Orange County Baby Photography || All About SEO
Yesterday I had the biggest win for my business in a long time.
I found out I am on PAGE ONE for Google in all the keywords I’ve been working towards. Orange County is huge for baby photography and I never thought it would happen. This is something I’ve been working towards for months and to finally see my name on that first page was unreal! I don’t give a rats booty about Instagram followers, I have under 1000 while everyone else also on the first page has over 10k. Your Instagram following does not equal bigger paychecks. Read that again.
Your Instagram following DOES NOT EQUAL bigger paychecks. Stop worrying about Instagram and focus half as much time on your personal website and blog. You’ll reap the rewards 10 fold. (Ps… I’m also talking to myself because we know Instagram is a hell of a lot more fun than writing a blog post but discipline guys!)
Ok back to SEO.
Last year on my top keywords, like “Orange County Baby Photography” and about 10 others I’ve chosen to focus on. I was on page 6 or later on every single one. No one and I mean no one goes to page 6.
Last year I also hired TunicLabs (now called SEOtographer) to handle the back end of my website and optimize it for SEO. You can join their Facebook group here which is what kickstarted my interest. I think I paid $600 for him to optimize my site. It took 30 days and then he said to wait at least 6 months before expecting results. It wasn’t just hiring someone and forget it. You still have to do the work. Michael sent me a bunch on suggestions for me to handle on my own too. He even went as far as to list out the best keywords for me to use going forward.
TIPS in addition to hiring someone… (Notice I said in addition to, there is a lot of backend mumbo-jumbo that we just don’t understand and as much research as I did, which believe me I do A LOT. It was still confusing and overwhelming. Having Michael handle that part was a MUST.)
1. BLOG - Blog, blog, blog. Three times a week! Authentically writing meaningful content for your blog post of 300 words or more is vital. Google will see right through your feeble attempt to copy and paste the same keyword phrase over and over again. You must write as if you’re talking to someone. Write the keyword phrase in the title. Notice my Title of this post. Copy that algorithm for every post you do but switching up the phrases and post titles. Now I have my keyword used in three places already. It’s ideal to have that keyword in the first paragraph but anywhere in the first part of your post works too.
2. Rename images - I use Blogstomp which is a $49 must have software for blogging. I use it to rename my images and collages using the keyword phrase I’ve chosen. So all of the images in this post will be named “Orange County Baby Photography SEO (+add in something specific about each image)”. Again Google sees right through the copy & paste method so you must go into each image and name it something specific to that image. Example - Orange County Baby Photography SEO Baby girl in the studio. All the images on my website are the same, renamed to match one of my keyword phrases. Picking up what I’m putting down?
3. Don’t give up! I hired Michael last March and seriously thought it was a waste of money because nothing happened. I almost gave up but every time I get down I would just blog some more. Low and behold, he knew more than me and it’s working! I like to think back to what my dear friend Gaby Chung of GabyChung.com said. Also she is an absolute genius so you should go follow her on Facebook and Instagram. She has always said her highest paying clients come from Google and focus on your own website more than anything else. When all else fails, blog and pray.
4. This last part I add the bottom of every blog post. No one has told me to do this but I feel like it works. If nothing else its authentic way to get those precious keywords into the post. Here’s how I do it…
Poppy Lea Photography is a motherhood photographer in Orange County who specializes in maternity, newborn, baby, motherhood sessions and family photography in the Orange County area, including San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa.
This will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me as your maternity, newborn, baby or motherhood Photographer in Orange County. If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. My favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame or an album! If you are you interested in a custom portrait session with Poppy Lea Photography and would like more information, please click here to see the experience.
For investment information, please click HERE.
If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please click on the contact button above or email me directly at poppyleaphotography@gmail.com.
Sessions are currently booking into Fall 2020, so please inquire when you know you’d like a session.
I find such joy in capturing a family’s story and would be honored to help you tell yours!
xoxo- Laurel