Imagine you walk into a store.  You find some products you want to buy.  You head to the cash, but realize that no one is in the store.  Instead you see a sign that says, "Please leave your credit card number and your personal information on the counter.  Then leave.  Don't worry, we'll send you your stuff."  How comfortable would you feel?

When you don't share your name and some explanation of who you are on your website, you leave people wondering what you have to hide.  I've been ripped off twice through Internet shopping.  Only twice out of probably at least 200 online purchases (and that's not including eBay!).  I don't recall if either site had an about me page but I do remember discovering through BBB complaints that these website had a history of ripping people off. 

Both websites seemed innocuous.  One was a bead website (I design jewelry, when I have time and crave some creative release) and the other was a wig website (use your imagination). 

Now, wouldn't that be a great way to rip people off?  Create a legitimate-looking website, offer some products and then don't ship them. (Not that I'm giving anyone ideas.)

Your job is to insure people in every way possible that you are a legitimate business.  They want to know that if their purchase never arrives and you don't respond to their emails, that they will have a contact name to offer the Better Business Bureau when they submit a complaint.  If you show a photo, they know that you're probably, most likely who you say you are and not "Creepy Tom Answering Your Emails With Perverted Delight, Ready to Steal Your Money".  What does a name alone really prove? Not much.  Offering a phone number is even better.

Here's another good reason to have an about me page:  sometimes a review website or blog or website devoted to an e-newsletter might want to feature your product.  They may not want to bother to get your name.  If they're needing to add a review quickly to fill space at the last minute, they aren't going to email you and hope that you're prompt in your replies.  Offer as much information as you feel comfortable offering to make it easy for people to write about you.  Even if they aren't on deadline, they may simply appreciate getting a better idea of who you are before they get your hopes up about featuring your business within their publication.

How do you write an About Me page?  Click here.