To put it simply, if you are a photographer and have a website, you need a blog. A blog can be a huge supplement to your website and can offer more for the viewer than just viewing your portfolio online. What is great about a blog is you can post new work to it and describe a little bit about your recent photo shoots, add keywords to your copy which in turn will bring the search engines coming back to your site looking for new content.
Website structure:
The way that I structure my websites is that I post the work I want prospective clients to see on my main website at www.aaronlindberg.com, this is where I host my updated portfolio for viewers to see. The stronger images are posted here so that clients see a range of work. I do not show everything I shoot, just the photos I want people to see and what represents my business’ look and feel. Remember the saying, less is more…
Here is where the blog comes into play. When I set up my blog at www.photokidblog.com I wanted to use it as a journal for small/quick updates that the viewer can see what I have been working on, where I have been shooting across the country or anything else I want to share. A great thing I like to post is behind the scenes photos from recent shoots. By doing so it becomes a little bit more personal, it lets the viewer see my studio space or the type of lighting set up I am using. What I believe is the most important feature of a blog is that it allows me to post photos that might not make it to my main website. Basically it’s an online portfolio of constantly changing work, and a great way to refresh the content on your website.
What to blog about:
For all of us photographers, I have found that a great thing to post to your blog is a couple quick images from a photo shoot that have just been completed. Whether it is personal work, something you shot for a client or even an article relevant to your business, all of which are great ways to keep fresh content rolling through your blog. I do a lot of editorial shoots for publications so they get dibs on first run, but as soon as they hit the newsstand I will post a few shots to my blog. This is also a great way to plug a website and show the viewer who/what you have been shooting for. Don’t forget to link up if your client has your work posted on their website, it will help drive clicks to your site and increase traffic. It’s a win-win.
Ways blogs can benefit you:
There are numerous values for adding a blog to your website. I can speak from experience and tell you that I have had clients call my portfolio in for review simply because they looked at my photoblog and like what I was doing. It shows a different side from your normal work on the site. I am a big believer of getting fresh work on your site as much as you can so that it will show your prospective clients/viewers what you have been working on and help give them a range of your work.
It’s amazing when looking at your website traffic through Google Analytics or through your own website server how people are finding you and the keywords that are bringing them into your site. Because of the photoblog, I have gotten a lot more looks from various outlets into my site, I bet you will have the same result if you get started and keep the content rolling in.
Getting more traffic means better rankings in Google without paying for it. It will take a few weeks to see results but you will see your website gain ground when adding a blog and keeping it updated regularly. I think a good number to shoot for is bare minimum 3-4 times a month, which if you think about it is not that much time dedicated to helping your photo business move along and its completely free to post to your own blog.
How to get started:
There are hundreds of ways to start getting your blog rolling, personally I use Wordpress.com but there are many options out there to help get you rolling. Do some searching and see what works best for you. Ask around and see what works others like and pick what would work best in your process. I can assure you that after a time passes you will see more traffic to your site from your blog. If you decide to load software onto your server space, find someone who is willing to trade work to help you get it set up. It can be a little uneasy and feel invasive setting up something like wordpress but when it’s set up and rockin’ you will be very happy with it.
I do not have one reason why not to blog, the benefits are staggering and the consequences are few. I hope this helps kick start anyone who is on the fence or thinking about adding a blog to your website, it truly is a great thing for your business.
By Aaron Lindberg
www.aaronlindberg.com
www.twitter.com/aaronlindberg
