What Makes a Photography Blog Successful?
January 29th, 2010 written by Renee Swigert + 8 People Left Love
If you are a small business owner, chances are you have a blog. If you don’t, you’ve probably received the look. You know the one, where people are shocked at your missed opportunity. Blogs are fantastic for connecting one-on-one with your audience and for SEO (how your clients find you via Google, Yahoo, etc). Blogs have become a staple and essential part of having a strong online presence as a business.
There are countless factors that go into making a blog successful, from writing engaging copy to the overall design. Below, I’ve highlighted some of the factors that I believe are the most important in achieving a successful blog.
Custom Design
I preach this all the time, but good design sells! A good blog design does not mean purchasing a template off the internet and customizing it. Each photography business is unique and one blog template does not “fit all”. So why would you want to purchase a cookie-cutter template for your unique business? You can’t differentiate yourself from your competition if everyone is using the same template. No matter what you do to customize it, at the end of the day, you’re still using a template. Other photographers know it and so do your clients. Investing in a custom blog design is one of the best moves you can make for your business. Custom blog designs attract more visitors, set you apart from the competition, and generate more revenue over time!
Ease of Connection
Good word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools a business can have, so you want to make it easy for people to remember you, talk about you, and eventually connect with you. A blog in itself is a fantastic start, but stopping there is a missed opportunity. Do you have a Facebook Fan Page or Twitter account? If so, your social networks should be displayed prominently on your blog. Social networking plays a huge part in generating word of mouth connections. The more places people see you, the better chance you’ll be remembered and then referred. And the best part? Social networking is free! So make sure people have multiple ways to connect with you and keep in touch with you during a project and even after.
Engaging Content
It may sound like a no brainer, but content is one of the most important parts of your blog. Posting photos from your sessions is only part of your job… writing engaging content is the other. Your photography should always be the main focus, because that’s what people are purchasing from you after all, but you’ve missed a great opportunity if your supporting copy isn’t as interesting as your photos. Each post doesn’t have to be penned like a page out of Romeo and Juliet, but people love stories (and we all know a photo is worth 1,000 words)!
Take the time to write a nice post for each of your sessions. Through your writing, clients can gauge your personality, the passion you have for your work, and get to know your business and how you operate—which are all important factors that determine if someone is going to hire your or not. And if for no other reason, remember: well written content boosts SEO! So make sure you throw a few keywords in for good measure. Your location, type of session (wedding, portrait, children, etc.), and company name are keywords you should try to work into your copy as often as you can—without being obvious, of course!
If you are interested in learning more about about custom blog designs, post a comment below or on our Facebook Fan Page. If you are ready to take your business to the next level, and want to learn more about pricing for a custom blog, fill out the free quote form!
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