SEO Intensive
SEO Success
3x Months Blogging
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Navigate the Case Study
TL;DR đź“Ś
CMS: Showit
Goal: Become a full-time photographer by gaining online visibility and ranking on the first page of Google
Challenge: Domain Authority of 2, only 3 keywords on page one, struggling to rank despite some SEO knowledge
Strategy:
- Built new service pages for each offering (maternity, newborn, family, cake smash)
- Added portfolio galleries to showcase work and strengthen SEO
- Created blogging support content to target local searches and FAQs
- Fixed technical issues, improved site health to 89%, cleaned backlinks
- Optimized for both Google and AI-driven search (LLMs)
Results (10 months):
- +14.92% visibility growth
- 7 keywords in the #1 spot
- 12 keywords on page #1
- Now ranking across all core photography services
- Organic traffic nearly doubled, bringing in the most engaged new visitors
- Appears in ChatGPT results for “Fargo, ND Photographers”
The SEO Challenge.
Melissa Sampson wanted to grow her photography business into a full-time career. To do that, she needed more visibility online so local families could actually find and book her.
She had some understanding of SEO and had tried to improve her rankings on her own, but wasn’t getting the results she needed. Despite her talent and portfolio, her site was stuck at the bottom of search results — with only 1 keyword in the Top 3 and a Domain Authority of 2.
Melissa came to me with one clear goal: get on the first page of Google and attract consistent clients through search.
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Melissa Sampson Photography : The SEO Strategy.
Melissa already had a strong eye for photography and some understanding of SEO, but she needed a strategy that would actually push her into the first page of Google. We designed a step-by-step plan that focused on both visibility and client conversion:
Service Pages for Every Offering
Instead of one general page, we created dedicated, optimized service pages for each type of photography she offers — maternity, newborn, family, and cake smash. This gave Google clear entry points to match her site with the exact services potential clients were searching for.
Portfolio Galleries
Each service page was supported with a visual portfolio. These galleries not only showcase her talent but also provide additional SEO signals through optimized images, captions, and alt text.
Blogging for Support Content
We built a blogging strategy around client questions and local searches. For example, posts about “what to wear for family photos in Fargo” or “how to prepare for a cake smash session” positioned Melissa as both an expert and a local authority. These blogs help Google (and AI search) understand her site as a trusted, complete resource.
Technical & On-Page SEO
We improved her site health to 89% by fixing errors, optimizing meta tags, adding schema, and cleaning up backlinks. This made the website faster, clearer, and more reliable for both users and search engines.
Authority Building
We focused on cleaning up toxic backlinks, while also setting Melissa up for long-term growth with non-toxic, high-quality backlinks. Combined with her improved site structure, this increased her domain authority and gave her more power to compete in local rankings.
This layered strategy gave Melissa not just better rankings, but a system that attracts the right kind of clients — families searching for her specific services in Fargo.
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From 1 to 7 keywords in the #1 spot
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Ranking across her key services
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Traffic Doubled
Now she’s showing up right where clients are looking.
Including cake smash, family, maternity, and newborn photography.
Appearing in ChatGPT Results
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Website is better optimized for AI search engines and appearing in results
The Results
visibility improved by 14.92%
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Overall visibility improved by 14.92% in under a year.
From 3 to 12 keywords on the first page of Google
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Giving her multiple entry points for different types of clients.
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The Impact.
Cake Smash Photography page developed
— now ranking on page #1 in area.
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FAQ: Photographer SEO Case Study.
Q: How long did it take to see results?
A: Within 10 months, Melissa’s site grew visibility by nearly 15%, jumped from 1 to 7 #1 rankings, and went from 3 to 12 keywords on the first page.
Q: Why did blogging matter for a photography website?
A: Blogging gives Google and AI search more content to understand what you offer. For Melissa, blogs like “What to wear for family photos in Fargo” or “How to prepare for a cake smash session” not only boosted rankings but also positioned her as a trusted local expert.
Q: What made the biggest difference in her rankings?
A: Creating new service pages for each type of photography (maternity, newborn, family, cake smash) and optimizing them with portfolios and keywords. Then creating well researched original blog posts to support the services boosted the rankings.
Q: Can SEO really work for photographers?
A: Yes. People search for photographers on Google all the time — especially for milestone sessions like newborns or cake smashes. With the right strategy, you can rank for those searches and turn them into paying clients.
Q: Will my site see results as fast as Melissa’s?
A: It depends on your competition and where you’re starting from. Melissa already had some SEO knowledge, and by niching into service-specific pages, she saw results quickly. Her location also worked in her favor — Fargo is big enough to have good search volume, but not so saturated that competition was overwhelming. New sites or businesses in highly competitive markets may take longer, but the strategy always compounds over time.
Q: How do I know if SEO is right for my photography business?
A: If people are searching online for the services you provide, SEO is the most sustainable way to get found.
Our free audit will show how competitive your market is and what kind of growth is realistic.
