Photography is more popular than ever — with opportunities galore for everyone from budding amateurs to full-studio providers. While getting an offline gig is based on the network and being at the right place at the right time, there is a growing rise of seeking opportunities online.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an essential aspect of online marketing for photographers. It helps photographers increase their online visibility and reach potential clients who are searching for the services they offer. In this article, we will discuss some of the best practices for SEO for photographers.
So, why is SEO so important? Consider the fact that for users of all ages today, most experiences when looking for a business involve using a search engine online. If your photography services don’t generate the results, you’ll miss out on potential clients.
Here’s a handy guide to help you with all you need to know regarding SEO for your photography business.
Optimize your website
Optimize your website Your website is the foundation of your online presence. Make sure it is optimized for search engines by using keywords in the titles, descriptions, and content. Also, ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and has a fast loading time.
Consider using the help of companies that offer outsourcing in Europe, Poland, or other places, to connect you with web development and SEO experts that can assist you in creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website while ensuring it is optimized for search engines, thus, boosting your online visibility.
Use keywords
Keywords are the words and phrases that people use to search for your photography services. Research keywords relevant to your niche, and include them in your website’s content and meta tags. Use long-tail keywords, which are more specific and less competitive, to increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
Add Valuable Content on Your Pages
SEO begins with words, so content across your website or landing page needs to be specific and geared toward your proper audience. Maintaining a blog on your website, for instance, is a great way to consistently add value and content for clients.
It’s essential to note that when you blog or create social media posts, you do it with a clear purpose. Providing value to your potential clients is a way to ensure that you’ll have returning and new customers. Create words and tell a story that’s informative, entertaining, and sparks interest in your readers.
For example, if you’ve just done a photo shoot for a big life event, write a blog post that covers your experience. Describe things about the people involved, the place or venue where you did the photo shoot, what the environment was like, if there were props or specific equipment included, how fun the person or people were to work with, and so on.
These types of posts are great to showcase your work and give you a reason to zero in on your keywords and phrases for SEO. Create a connection with people by showcasing your personality and providing insight into your mission and values as a photographer.
Some tips to help when writing content include the following:
- Don’t use the same keyword everywhere throughout your article, otherwise, the algorithms online will flag it as being spam-like. Consider just using one or two keywords throughout each post, instead of every keyword.
- Pro Tip: Use the keyword(s) in the title and the first sentence or two. Then, you can use them again later on throughout the article and once again in the closing.
Creating quality, original, and relevant content is one of the best ways to improve your SEO. You can write blog posts, create portfolio galleries, and showcase your best work. Make sure your content is well-written, visually appealing, and optimized for search engines.
- Use an attention-grabbing title so that you can attract readers. Think of what your audience is looking for in their photography. Tap into their thoughts to pack a punch with your title and draw them into reading.
- Make your blog or post easy to read – this is crucial! Break up big paragraphs into shorter, 1-3 sentences at most. Visual elements also help, so include some pictures or even a short video every 300 or 400 words to help break up the monotony of a long blog post.
- Don’t duplicate content across your web pages. Try to keep each tab unique and specific, so if someone is perusing your website, they don’t read or see the same things over and over again.
- Pro Tip: Don’t forget your SSL security certificate for your website – it also increases your SEO!
Optimize Your Images on Your Website
Photography means taking a lot of raw or high-resolution photos to get the best possible picture. When you upload these to your website or landing pages, your user has a less-than-pleasant experience due to the high quality of the pictures. It takes longer for pages to load and can be frustrating.
Keep your images optimized and reduce the size without compromising the quality. Try to keep your loading time to a few seconds, and your page sizes less than 5MB. Optimizing images help to boost your SEO ranking because your site is faster since part of that ranking comes from the user experience.
Make your website or landing pages mobile-friendly as well, and this in part is done by optimizing your images. Mobile web designs are crucial for prospective clients so they can sift through everything without issue.
Add Alt Text/Tags to Images
Search engines aren’t able to see images on your web pages. You must add what’s known as alt tags or text. The tags work to describe the pictures and translate them for search engines to pick up.
It’s helpful to do this for SEO because your potential clients will be looking for specific things from your photos. Consider a prospect looking up “outdoor wedding photos,” which is pretty generic. But what if the customer wants to see “outdoor wedding photos by the lake with animals”? A little more specific, and if you have examples of just that in your portfolio, it can come up more easily during a search.
Alt text and tags also help bring up the images directly, so a prospective client might pin them to Pinterest, which gives you another route to be located by leads. It also paves the way for new backlinks since they are featured on Pinterest’s site and yours.
Use Links Liberally
People love recommendations, so if you collaborate as a photographer with other businesses, you can make these easy additions to someone reading your blogs and posts. By adding links in this way, you increase your bounce rate, and other businesses that have good standings or have worked with you in the past can do the same in return, linking to your website, blogs, or posts.
Interlinking between related posts is another way for people to easily go to another blog post, see more of your portfolio, and read more about your specialties. Hyperlinks can be organic, or just add a keyword that says something like “Like this? Click here..” and link some of your previous posts, blogs, and work.
Local Online SEO/Get listed in local directories
Feedback from existing customers is a great way to help your local ranking for SEO online. Local directories help search engines understand the geographical location of your business. List your business on popular directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to increase your online visibility.
Consider using a site like Yelp to give your clients a way to rave about your photography skills.
Facebook Reviews is another place where you can have customers provide stellar testimonials.
Create a link for customers who’ve used your services, and send it to them after they are satisfied to help boost your local SEO. It can give you a significant impact on your local ranking.
Track Metrics
Lastly, it would be helpful if you ensure you’re using tools to make decisions that help your business thrive. If you don’t have much marketing analytics knowledge, you’ll want knowledge on how to check your stats, make improvements, and then monitor your progress.
You can track, measure and analyze your results easily by outsourcing your marketing services to help you identify your audience and create helpful suggestions for how to target potential clients through SEO techniques. They can help you with your website design, content creation, and more that will boost your rankings and ensure you find success with your photography.
Use social media
Social media is a powerful tool for increasing your online visibility and attracting new clients. Use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to showcase your work and connect with your followers. Make sure to include links to your website in your social media profiles.
Encourage reviews
Reviews from satisfied customers can help improve your online reputation and increase your search engine rankings. Encourage your clients to leave reviews on your website, social media profiles, and local directories.
In conclusion, SEO is a critical aspect of online marketing for photographers. By following these best practices, you can increase your online visibility, reach potential clients, and grow your business. Stay focused, persistent, and patient, and you will see the results of your efforts.
