I think you may be right about bloggers being more inquisitive. In the blogging community, we get a glimpse of a facet of each persons life.

It’s a bit like a novel really – as the story unravels, we get to know a bit more about the character. And sometimes, our obsession with needing to know more keeps us up all night, until we’ve read the whole book.

That’s a great story about Neil, and what appears to be instant status for him. Although his post was quite lengthy, it held my interest, to the end.

Isn’t it amazing how we judge others by our first impression? From that, I think we can learn that we, too, are being judged, and our blogs are the first impression others have of us. Although photos of the author can be important, I do think, the appearance of your blog, and what you say, hold more weight. The author could be a real beauty, or handsome Joe, but if what they say doesn’t make sense, or isn’t accurate information, no amount of photos will keep a readers attention (there are exceptions, but we are speaking of reputable sites).

Like you Catherine, I have been contemplating adding a photo to my about page. Ironically, my about page rarely gets a hit on my other blog (which has higher traffic), but on my blogging blog, the hits are more constant. To me, that tells me that my audiences are different…e.g. bloggers are more inquisitive. You think?

I think your videos are great and I’m not surprised you got the contract. You’ll get even more when Steve does the Madonna thing. Did he agree to it yet?

You are v right about pics. I have hesitated about putting one on – I hate having my pic taken – they always come out so bloody awful. However, I must admit that I only been self conscious about it since having this scar. However, I’ve promised myself that I will put a pic on the blog sometime this month.

And the about me section was a real revelation. For ages I didn’t have one at all. It didn’t occur to me that people would read it – then I probably wrote too much, so I’ve cut it down a bit more.

So when you see stuffy web-site which drones on about the product and uses the word “we” an awful lot, it’s a real turn off.

Getting your picture on your site/blog I think helps people relate alot more.

On a more personal blog I have, it amazes me how many people click the profile. Far more than on the business blog. But it’s still a very high percentage.

But I find myself doing that when I’m considering a supplier. I go to their site, and I feel drawn to the “About Us” and “Meet The Team” sections.

I know branding is a far bigger topic than this, but you can’t go far wrong by telling people a little more about you. People often define a business and its branding – particularly small businesses rather than pretty faceless blue-chips (the Bransons of this world apart!).

We’ve just won our biggest ever contract. And 95% of the decision I belive was down to the client liking our honest, self-deprecating profiles on the site where we poke fun at ourselves!

I didn’t just know this from the web-stats and tracking the IPs and where he’d clicked the linked-in profile – but because he told us.

And don’t forget photos!

AdvertiseSpace – That is so true. There seems to be no limit on what you can charge if you have an exclusive and limited product and target the right market. Now, I’m going to be up all night thinking of possibilities!

And I just realised something really funny. I clicked on your profile and thought I was having deja vu. Then I realised it’s because you are included in tomorrows post, which I had already written!

to get a company to comp the $7500 entrance fee and to have a $250k expense account…the guy must know what he is talking about as companies don’t invest unless they think that they will get an ROI!