3 SEO Tips for Photographers You Can Use Right Now
Did you know that if you’re not spending time on SEO, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to attract and connect with potential clients? SEO or search engine optimization allows Google to connect your potential clients to your website – and book with you over your competitors.
For photographers, SEO looks a little different than your typical creative entrepreneur. You need to focus not on who you serve and the type of shoots you do, but also on the location you’re willing to work in or travel to. And, like many marketing efforts, SEO is a long-term effort – but there are a few things you can do right now to boost your SEO.
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of using specific keywords and phrases to help your website to rank higher on a search engine results page, like Google. The overall goal of SEO is to rank on the first page of search results, where your target audience is more likely to click through to your website.
SEO is typically broken down into two sections: technical and content. Technical SEO focuses primarily on your website – your website structure, backend, usability, etc. Content SEO is, essentially, blogging. That’s not even touching on-page vs. off-page SEO.
What is Local SEO?
Not much different from regular SEO, local SEO for photographers is the effort to get your website to rank for specific keywords and search terms that relate to your location, or the location you serve. For example, if you only take photos in South Carolina, you would center on SEO efforts on ranking for keywords such as “family photographer in SC” or “boudoir photographer in Charleston, SC.”
SEO Tips for Photographers You Can Use Right Now
Although SEO is a long-term effort, there are a few things you can do right now to improve your SEO for your photography business. Something as simple as understanding how your website performs online.
Here are three things you can do right now to improve your SEO:
#1. Do some keyword research
SEO works by ranking your content and website based on the keywords you have in your content, copy, and descriptions – it’s pretty important to make sure it’s ranking you for the RIGHT keywords.
The best way to make sure you’re using the right keywords is to do some keyword research for your marketing strategy. There are a few free tools you can use online such as Keysearch.co and Moz to ensure you’re getting the best keyword suggestions.
#2. Optimize your images
As a photographer, it’s highly likely that you’re website has a plethora of images. To ensure you’re site (and photos) are showing up for your potential clients, you’ll need to do a few things.
- Optimize your images for loading speed, the quicker the better without losing quality.
- Resize your images to match their location on your website, this includes ensuring that your using the proper orientation.
- Optimize your image alt descriptions, you want to include what your image is of, where it was taken, any special details (blue hour, anniversary, etc), and credit your business.
#3. Launch a blog
If you don’t already have a blog or content strategy, now is the time to start one! Marketing your photography business through a blog is one of the best ways to build your brand online and improve your website’s SEO. That’s not to say blogging is the only way to market – just that it’s a great way to market AND improve your SEO.
Blogging gives your website more opportunities to rank for keywords and gain visibility in front of your dream clients. While the main pages of your site can rank for keywords, you’re more likely to rank for niched keywords by creating and optimizing blog posts.
There’s a huge misconception that blogging for photographers is hard – particularly if you’re in a niche that doesn’t seem to create a lot of content that’s easily shareable. Luckily, there are quite a few content ideas that both boost your SEO and don’t make you work TOO hard to put together and post.
How to Find SEO Content Ideas for Photographers
You’re the first person you should consult for content ideas when launching your blog. The best content ideas come from your current or most recent photoshoots or even the questions that your client asks you. You can even find content ideas by thinking of things you WISH your clients knew before working with you!
After thinking about your content ideas, you’ll want to do some keyword research to narrow down your topics and clarify your title and content topic. The great part about this is that you can integrate it into your overall marketing strategy!
If you’re still struggling to come up with search-engine-optimized blog content ideas, you can consult with an expert. Get inspiration from leaders in your field or look up content ideas for your specific style or niche of photography. If you’re a boudoir photographer, you can check out these easy boudoir photography blog post ideas!
Psstt.. Long-term marketing strategies are one of the reasons Boudoir by Tracy Lynn was able to scale to a six-figure business!
Bio: Mckayla is an SEO expert and owner of The Comma Mama Co. with over five years of experience writing, optimizing, and creating for creative entrepreneurs. A SAHM of three, she works towards establishing long-term marketing strategies that attract your ideal clients 24/7 without compromising on your day-to-day life.
Tracy Lynn is a boudoir photogapher for brides-to-be in the St. Louis area, and a mentor + coach for photographers looking to level up their businesses with better systems and processes.
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