Understanding SEO for Your Photography Business: As Told by Real Housewives

In our research with a few dozen photographers we’ve personally worked with, 19% of their website inquiries came from Google searches! Some of those photographers had over HALF of their inquiries coming straight from Google. 

We get it. The letters “SEO” are the most cringe-worthy letters to any small business owner, right? Well, we’re here to show you that SEO doesn’t have to be so scary! 

….and we have a few special guests that are going to help us do just that. 😉

(Sorry, Bethenny, it’s a must-know for photographers!)

What is SEO in the first place?

SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. Think of it as a whole bunch of technical calculations that allow your photography website to show up when someone types specific words on Google.

For example, if you’re a Las Vegas Boudoir Photographer, you’re going to want your website to show up on Google if someone types in “Las Vegas Boudoir Photographer”. SEO are the best practices and techniques put in place to make that happen because, unfortunately, it can’t just magically show up.

What are some of those best practices or techniques that will help my photography website to show up on Google?

There are SO many factors that go into the SEO “algorithm” that can help one site show up “above” another site.

However, let’s show you a few of the most important ones:

• Your site should not just be a portfolio of your work (you need words!)
• Your site should load quickly (ideally less than 5 seconds)
• Your site should be very easy to use and navigate
• Your site must be mobile-friendly and easy to use on mobile devices
• Your site should continue to be updated regularly (blog, blog, blog!)
• Your site should be linked from other relevant, trustworthy websites (features!)

If I make some of these improvements now, will it help my rankings immediately?

Unfortunately not. Google actually can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to reach back out to your website, get this new (awesome!) info, then rank it up against your competition that shares some of those same keywords you do.

But, this should be even MORE motivation to get started on improving your SEO ASAP. The sooner you can get your website Google-friendly, the sooner you can jump closer to Page 1 of Google for keywords that people are actually searching for.

If you’re asking “Do I REALLY need to care about SEO!?” then listen up!

When you learn the ins and outs of SEO, you’ll be able to:

1. Take control of your marketing and who is landing on your site instead of relying on every changing (and annoying) social media algorithms to get clients.
2. Increase your website traffic. Which means an increase in inquiries, which means an increase in bookings…which means an increase in money. Need we say more?
3. Get found on local Google searches so that your dream clients can find you without relying on Mark Zuckerbergs’ platforms, thank you very much!