How to optimize an about page for SEO. Best practices? Word count?

[jdodd]

Does anyone have any advice on word count and best practice SEO for a blog about page or even a website about page?

[fabioricotta-84038]

I don't think you should focus on doing SEO for this page. You should create a content that a reader loves... maybe telling the site history or anything funny about the founders. You need to find a creative way to tell the readers the history of your company/website.

[CoreyNorthcutt]

I wouldn't be so wrapped up in word count as I would be making that page valuable.  An about page can have huge weight in a potential customer's faith in your company.

I do usually target some keywords to an about page, though.  People search for companies as well as their services, and I would use company-oriented phrases in your title, meta, and copy.  So, if you  ran a digital strategy company in New York, you might title it like:

Digital Strategy Company | New York | (companyname)

Firm, agency, provider, etc. work well here as well, depending on the particular niche (AdWords keyword tool helps a lot with that).  You could also get more geographic with it, and close some easier long-tail searches (for example, if you were in NYC, you might find people searching for SoHo, Midtown, Manhattan, or nearby villages and such).  It usually doesn't take much more than saying "Hey, we're located near X, just down the road from Y, in Z.".

Or, you could get really crazy, and about weird minor niches that sometimes only the keyword tool will pick out.  Like, do people care about you being certified in A, using B software, being compliant with C, having a charitable / environmental program like D.  People search for some crazy stuff.  Even if the volume is very low, competition for these sorts of things usually is too, and taking a few moments to consider usually adds up to a lot in the long-term.

[NakulGoyal]

I agree with Corey and Fabio, 100%. I would suggest you to talk to your user on this page. Connect with them and use the language as it pertains to your specific audience. As for meta data, Corey again has some great advice there.

[alankoen123]

I like Corey's ideas very much. I would add: a) don't forget links to those certifying org's, etc. and good anchor text; and b) that your primary audience is people -- include what will reinforce loyalty and interest, e.g., testimonials (which you can link to a testimonial page) and visual cues (logos, images about your services, etc.).

[jdodd]

Thank you very much!  This is most helpful.

[jdodd]

Thank you!

[jdodd]

Thanks!

[jdodd]

Thank you!!  Very much appreciated.