Blogging is Good for SEO…
…and that’s why I’m blogging.
Today begins a new project: Project SEO II. For the unaware, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. That’s the formal way of saying “How high you rank on Google.” This is going to be a major undertaking and, to be honest, I’m not sure if I can accomplish it.
Why am I doing this? I’ve been at or near the top of local Google rankings in many of my keywords (like “New Bern Photography” and “New Bern Photographers”) for several years but I’m starting to slip. Even still, I get several inquiries that come from Google every month.
What does this project entail? Here’s a look at my plan:
1) Blogging: I’m planning to blog 2-4 times per month. The funny part is that I don’t expect people to read my blog. If you’re here reading this, then welcome! That’s not the goal though. The sole goal is to gain ground on Google search.
Consistently updating your website is one way to raise your profile with Google. Using keywords, like the aforementioned New Bern Photography keyword phrase, on your website is another.
Blog content will include content from my bi-weekly email newsletter, which you can sign up for in the footer of my website, FAQ (frequently asked questions), business photography inspiration, and potentially an article or two written by AI.
2) Google Business: Technically, this is separate from SEO but I’m including it in the same project. I need to be better at posting updates on my Google Business Profile. Nobody looks at this except for Google. That’s OK. I won’t be exerting effort on it. All I plan to do is copy my social media posts and paste them into Google Business. That’s it.
3) Publications: This one is a maybe. This will be the most time-consuming; therefore, it’s the least likely to happen. By submitting commercial photography and marketing article ideas to publications, there’s a chance that they could feature me. When they feature me, there’s a chance that they’ll include a link to my website. Links to my website are SEO gold.
4) Pinterest: This one is also a maybe. I’d be using it for things like business photography mood boards more than SEO. Regardless,, this could be an additional boost to SEO.
Links to my website were the secret sauce in my initial SEO push, which I guess we could refer to as Project SEO I. From 2012-2018, back when I was a wedding photographer, I made a hard SEO push that paid off. I submitted my weddings, bridal portraits, and engagements to different wedding publications around the world. When they were accepted for publication, the publisher linked to my site. Getting featured around the world was a nice feather in my cap and Two Bright Lights named me as one of the most published photographers in the world for six consecutive years. Still though, the goal was links. I got links. Now I’m trying to do something similar, except with photography and marketing knowledge instead of wedding photos.
Follow along on my Facebook and Instagram feeds as I share updates. Or don’t. That’s alright if you don’t because you’re not my target audience. Google is, and I want them to eat it up.