Are you a photographer who regularly shares recent photoshoots on your blog?
As an SEO expert, I’ve noticed that many of my clients love showcasing their latest photoshoots on their blogs. However, they often miss out on optimizing these posts for search engines.
If you’re not optimizing your blog posts for SEO, you’re missing a golden opportunity to rank higher in search results.
The good news? With just a few simple tweaks, you can supercharge your blog posts to climb those search rankings and attract more clients.
Let’s Start With What Not To Do
To create content that ranks well, it’s not enough to just showcase images or brief descriptions.
Search engines require substantive content to understand and categorize your article effectively for relevant keywords.
For instance, when writing about a wedding at a Barossa Valley venue, it’s important to describe the venue in detail and provide personal insights that potential brides and grooms would find valuable. This approach not only enhances the quality of your article but also boosts your chances of ranking on the first page of search results.
Follow this checklist when creating blog posts showing your photoshoots.
Download the checklist here:
1. Start with Keyword Research
Like most SEO projects start with keyword research.
Before you even start writing, it’s crucial to identify target keywords related to your photography niche. For example, wedding photographers might focus on location-specific keywords like “Howard Vineyard Wedding” to attract couples interested in that venue.
Tip: Take a look at what your competitors are doing for similar keywords. This will give you insights into what you’re up against and how you can differentiate your content. Check out our article on how to do keyword research yourself.
2. Craft the Perfect Blog Title
Your blog title should include the main target keyword you have just picked and your photography niche. This not only helps in SEO but also makes it clear to the reader what the blog is about.
For instance, if you’re a nature photographer, terms like “Best Sunset Spots in [Location]” could be effective.
3. Write the Blog Post Introduction
Start with a Hook
Engage your reader immediately. Whether it’s a fascinating fact about photography techniques or a rhetorical question about the importance of capturing memories, make it captivating.
Keyword Placement
Include your target keyword within the first 100 words to optimize for SEO.
4. Write the Content
Where a lot of photographers go wrong showcasing their images in a blog is the severe lack of text. While images are the main attraction in a photography blog, text content is crucial for SEO and providing context to the reader. Search engines can’t “see” images the way humans do, so they rely on text to understand the content. If you’re a photographer looking to improve the performance of your blog posts, it’s crucial to balance stunning visuals with informative text. Here’s why and how.
Search engines like Google rely on text to understand what your blog post is about. Without sufficient text:
- Your blog won’t rank well in search results.
- You miss the opportunity to include keywords.
- You can’t provide context or additional information that could make your post a valuable resource.
Quick Tips
- Aim for at least 300-500 words per blog post.
- Use your target keywords naturally throughout the text.
- Provide captions or descriptions for your images.
Content ideas
- Behind-the-Scenes Stories: Share anecdotes or special moments that occurred during the shoot. For instance, “The bride’s father had a surprise slideshow that brought everyone to tears.”
- Photography Tips: Offer some photography insights related to the shoot. For example, “Capturing the golden hour light made the couple’s photos even more magical.”
- Venue Highlights: Describe unique features of the venue that made it a great choice for a wedding. “Howard Vineyard’s rustic barn added a vintage charm to the reception.”
- Vendor Shoutouts: Mention and link to other vendors who contributed to the wedding. “The floral arrangements by [Florist’s Name] were simply breathtaking.”
- Testimonials: Include a quote from the couple about their experience with you as their photographer. “We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer to capture our special day.”
- FAQs: Address some frequently asked questions about shooting at that specific venue. “Many couples ask about the best spots for photos at Howard Vineyard; the vineyards and the barn are my personal favorites.”
- Seasonal Recommendations: If the wedding took place during a particular season, offer some tips or observations. “Autumn weddings at Howard Vineyard are especially romantic, thanks to the fall foliage.”
- Local SEO Elements: Mention nearby landmarks or attractions. “Howard Vineyard is just a short drive from the scenic [Nearby Attraction], making it a perfect weekend getaway for wedding guests.”
- Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage readers to take some action, like reaching out for a consultation or checking out your portfolio. “Inspired by this Howard Vineyard wedding? Let’s talk about capturing your dream day!”
5. Within The Body of Your Blog include:
Subheadings
Use H2 and H3 tags for subheadings, incorporating keywords where they naturally fit. For example, a travel photographer might use a subheading like “Capturing the Northern Lights in Iceland.”
Internal and External Links
Link to other relevant blog posts or service pages on your site. Cite authoritative external sources to boost credibility.
Image Optimization
Your photos are your portfolio. Use alt text that includes relevant keywords and locations to optimize them for search engines.
Local SEO Elements
If you’re focusing on a specific location, mention local landmarks or features. This is especially useful for wedding photographers aiming to rank for venue-specific searches.
Rich Media
Incorporate videos or slideshows to improve user engagement and dwell time.
6. Compress your images
High-resolution images can significantly slow down your website, negatively impacting user experience and SEO rankings.
Why Compress Images?
- Faster Load Times: Compressed images load quicker, improving site speed—a key SEO factor.
- Enhanced User Experience: Faster loading images lead to a smoother user experience.
- Reduced Bandwidth: Compression reduces the amount of data your website needs to load, which can also reduce hosting costs.
Quick Tips
- Use image compression tools like JPEG-Optimizer or TinyPNG before uploading.
- Aim for a balance between image quality and file size.
- Test the load time after uploading new images.
7. Write a Meta Description
Please please please write a meta description. Don’t just let Google auto-populate something from your blog post. A concise meta description that includes your target keyword can significantly improve your blog’s SEO. This is the snippet that readers will see in search results, so make it count.
8. URL Structure
Your blog title doesn’t need to be the URL, you can shorten it, in fact you should. (Google likes short URL’s) A clean, descriptive URL is both SEO-friendly and user-friendly. Use hyphens to separate words and make sure it includes your target keyword.
9. Share on Social Media
Share your blog post across social media platforms to increase visibility. Use relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience.
10. Share on Google Business Profile
Share your new blog post as an update on your Google business profile as an ‘update’.
11. Monitoring
Regularly check analytics tools like Google Analytics to gauge your blog’s performance. This will help you refine your strategy over time.
12. Schema Markup
Implement schema markup to enable better SERP features like rich snippets. I personally use the plugin RankMath rather than Yoast because it provides a schema for every article.
Case study
Case Study: Optimizing a Wedding Photography Blog Post for Howard Vineyard
Objective
To optimize a blog post featuring a wedding shoot at Howard Vineyard in Adelaide, aiming to improve SEO rankings, user experience, and ultimately, business inquiries.
Step 1: Keyword Research
Objective: To identify target keywords related to Howard Vineyard weddings.
Tools Used: SEMrush, Ubersuggest
Key Findings:
- High search volume for “Howard Vineyard Wedding”
- Related long-tail keywords include “Adelaide Hills Wedding Venue,” “Vineyard Wedding Ideas”
Step 2: Competitor Analysis
Objective: To understand what competitors are doing for similar keywords.
Tools Used: SEMrush, Google Search
Key Findings:
- Competitors often showcase galleries but lack sufficient text content.
- Few competitors are optimizing for local SEO elements.
Step 3: Preparing and Organizing Images
Objective: To prepare high-quality, compressed images for faster load times and better UX.
Tools Used: tiny.png, IMG.co
Actions Taken:
- Compressed all images without losing significant quality.
- Bulk named all images
- Organized images into categories like ‘Pre-Ceremony,’ ‘Ceremony,’ ‘Reception.’
Step 4: Crafting the Blog Post
Objective: To create a well-structured, SEO-friendly, and user-centric blog post.
Platform Used: WordPress
Actions Taken:
- Used an SEO-friendly title: “A Dreamy Howard Vineyard Wedding in Adelaide Hills: [Couple’s Names]”
- Included meta description with target keywords: “Step into Emily & John’s enchanting Howard Vineyard wedding in Adelaide Hills. From the heartfelt vows to the magical reception, discover why this venue is a top choice for couples.”
- Created a gallery using the NextGEN Gallery plugin, added alt text to each image.
- Wrote at least 500 words of text content, incorporating target keywords and providing context for the images.
- Added local SEO elements, mentioning nearby landmarks and other local vendors involved in the wedding.
Step 5: Post-Publishing and Monitoring
Objective: To monitor the performance of the blog post.
Tools Used: Google Analytics, Google Search Console
Actions Taken:
- Shared the blog post on social media platforms using relevant hashtags
- Shared the blog on the GMB profile
- Monitored metrics such as page views, time on page, and bounce rate.
Wrapping Up
Optimizing your blog posts as a photographer can significantly enhance your online visibility and attract your ideal audience. By following these tips—understanding your audience, choosing the right keywords, crafting engaging content, and utilizing SEO best practices—you’ll not only improve your search engine rankings but also create a more engaging experience for your readers. Remember, consistency is key. Keep refining your strategy, stay updated with SEO trends, and watch as your blog becomes a powerful tool in your photography business.
If you need further assistance, consider consulting with SEO companies for photographers. These specialized services can provide tailored strategies to ensure your content reaches the right audience effectively.
Happy blogging, and may your photos always find the perfect audience!
