Photographer home page seo

[GNeil]

I have a question about the best way to optimize a photographer's homepage for SEO. It's a simple answer if you specialize in one or two things but in my experience many beginner (and even seasoned photographers) will shoot whatever they can get their hands on. Perhaps you mainly shoot weddings and engagement sessions but you also shoot newborns from time to time, family photos, high school seniors and generic head shots. Granted the short answer may be to simply suggest that they specialize however coming from the photography world that isn't always feasible. Of course we'd suggest that they should create a page for each specialty to optimize for that specific keyword, but I'm talking mainly about the home page.

Dallas Wedding Engagement Family Newborn headshot photographer looks pretty spammy and I'm sure Google won't like that either.

In some cases you can definitely group things together, like family, senior portrait and new born could feasibly be grouped into "Dallas family portrait photographer" etc, but in other instances where you shoot everything not so much.

So with that being said, in terms of optimizing both the title tag and content on the page (easier to separate out) what would your advice be?

[impactzoneco]

My first piece of advice would be to niche the client as much as you can.

First, why? Because it will make it a lot easier for you to use distinct keywords that will bring to the photographer their target market, the people who would actually buy their services. They need to know their target market, and not throw spaghetti against the wall by being everything to everyone.

Second, if the client does not understand their own business, then they need to hold off on SEO. I know the tendency for small businesses is to try to do everything, but that isn't possible. SEO may not be for them.

Next, the "how". This article sums it up pretty well. https://www.risingtidesociety.com/how-to-find-your-niche/

Layer 1: Suzie is a Photographer

Layer 2: Suzie is a Portrait Photographer

Layer 3: Suzie is a Portrait Photographer Specializing in Children between the ages of 2 and 10

Alright…not bad…but were not at the “special sauce” yet.

Layer 4: Suzie is a portrait photographer who specializes in special needs children between the ages of 2-10.

BAM.  _That _layer, my friends, is where the magic happens.

Next, if you haven't yet, ask your client to answer, "I am in the business of ...." and see what they say. That will help you to determine what words to use on the home page. I also like to ask about values/mission, such as: "I am committed to _______ first and foremost, followed by ____________ and then ___________." This helps me to understand the brand better and determine what to emphasize when I have questions about keywords.

As regards your question on what terms or phrases to use...I would start with location and then discuss their "major" services. You can niche for the other "minor" services on the actual pages.

To answer your question, though, as for an example, here is an anonymized adaptation of SEO I provided for an interior designer in a major metro area. You could adapt this to your client, and tweak for better character length than the anonymized example. She got into the 3-pack.

Dallas County Photography >> Company Name
Dallas County Photography >> City1, City2 & City3, State | Weddings, Engagements, Events, Family, Newborn, and headshots photographer.

[But for all that is Holy, convince your client to niche, no matter how scary. They really will do better.]

If you haven't checked him out, this guy might also have some advice. http://www.foregroundweb.com/blog/seo-guide-for-photographers/

Good luck, and let me know if I can help again.

-- Jewel

[julie-getonthemap]

I agree with Jewel - trying to be all things to all people is a recipe for disaster.

I am teaching a social media class to realtors on Wednesday and I know (from experience) that when I ask who is your target market, they'll say anyone who wants to buy or sell a home.  I'm going to try out this response on them.

When you say anyone who wants to buy or sell a home, you say that I am only important to you in the money you can make from me. Do you think that will make me like or trust you. Instead you say your target market is people who like the arts and dogs. Now you are saying that my interests are important to you. If you say your target market is people who like traditional performing arts (ballet, opera and old-fashioned musicals) and dachshunds, you are saying I am important to you. And then you'll be important to me.

Your photographer is telling prospects that he/she just wants to make a buck. The home page should inspire the real prospect to believe that there could be no other photographer in the area that understands me better.

[impactzoneco]

Julie,

Love, love, love this perspective/way of saying to people they should niche down.

The other aspect of niching is that you then automatically tell the prospective client what you will do for the them because you are addressing their problems.

Bingo!

-- Jewel