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10 SEO Tips Every Photographer Needs to Boost Their Online Presence
Search Engine Optimization has a near unbeatable track record when it comes to boosting brand presence online.
With over 57% of B2B marketers claiming that SEO is the most important part of their digital marketing initiatives and over 41% of search engine clicks being organic, it’s no wonder businesses around the world are prioritizing SEO strategies to improve brand credibility and presence.
As a photographer, you may not feel as though SEO is as relevant to you as it might be to a large corporation.
But the truth is, SEO can help you spread the word about your creative work better than almost any other digital tool available right now—and the best part is, you don’t need to be a professional marketer to know how to use it!
The right SEO strategy will help connect you with the right clients, make your website and social media pages more discoverable, and empower you to climb the ranking ladder on mega search engines like Google.
Here are ten top tips for utilizing SEO as a photographer seeking more recognition and conversions online:
1. Optimize Your Pages For Mobile SEO
Mobile optimization is quickly becoming one of the most important steps a brand can take to promote online visibility. With Google prioritizing mobile-first search and people using their smartphones to go online more than ever before, it’s clear that the time to optimize your site for mobile is now.
Make sure that your website layout is primed for mobile viewing so that consumers feel comfortable on your pages. If the layout doesn’t accommodate easy mobile browsing, consumers will likely bounce to a different site.
2. Be Scrupulous About Keywords
Don’t just throw in random keywords and hope for the best. Instead, research keywords thoroughly to find which ones perform best and that relate to the type of photographer you are and the services you offer. You need to optimize all the content on your website with keywords that you want to rank for. And you need to ensure you don’t overstuff them and appear spammy!
3. Add Descriptions And Alt Text To Your Images
When you upload your photographs to your website, don’t skip out on the opportunity to add a description or alt text. This is a prime opportunity to make your images more discoverable online.
Insert relevant descriptions filled with keywords your target market searches for so that they pop up more easily on search engines. Google also prioritizes accessibility, and alt-image text is one way of making your site more accessible.
4. Ramp Up Your Page Loading Speed
If there’s one thing that consumers hate, it’s a page that takes forever to load—especially if there are photos involved! This means photographers need to take extra care to design their web pages with a fast loading speed to ensure consumers’ interest stays engaged.
Unfortunately, this can be tricky because photos tend to slow page loading speeds down. However, you can counter this issue by keeping your landscape photos to a maximum of 2500 pixels, always using JPEGs, and limiting the number of photos you add to each page. Make every image count!
5. Use Google Analytics
Another way to boost your online presence via SEO is to simply keep track of your activity by using an analytics program like Google Analytics. The tools it provides are vast and can go a long way in terms of tracking what works and doesn’t work for attracting clients to your site.
6. Set Up A Custom Domain
Custom domains are 100% unique, branded website addresses that distinguish you from other brands. This tactic not only makes your site look more professional but also increases your visibility in search results.
Because custom domains are unique, they are also immediately recognizable, which helps signal trust to potential clients.
7. Add Backlinks To Your Website
Backlinks are links that you embed into website text content for enhanced discoverability. They help search engines perceive your site as more trustworthy, thus helping you rank higher on search listings. They also serve as a useful tool for redirecting people to sites you want them to visit.
You can add internal links (links to other pages on your website) or external links (links to other people’s websites). Both help promote visibility and credibility for your photographs.
8. Blog It Up
Blogs (similar to this one!) are one of, if not the most popular and easy ways to embrace SEO for your photography site. You may work in the visual content sector, but text is such a great way to build a presence online that leaving it out of your SEO strategy would be a mistake. You can also link your blogs to your social media pages for even more traction.
Plus, you can produce blogs that align with your photography style and interests. For example, if you’re a wildlife photographer, you can create an online portfolio that includes blog content related to the animals you shoot, eco-sustainability, and other related topics. Or, if you are a fashion photographer, you could create content about upcoming trends in the fashion world and fashion history. There are endless ways to customize your content to your niche.
9. Submit your sitemap to Google
When you create a website, Google automatically starts indexing your website. This helps the search engine know where to rank you and place you in the hierarchy of search results. But it can take a while for your website to be fully indexed—unless you choose to submit it manually. This will help you become more visible while offering data insights into your performance.
10. Optimize your header tags
Make sure that all of the header tags you use above new blog posts or photo uploads are optimized. By that, we mean using relevant keywords, keeping text short and readable, and making sure each header is as unique as possible to generate maximum online traction.
The Takeaway
These days, being in the visual content industry requires a comprehensive knowledge of how SEO works. You can have some of the most beautiful, professional photographs in the world on your website, but if they or the text surrounding them hasn’t been optimized for SEO, your work won’t attract the audience attention it deserves.
By following these ten simple tips, you can enhance your online presence and attract the photography clients you seek.
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