SEO is a trending hot topic! Photographers everywhere want to know how to capitalize on their SEO while spending time with their families and letting it work for them. Claire Lauer, the SEO expert and I dive deep into this hot topic. Claire brings immense value and knowledge to our conversation about capitalizing your SEO, and gives us five tips to book more clients from your website so you can spend less time on social media. 

Use Target Keywords (SEO) for Content

You should be using target keywords to write & publish content on your blog. Keyword rich content throughout your blog will help to ensure Google is picking up your work. As you write your content, remind yourself you are not writing about a singular photography session. What do we mean by that? Instead of blogging about the Johnson family’s cute session, you could give value on how to prepare for a family photo session. In that blog, use the Johnson family images to boost your content. You want to curate a client experience, for more tips on that, check out this blog.

Localize Your Content

Within your blog include your local area (city & state), perhaps even include a trending area near you. This means as you are blogging, use your city, and state, to help when a Google search is performed. We sugget using this information in your title and first paragraph of each blog post. Your blog should be a resource for current, past and future clients. Think of your blog content as a vault of resources for your client.

If you are struggling to come up with ideas for your blog, utilize Google or Reddit to help find content ideas. Your blog is there to educate your audience, as well as promote your business.  If you are struggling to develop topics, create a list of questions you often get asked by clients, and then turn into blog posts. Utilize your current session images within your blog, but tie your content to what’s trending from your list of content ideas.

Rename Your Images 

Naming your images correctly is essential for Google to recognize and use them as part of your SEO. When you are creating your blog, your copy and images make sure you have resized the image, and rename the image naturally. Ensure they have a keyword  and location for the image. ie Oklahoma-photography-session. This will help with accessibility when Google utilizes your content.  You may be wondering why are dashes so important? Dashes are essentially Google’s language, it’s how it reads the content.

Optimize Your Google Business Profile 

Have you claimed your Google Business Profile yet? Your Google Business Profile is your free directory listing on google. You can post on your Business profile. Be sure to check the listing accuracy, and add relevant information to it. You can reuse a social media post if you have one, or even a blog post within your business profile. Ensure you have up to date business information, fresh images and claim your business! If you need to find this go to: Business.google.com 

You all know SEO (search engine optimization) is a crucial piece of being found by your ideal clients. That’s why I’m so excited that this month’s podcast sponsor – CL Content Marketing – is inviting you to join her free challenge. Each day of the challenge, Claire will walk you through the 5 SEO tips for your photography business. She will share more about each tip, offer an action item, and provide you with accountability to complete each one. By the end of the week, you’ll have boosted your SEO. To join her free challenge, head to HERE to join. The Photographer’s SEO Challenge kicks off Monday July 15th.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console will help you identify which keywords people are currently looking for. We suggest taking a look at this once a month or once a quarter. Google will send you an update once a month on the Businesses you claim. This will show you how people are finding your site.

Boost your SEO in your content and find your dream clients! Your clients are searching for you! Ideally, we suggest writing two blogs a month, and you will get traction in your Google search. Check your rankings once a month to see if you are getting organic searching. SEO is a long game and it can take about six months, just like everything it takes time! Google needs to take some time to index and get traction and rankings. 

SEO Shocking Statistics 

A recent study found that the top resources used to learn about finding a photographer is asking your family and friends! Most of your clients are finding you by word of mouth. The second most is from a  Google search. You need keywords packed content for this! This is your golden tip to get your long form content going! Remember, you have to start somewhere so get going!