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Google Optimization Tips for Photography Websites

I’ve successfully helped photographers optimize their websites for Google and want to share an overlooked search engine optimization factor: links. Most beginning websites have optimized keywords and meta data, but few site owners (especially photographers) take the time to build links to their websites, which play a huge role in helping your business shine in the eyes of Google.

Links are Key for Photography Websites

The majority of Google’s ranking process looks at the links coming into your page from other websites. Google ranks sites higher that have quality (and quantity) websites linking to it. There are many other important factors to ranking high in Google search results, including key phrases uses in the page text, but the most important search factor is the quantity and quality of links to your photography website.

You can dramatically improve their search engine position with as little as 10 or 20 quality backlinks. The best links are from related websites and use keywords (that you want to rank for) in the link text. Below are some more ideas for building links to your site.

List in 5-10 Quality Web Directories

Web directories exist that actually seek links to valuable websites like yours. These are like online yellow pages that index photographer and broader topic websites. The submission process to web directories is usually simple – just look for the link called Suggest URL, Submit Site, or Add Link. I suggest that you only spend your time submitting to free directories, and a link back to their site is okay if they require it. Tips:

• setup a unique email account for your directory submissions (expect to get a lot of email as a result of signing up)
• have a well keyword-rich site title and description ready since you will get asked for them
• find directories in your niche, for example ones specific to photographers (or weddings or parties if you do photos for those)

Setup 3-5 Local Business Profiles

Many local business websites appear in map sites and often appear above the regular search results, putting your link at the top of the search page! You can also ask clients for positive user reviews on some of the business profile sites which will build credibility for your business. Start by setting up free profiles for your photography business at Google Local and Yahoo Local.

Link from All Pages of Your Photography Blog

Hopefully you have a photography blog. Make sure you have a link in every blog post that points to your main photographer website. You can vary the text of the link to target different keywords. For example using some of these links in my blog posts can help me rank for a number of similar keyword phrases:

• View more San Diego wedding photos
• Visit my S.D. wedding photography site
• Get the latest wedding images on my photography website
• Check out Zach’s Wedding Photography website

Consider linking from your blogroll as well, which will automatically put a link on all of your blog pages.

Are Link Exchanges Worth It?
Link trades are losing relevance, but relevant and quality links can still be valuable in some circumstances. Ask your partners or related vendors in your area to link to your site. For example you might want to exchange links with non-competing local wedding vendors like a wedding DJ or wedding florist. Links back from those partners may not only generate new business for you, but carry a much higher quality than a link from an unrelated site like a real estate business.

I first link to their site from the bottom of my splash page or homepage, then send them a note through their contact page or email address. I keep their link posted as long as they agree to link to me and maintain that link in good standing. Notice I said to post your link exchange to your splash page or homepage instead of a dedicated links page. Links pages have little to no value because they are buried so deep in sites, and have so many un-related links, that search engines practically ignore them. So the best advice is to carve out a little section of your homepage with 5-10 exchanged links, and seek links from other sites where you can be positioned on their homepages in return. The best link trades are beneficial to you and your customers.

SEO Your Photographer Site Template

For fast and professional search engine results the Photographer’s SEO Book is a must. No technical knowledge needed. Get step-by-step tips on how search engines work, photography-related keywords, blogging for photographers, and google analytics. Great SEO for photo websites including BluDomain templates.

What niche should our next Niche Site giveaway be?

Owning niche sites is essential for you to excel in niche marketing.  Every month, we give away a free niche site to one of our lucky Niche Titans newsletter subscribers!  Last month (March 2009) the winner received a fantastic niche site about Organic Baby Food. This month, we’ll leave the choice up to you, our readers!

Here are the few niches I’ve thought of, and why they’d be good niches.  Then, you can vote in the poll below.  The poll will only be open for 3 days, so vote now!   Also, leave a comment saying why you voted how you did! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for a chance to win a free niche site! (Sign-ups are in the sidebar, and at the bottom of every post.)

• Mortgages – People are definately spending less money in these tough economic times.  But, those searching for mortgage information are looking to spend money….hundreds of thousands of dollars most likely (over the next 30 years of course!)  Why not be the one to provide them with solid information, either leading them to the lending companies advertising on Adsense, or directly to lending and mortgage companies who pay you per sign-up.
• Gardening – This is an evergreen niche (literally!)  An evergreen niche is a niche that is good year-round, and for years to come, despite any economic downturns.  People will always continue to garden and do lawn maintenance.  Why not have a site that provides them with solid information.  You can put Adsense ads on each post, while also providing Amazon links to seeds, gardening tools, and other essential supplies for the gardener on your site.
• Resumes – With an unparalleled amount of people losing jobs than there’s been in the last few generations, many people are having to create or update their resumes.  For many people, they haven’t had to do this in years, and so they are looking to the web for how to do it again.  You can provide some solid information, then send them to a Clickbank product than can help people to create great resumes (and make you some good money!)
• Self-Improvement – This is another evergreen niche as people are always trying to improve themselves.  There are many self-improvement books on the market, so this is a fantastic niche for Amazon consumers.   People like to spend money on themselves, especially if the product has a chance of improving their looks, condition, or personality.  This niche can solve people problems, which is one of the number one ways to get people to buy something, by solving a problem.

So, now you tell us!  Which one would you like to win?  Vote now, and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to be eligible to win!

March 2009 Niche Site Giveaway Winner

Well, it’s a new month, so that means we need a winner for the Niche Titans, monthly niche site giveaway!

There were 268 confirmed newsletter subscribers (some signed up, but never clicked the link in the confirmation e-mail). I threw the e-mail address into a randomizer, and it picked the winner.

March’s Winner: Aaron from FatherOfTheBlog.com

His Prize: OrganicBabyFoodBooks.com

Stats:
“Organic Baby Food” gets 14,800 searches/month.
PageRank: 0
Indexed for: 9 months (will make it a lot easier to market)
Income: Amazon & various other organic affiliates.
Traffic: 15-30/month.
Theme: SEO Optimized
Domain: Keyword rich

Sometimes the sites will be brand new, sometimes the sites will be ones that have been aging for easier marketing.

This site hasn’t been marketed, but it can be an awesome site. Mothers are the best demographic for online shoppers. Organic stuff is getting more and more popular. Plenty of monthly searches to make it worth while.

Aaron just needs to start building links to the bad boy, and then sit back and enjoy the mothers visiting his site, buying multiple items from Amazon, and getting commission on not only the organic baby food books, but all other items purchased as well!

Congrats Aaron!

Here’s what Aaron had to say:

“The Niche Titans rock, a free website ready to roll, today is the day my fortune will change. The Titans of Enlightenment should be their tag line! Since subscribing to Niche Titans my ideas of internet marketing have been expanded beyond expectations. So excited to win a free niche website, Thanks Niche Titans Team.”

Do you want to win a FREE niche site at the end of this month? All you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter, confirm your subscription, and you’re entered! It’s that easy! Plus, you’ll get notified by e-mail whenever we make a new post, and other great newsletter-only secrets (such as a recent Affiliate Theme 10% off coupon).

Once again, congrats to Aaron! Enjoy the site bud!

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