SEO For Newborn Photographers: The Ultimate Guide

Ever tried to find a needle in a haystack? That’s what it feels like for many newborn photographers, trying to find clients and stand out in the current online world. Can you relate?

We all know stunning images and word-of-mouth recommendations can help. But here’s the kicker – these alone may not be enough anymore.

You see, Google is like that persnickety art critic at an exhibition, silently judging every piece of work on display before deciding which deserves the spotlight. And guess what? Your photography website is one of those pieces!

If your website isn’t speaking Google’s language, it’ll remain hidden deep within countless pages of search results – as elusive as that proverbial needle! So how do we turn this around?

SEO for newborn photographers is a fascinating field. It’s about enhancing your web visibility to get more prospective customers who are specifically searching for the services you provide.

Understanding SEO for Newborn Photographers

When it comes to attracting customers and increasing online visibility, newborn photographers like yourself really shouldn’t ignore the power of website search engine optimization (SEO). It’s like a magical map that leads potential clients straight to your beautiful website. Especially if you’re interested in scaling up your service-based business, SEO can be a low-stress way to do that relative to other methods of scaling.

It starts with keywords. Picture them as secret words that parents type into Google when looking for an expert in maternity or newborn photography. Using relevant terms such as ‘newborn photographer’, ‘maternity photo session’, or even specific phrases like ‘baby photographer specializing in natural light’ can help improve your site’s rankings on Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.

A high-ranking website isn’t just about using the right words though. Search engines love websites that offer easy and fast user experiences too. This includes easy-to-use navigation, quick page load times, and engaging content – think blog posts on tips for a successful maternity shoot or advice on how to best prepare for a no-stress baby photoshoot.

Incorporating these elements will not only give you brownie points with Google but also position you as an authority in your field. And let’s be real – who doesn’t want to look like they’re at the top of their game?

Starting SEO from Scratch

The world of SEO can seem daunting, but let’s simplify it. We’ll start by diving into the heart of SEO: keyword research.

Importance of Keyword Research

To rank higher in search engine results, we need to understand what potential dream clients are searching for. Identifying relevant keywords is crucial here. Metadata optimization (hold on, stay with me now!), a key part of an effective SEO strategy, heavily relies on this understanding.

As a newborn photographer aiming to boost your online visibility, you should think about questions prospective clients might ask Google. ‘Newborn photographers [city]’ or perhaps ‘affordable maternity photoshoots’. These queries hint at valuable (i.e. profitable!) keywords that could guide your foundational SEO plus your content creation.

Metadata Optimization

Title tags, meta descriptions, and alt text aren’t just technical jargon – they’re tools. Depending on your website platform, these might have different names. For example, on Squarespace, title tags are called SEO Titles. To find what your platform calls title tags and meta descriptions, you can just Google: [website platform] title tags and meta descriptions. 

This metadata tells search engines like Google what your site is all about. Well-crafted metadata can significantly improve how many people click on your pages on search results as well as give your photography website an edge over local competitors.

As a newborn photographer, be sure to include the name of the city where you’re located somewhere in your title tags. This is a super strong hint to Google to rank you in your city!

For meta descriptions, these are 155 character or less notes that don’t affect where you rank, and instead affect whether or not someone clicks on your page or not. You’ll want to think of these more as copy (sales-oriented language) than as content (informative-oriented language).

Funny Thought: Imagine someone reading only the blurb on a book cover without knowing anything else about it; if it’s not compelling enough, would they give the book a chance? Probably not. That’s precisely how important metadata is for attracting visitors to your site.

Internal Page Linking

Internal page linking is when pages on your website include links to other pages on your website. Like on your homepage where you probably link to a portfolio page, a services page, maybe a testimonials page, and a contact page.

Each page on your website should at least have one link to another page on your website, ideally at least three links. Because your homepage is the MOST important page on your website (to Google, too), this page should have links to all of your main pages and a couple of your blog posts (your most strategic ones).

These internal links tell Google that these linked-to pages are important. Studies have shown that the better your internal linking is, in general the better your SEO will be.

When it comes to internal page linking, studies have also shown that the words you hyperlink matter. For example, it’s much better for a call-to-action button to say ‘photography services’ than to say ‘see more’. Links should have contextual words, so that Google can better understand where that link leads to.

Local SEO for Newborn Photographers

As a newborn photographer, you’re likely focused on capturing precious moments (rightfully so!). But if you haven’t yet considered the power of building citations to enhance your local search rankings, I’m sorry to say you’re missing out. Google loves when your business information is consistent and widespread across various platforms.

Citations are mentions of your photography business’s name, address, and phone number (otherwise known as N.A.P.) on other web pages across the internet. This could be directories like Yelp or Yellow Pages, social media profiles, or even in a roundup post by a maternity blogger. A citation doesn’t need to link back to your website to provide value; it’s mainly about visibility.

To start creating citations, make sure that all N.A.P. details are accurate and up-to-date on both your website and Google Business Profile. Then look for reputable websites where you can list these details – think industry-specific sites and directories. Cover the general main ones, but also get yourself on as many niche-specific ones as possible (paid or unpaid).

Baby photographers often forget this simple yet effective SEO move. However, consistently investing time into building quality citations will help improve how Google ranks you locally in its search results.

Creating & Optimizing a Google Business Profile

Having an optimized Google Business Profile can be a newborn photographer’s attractive digital storefront. It helps potential clients find your photography business in local search results; 86% of customers use Google Maps to locate a business nearby.

The first step is simple: visit the Google My Business homepage. Click on ‘Manage Now’. Sign in to your Google account or create one if necessary.

Filling Out Your Information

Your profile needs as much information about your newborn photography business as possible. Be sure to include details such as hours of operation, contact information, your website URL, and additional details like if your business is LGBTQ+ friendly, woman-owned, etc.

If you don’t have a physical studio location you operate out of permanently, you should make your GBP a service area listing. This means you’re saying you service a specific geographical area, which will still work to get you ranking for those areas’ search results.

Add Photos & Videos To Showcase Your Work

A picture (and more so a video) speaks louder than words. Potential photography clients love to get glimpses into what a potential session with you might look and feel like.

Include images and a couple of videos from past sessions that truly capture the essence and experience of working with you. Don’t forget to include an image of yourself! Remember, these photos might just convince someone they’ve found their dream baby photographer.

Gather Reviews For Credibility

Last but not least, kindly ask satisfied customers for reviews. These testimonials serve as proof of both expertise and trustworthiness within the newborn photographer community, and are therefore essential to build your business!

When you ask, make it as easy as possible for them. Send them the exact link they need to leave a review. 

Post Regularly

As a photographer, you may have already seen Google Posts! These are posts you can publish to your Google Business Profile any time. They don’t disappear and they’re visible when someone searches for your business on Google. They’re honestly great for both humanizing and promoting your business. To really make a difference, I’d recommend doing at least two posts per month and a maximum of eight per month.

If optimizing your Google Business Profile is sounding overwhelming but it needs to get done, consider hiring us to take care of it for you! Explore how to hire an SEO expert, or check out our signature service.

Launching a Website for Newborn Photographers

Just now getting a website together? Great! It’s a big (awesome!) step for any newborn photographer to get their website up and running. But it’s really not just about slapping some photos online. To ensure your website’s success, make sure it’s optimized for search engines ideally before you launch it. If it’s already launched, that’s ok too! There’s no time like the present to get it going.

To launch an effective newborn photography website, consider using Squarespace or Showit. These are the best platforms for photographers in terms of ease of use, ease to set up, functionality, and long-term growth potential. They have different pricing though, so be sure to choose the one that matches your financial situation!

Blogging Strategically

If you’re a newborn photographer, building a strategic blog is like building multiple roads to your online home. But, unlike what you may have seen, it’s not just about showing off those incredibly cute baby photos.

A well-planned blog can do huge wonders in enhancing your SEO efforts. The trick? Writing for both potential clients and search engines like Google. Ignoring one or the other will lead to an unhappy photography blog that no one reads – trust me, I’ve seen it time and time again.

What to Blog About

When it comes to what to blog about, you may be stumped. It can be a real brain-scratcher trying to come up with topics out of thin air, I totally get it. That’s why it’s best to first do some research into the things (related to newborn photography) that your potential clients are curious about.

To do this research, I recommend tools like Answer The Public, Ubersuggest, and AlsoAsked – all can be used free (with limitations, of course).

If spending hours going down this rabbit hole doesn’t sound appealing to you, we can take care of this research (plus prioritizing the most strategic, profitable topics) for you!

Infusing Keywords (Without Being Spammy!)

To start with, let’s think of your blog post title as the headline on a billboard. It needs to be eye-catching, but also contain relevant keywords to rank higher in search results.

Your main keyword should make its appearance early in the post – preferably within the first 100 words. Google prefers to see front-loaded blog posts, paying more attention to the first half of a blog post than the second half.

Each blog post itself should be sprinkled throughout with relevant, contextual keywords. For example, if you’re sharing tips on how to have a successful newborn photoshoot, you’d want to discuss baby posing, parent expectations, what to bring, and how to prepare.

The most important thing to remember here is that infusing keywords shouldn’t be spammy! That’s where a lot of newborn photographers unfortunately go wrong in their blog posts. Google downvotes blog posts that appear spammy (i.e. are stuffed with keywords). If, when you’re reviewing the blog post, you keep saying the same thing over and over again or it’s just naturally sounding robot-y, go ahead and cut some keywords.

Optimizing Images

Image optimization plays a small, but helpful role. This involves naming images with descriptive keywords and writing alt-text that accurately describes them.

To optimize an image’s name, here’s the format you should follow:

baby-boy-laughing-green-pajamas.jpg

To write optimized image’s alt-text, here’s the format you should follow:

a beautiful baby boy who enjoys laughing at funny faces during a photoshoot

This makes sure search engines understand what each picture represents, increasing chances of popping up when potential clients hit up an image search as well as informing search engines how each image on a page relates to the page it’s on.

Engaging Locally for Newborn Photographers

Newborn photographers can leverage local events to enhance their SEO efforts. It’s all about creating a buzz and becoming the go-to newborn photographer in your city.

When you participate actively, it lets potential clients know that you’re not just any newborn photographer, but one who is committed to being a treasured part of the community. Plus, Google loves seeing this type of engagement too.

You don’t need a big budget or tons of time either. Simple strategies like sponsoring a booth at a baby-related event or offering free mini photo sessions at local fundraisers work wonders. You can also go even further and show up in spaces relevant to babies where your ideal clients hang out, such as baby swimming pools, baby yoga studios, new mom spas, etc.

The key here is networking effectively and using events and other spaces as an opportunity to show up for your community and boost your online visibility. Hand out business cards with your photography website URL clearly printed on them so people can check out your maternity photos portfolio when they get home.

Increasing E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

For newborn photographers aiming to rank higher in Google search results, increasing E-E-A-T is a crucial SEO goal. But exactly how can you build your online expertise and trustworthiness?

Everything we’ve already discussed naturally works to boost E-E-A-T. To recap, a good starting point is to use your photography website as an outlet for showcasing real-life experience. For instance, sharing stories behind maternity photo sessions can offer valuable insights into the care and creativity that goes into each shoot.

In addition to this storytelling approach on web pages and/or blog posts, offering practical advice like ‘how-to’ guides on newborn photography helps position you as an authority in the field. It’s even better if these tips are based on personal experiences from your own photography business.

The next step? Get involved with local events and spaces related to potential newborn and maternity clients – this not only gets people talking about you, but it also builds community trust.

Last but not least, always remember: authenticity wins. So don’t shy away from showing both successes and challenges along the way – it makes you more relatable and trustworthy.

SEO isn’t just about attracting more eyes to your work – it’s about drawing the right ones; those potential clients who see and appreciate what makes you worth choosing among a dozen newborn photographers. Remember: consistency is key! Keep optimizing, keep analyzing user behavior – watch as your organic traffic from Google grows!