, your audience may never have interacted with your business prior to landing on your website. They’ve clicked on your About Us page because they want to know more about you – they want to get to know, like and trust you. It’s ideal if you can include at least a team photo, and hopefully individual headshots too. Photos humanise you and help people put a face to the name. It certainly helps to promote the trust factor.

7. Include a Call to Action

Be clear about what you want your readers to do after they’ve read your page. Invite them to connect with you on social media, sign up for your newsletter, phone you or offer an alternative way to establish trust with them.

When you set out to write your About Us page, the most important thing to understand is what your audience is looking for. The information on your About Us page must be authentic and capture the unique essence of your business, but it must clearly state the benefits you provide to your customers.

The above tips are simply a guideline to assist you with writing an outstanding About Us page. If you need professional help with writing your website copy, feel free to contact me via: info@ProfessionalWriter.com.au.

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I love to write copy dedicated to attracting and engaging your customers – and improving your bottom line. If you’d like to know more about writing to connect with your readers, sign up for my mailing list and you’ll receive regular doses of marketing inspiration in your mailbox. You’ll find the signup box at the base of my home page on www.ProfessionalWriter.com.au.

in Small Business Marketing / Web writing tips 0 comments

Startup About us page, about us page for startups, Professional Writer, About Us page help

August 16, 2016January 11, 2021 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to write an awesome Startup About Us page

Wondering how to write an awesome startup About Us page? Never fear, help is here!

Did you know that the About Us page is the second most visited page on most websites? The Home page is no. 1. The content of your About Us page is really important in helping to build your credibility. People do business with those they know, like and trust. If a prospective buyer is looking for your product or service, and they land on your site, most often they want to know something about you and learn why they should trust you before they click the BUY icon.

Your startup About Us page should tell your story and build a relationship with your audience, but it must be written with the reader in mind. Most business owners are great at what they do, but it can be quite challenging to be able to look at the business from an outsider’s perspective. I like to tell my clients that the About Us page isn’t just about them, it’s about the partnership between them and their customers and what the business can offer the customer.

Who Are Your Customers?

Before you start writing, you need to have a clear idea of who your ideal customer is. It’s a good idea to set up one or more Ideal Customer Personas or Avatars, each of which describes a type of customer. The profile includes their needs, wants and likes, their demographics – age, sex, education, where they live, their job, their income levels, interests, hobbies, etc. It’s a good idea to give each one a name and even use a stock photo on their profile so that you can really identify with this “person”. When you’re writing your marketing materials and website copy, you must keep this target person in mind and write to address their needs.

What makes your startup About Us page different from other About Us pages?

Writing a startup About Us page can be a little challenging and some people find themselves wondering where to start. Take out a note pad or open a blank document on your computer and start noting down points you may want to make. Think about your reader – What they will want to know about your business?

Consider telling people you’re new. Being new isn’t necessarily a disadvantage – it can be fresh and exciting. A lot of people are happy to deal with a small home-based business or a startup, as long as you prove you are a credible option.

One good thing about being a startup is, you can’t write a dull and boring company history as your About Us page! Nobody really wants to read those company history documents unless there’s information in there that is directly relevant to them. Try writing your About Us page as more of a story than a chronological list. This will make the page more interesting for your reader and therefore more likely to engage them, make them want to find out more about your company and then do business with you.

Tell Your Story

Introduce yourself as the owner of the business, tell people why you love what you do, why you’re passionate about your industry and how you came to be in the business you’re in. Be sure to detail your credentials and experience, including the most relevant information that will help people get to know, like and trust you. If you’re involved in any volunteer or charity work, include that if it’s relevant to your audience too.

Using a friendly and approachable tone is a good way to engage your reader. This doesn’t mean using too much slang, bad spelling or grammar, just writing the way you speak when you’re face-to-face.

Include A Photo

While some people don’t like having their photo taken, including a photo on your About Us page is really important for building the trust factor with prospective customers. A photo can also help to nurture relationships with those you may already do business with. Most people want to know exactly who is behind the business and what you look like. If possible, it’s a good idea to use a professional photographer to capture you in your best light. If you don’t want to use individual headshots, you could also use a group shot. Wearing your company colours and including a background of your building or vehicles can also look impressive, but isn’t essential.

Let Them Know What Makes You Different

Put an emphasis on your values, your mission and what you’ve set out to achieve. What innovations do you offer? Can you offer more flexibility in delivery, customisation or quality than your competitors?

What’s your USP (Unique Value Proposition)? What can you offer that others can’t?

Is there a gap in the market that your startup is filling? If so, tell the world about it!

Tell Them What You’ll Do For Them

People want you to solve their problems. What service do you offer? How do you solve your customer’s problem? Tell them exactly what you will do for them.

For example, let’s say you sell security products. What problem do you solve for your customers? Your product keeps them and their families safe (it’s not about the hardware itself, it’s about the outcome it achieves).

Or if you’re a hairdresser, you help your customers to look and feel their very best (you don’t simply cut hair).

Boost Your Credibility

You need to prove that you’re a credible option over and above your competition. If you’re brand new to business, consider giving some free or low-cost products or services to family and friends or potential customers in exchange for a testimonial or review. The social proof which comes with a third party endorsement cannot be overstated. People will buy based on positive reviews and testimonials. Post as many testimonials on your site as you possibly can (include a photo where possible) and ask your customers to post reviews on Google, Facebook or a third party site which is relevant to your industry.

Another great way to boost credibility is through the use of case studies, including before and after photos. This is basically a longer version of a testimonial, where you show the “before” photo and tell the reader what problem the customer was having. You then detail the process you went through to solve the problem, before showing the “after” photo which highlights the great outcome and results you’ve achieved. A brief comment from the happy customer further endorses your credibility.

I hope these tips have been helpful and will assist you in writing an awesome startup About Us page. If you have any hints or tips you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments box below. Or if you need any professional help with writing your About Us page, check out my website copywriting services and email me to discuss your requirements.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like to read:

How to write an engaging About Us page and

How to write the best About Us page for your website

Hi, I’m Lyndall Guinery-Smith, The Professional Writer. I love to write copy dedicated to attracting and engaging your customers – and improving your bottom line. I happily work with clients all around Australia. Email me to arrange an obligation-free discussion about your latest project.

in Building authority / Grow your business / Small Business Marketing / Web writing tips 0 comments

Engaging About Us page, website copywriting, web writer, how to write an about us page

June 15, 2016January 11, 2021 by Lyndall Guinery-Smith

How to write an engaging About Us page that wins business

Do you have an engaging About Us page? Does it entice your readers and generate interest amongst your customers and prospective customers? Does it accurately portray your brand? If not, read on.

Did you know the About Us page is the second most clicked page on a website, after the Home page?

In this digital age, your customers want to know, like and trust you before they will commit to doing business with you. People do business with people they connect with, so your website needs to help make a connection with your readers.

It’s a little bit like dating. First-time readers come to your site to be wooed. Even if they’ve already met you, they want to find out more about you before they commit. You really want to make a good impression, because this relationship could be going places!

And what do readers find when they click on your About Us page? Is it an engaging story that helps them to know, like and trust you – or is it a dry company history that has them clicking away in seconds out of sheer boredom? Or worse still, is your About Us page blank?

If you want to know how to write an engaging About Us page that people actually want to read, here are a few key points that those great About Us pages address:

Building relationships is key

People do business with people they know, like & trust. It’s important to make a good first impression, establish a connection, build the relationship and back it up with social proof, then you can ask for their business. Your website needs to be an accurate portrayal of your brand and what you stand for. Your About Us page is the ideal place to express this.

It’s about them, not you

Even though it’s your About Us page, the story actually needs to be about your customer and what you do for them – it has to be customer-focused. Basically, they want to know how you solve their problem. Some companies break their page into headings like About Us/Me and About You, which outlines who their customers are and what outcomes they’ve achieved for those customers.

Craft your story

Make it interesting and easy to read. Try writing down 25 random things about your company – this can be done while brainstorming with your staff or associates – the pick out the most relevant of those items and include them in your story.
PLEASE only briefly mention your Company History. We know it’s important to explain how long you’ve been in business, but nobody really wants to know all the nitty-gritty, they’re just looking for proof that you’ll produce the goods.

Watch your tone

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it!” We all know that tone is important when we’re speaking with someone face-to-face or on the phone, but what about non-verbal tone?
With the rapid increase in social media, much of what’s written online now has a more conversational tone. Many websites speak to the reader as though the business owner is telling their story face-to-face, which is wonderful. However, you do also need to be careful to sound professional so that you’re taken seriously when it comes to doing business.

Think about your brand. Is your organisation fun-loving, friendly and just a little bit cheeky? Go with an informal, friendly tone. Do you operate in the corporate sector, doing business with government organisations and large corporations? Your tone may need to be more business-like and formal, but you can still show your personality and not be too stuffy, while also being professional.

Ready to start writing your engaging About Us page?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Who is our ideal customer?
What does our ideal customer want from us?
Outline the outcomes we achieve for our customers…
How do we deliver our product or service to customers?
What experience do we have that’s relevant to our customers?
Do we know our point of difference and what it means to our customers?
How do we help customers? Solve their problem? Address their pain points?
Do we change/improve our customers’ lives? How?

Did you notice that every one of the above questions is focused on the customer? Your About Us page must be customer-focused.

If you can write down the answers to most of the above questions, the information can be used to demonstrate what you do and the outcomes you achieve, which the reader will then want for themselves!

Your readers are looking for something that will engage them and help form a connection with you. Remember to be authentic, be human and be relatable in your writing. Your readers will love you for it!

If you have any queries about writing an engaging About Us page, or you’d like some professional help with writing your page, please check out our website copywriting services and feel free to contact us via email and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.