When I started Jottings, I noticed something interesting: the creators who got the most engagement weren't always the ones with the most followers. Instead, they were the ones who felt real and trustworthy.
Your author profile is the first thing people see when they land on your microblog. It's your handshake, your introduction, your credibility. And here's the thing—you don't need a massive audience to make a great first impression. You just need a profile that actually tells people who you are.
Let me walk you through exactly how to set up your author profile so that people want to stick around and read what you have to say.
Why Your Author Profile Actually Matters
Before we dive into the how-to, let me be honest about the why. Your author profile does three things:
First, it builds trust. When someone lands on your microblog, they want to know: "Who is this person? Why should I listen to them?" A complete profile answers those questions instantly.
Second, it makes you memorable. People forget headlines. They remember faces and stories. A real photo and a genuine bio stick with readers.
Third, it improves discoverability. Your profile shows up in search results, on tag pages, and when people share your jots. The more complete it is, the more opportunities you have to connect with people.
I've seen creators go from zero engagement to regular readers simply by finishing their profile. It's not magic—it's just being intentional about how you present yourself.
Step 1: Choose Your Profile Photo
This is the most important visual element of your profile. A good profile photo can make the difference between someone clicking through to read your work or scrolling past.
Here's what works:
Use a real photo of yourself. I know, I know—it's tempting to hide behind a logo or a generic avatar. But people connect with people, not brands. A genuine photo of you builds way more trust than anything else. I always recommend a headshot where your face takes up most of the frame.
Make sure it's well-lit. You don't need a professional photographer. A smartphone photo in natural light works great. Just avoid harsh shadows on your face or a bright light behind you that creates a halo effect.
Smile. This sounds obvious, but a warm, genuine smile makes you approachable. You want people to feel like they're reading something from someone they'd actually want to talk to.
Keep it professional-ish. You don't need to wear a suit (unless you want to), but a simple, clean background works best. A blurry background is fine—it keeps the focus on you.
I recommend spending five minutes taking a few photos in different lighting conditions. You'll be surprised how much better they look than you think. Pick the one where you look most like yourself.
Step 2: Write a Bio That Actually Says Something
Your bio is your chance to tell people who you are in a few sentences. The trick is being specific instead of vague.
Bad bio: "I write about things I care about."
Good bio: "I write about sustainable living, design systems, and why we should all read more books."
See the difference? One could be anyone. The other tells me exactly what you care about and why I might want to read your work.
Here's my formula for a bio that works:
Who you are + What you care about + Why it matters.
Example: "I'm a developer and designer obsessed with making the web simpler. I write about CSS, user experience, and the importance of accessibility in tech."
That's specific. I know what this person does, what they think about, and I can decide in two seconds if I want to read their stuff.
Keep it brief. You don't have much space, so every word counts. Aim for 2-3 sentences, max. If you need more to explain yourself, that's what your actual jots are for.
Avoid fluff. Skip the "lover of coffee and hiking" stuff (unless that's actually central to your brand). Focus on what people need to know to understand your content.
Add personality. A tiny bit of humor or a unique perspective goes a long way. Your bio should sound like you—the way you actually talk.
Step 3: Link to Your Social Profiles and Website
Your Jottings profile isn't an island. Link to your other spaces so people can follow you wherever they're most active.
In your profile settings, you can add links to:
- Your personal website (if you have one)
- Twitter/X (still useful for discoverability)
- LinkedIn (if you're in B2B or professional spaces)
- Your newsletter (great for building an email list)
- GitHub (if you code)
- Portfolio or other projects
Don't feel like you need to link to everything. Just include the places where you're actually active and where your readers might want to follow you.
Pro tip: If you're trying to build an email list, linking to your newsletter signup is a smart move. People who read your jots on Jottings might want to get longer pieces or a weekly digest in their inbox.
Step 4: Earn Your Verification Badge
The verification badge on Jottings isn't like Twitter's verification. It's not about follower count or paying a fee. It's about credibility and authenticity.
To qualify for verification on Jottings, you typically need to:
- Complete your profile fully (photo, bio, links)
- Have a consistent posting history
- Maintain professional standards in your content
- Link to an established online presence (personal website, other social profiles, previous publications)
The goal is simple: we want to make sure the person writing is who they say they are. No catfishing, no impersonation. Just real creators with real voices.
When you get verified, it signals to readers that you're someone worth paying attention to. It's a small badge, but it carries weight.
If you want to pursue verification, focus on the basics first: a complete profile, genuine content, and an online presence people can verify. Then reach out—we're always happy to chat about getting verified.
The Big Picture
Your author profile is an investment in yourself. Spend an afternoon getting it right, and you've built the foundation for reader trust and consistent engagement.
You don't need to be famous to have a great profile. You just need to be real. Show people who you are, what you believe in, and why they should care. The readers who find you will be the ones who actually appreciate your perspective.
And that's so much better than a hundred followers who aren't really paying attention anyway.
Ready to build your author profile? Head to your Jottings settings and spend some time on these four elements. It takes about 15 minutes, and I promise it's worth it. Your future readers are going to appreciate knowing exactly who's writing what they're reading.