Curated reading material for the summer 👓📚
These are 50+ hand-picked articles that I enjoyed since the beginning of 2018, on topics like business / industry news, web-design, SEO & WordPress.
Read articleSearch engine optimization for photography websites.
Google is becoming more human. Make it your friend.
Interview on the PhotoBizX Podcast: “Everything you need for a successful photography website”
I'm back on the PhotoBizX podcast with a really long and detailed conversation (with host Andrew Hellmich) about user experience in photography websites. Andrew and I cover (almost) everything you need to know for building a great photography website.
Read articleCurated list of the best WordPress plugins for photographers
Collection of recommended WordPress plugins (that I'm often using when building photography websites). Almost all plugins below have excellent reviews & a rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars, and have been thoroughly revised and tested.
Read articleWordPress vs. photography-specific & other platforms: deciding where you should build your photo website
How do you decide what platform to build your photography website on? WordPress has become very popular, but photographer-specific tools have their own strong features. This article will help you decide which best fits your needs.
Read articleDon’t obsess over SEO: 10 things you should be taking care of on your photography site before doing advanced SEO work
SEO procrastination is too common among photographers, often times actually damaging their business. There's a time for SEO work, of course, but other website changes should be taken care of first. Make sure your website completely nails these issues before worrying about traffic and SEO.
Read articleQ&A #12: Google Analytics, retina images, protecting high-res images, Yoast focus keywords
Answering your questions about filtering your own visits in Google Analytics, the balance between retina image quality and website performance, selling high-res images while still protecting them, using Yoast's focus keyword feature.
Read articlePhotography website user experience [video]
I was recently invited for a live Facebook event (hosted by Julie Christie from Togs in Business) where I shared some insights into what photographers like you should be thinking about when it comes to photography website user experience.
Read articleBig SEO news: you can now write longer SEO meta-descriptions
Google now displays longer description snippets in their search results. Learn what means for SEO, how to take advantage of the longer SEO meta-descriptions, and how to track your results in Google Search Console.
Read articleNew Google Search Console design and user interface: here’s what changed and which reports are most useful
The Google Search Console SEO tool has been redesigned from scratch, with indexing and search performance reports will provide even more insights into how you can improve your website (both in Google's eyes and for your human visitors). Here's what new and how to get useful insights from it.
Read articleSEO is a long-term game: how long does it take to rank high on Google? [infographic]
SEO is not something you can crank out in a few weeks or months, and then just expect a traffic deluge to come. Better rankings require patience, dedication, and, of course, a commitment to quality content.
Read articleIn-depth guide: How to create & improve your Google My Business listing to attract new clients
Make your photography business more easily discoverable on Google Search and Maps by creating a free Google My Business listing and getting reviews.
Read articleIn-depth guide: Image SEO essentials: How to optimize for Google Image search to drive more traffic to your photography website
Image SEO guidelines for ranking in Google Image search, along with explanations of why you'd want to rank in Google Image search, how it different from regular SEO, how to track your image SEO results and what the future brings.
Read articleGoogle Chrome to show security warnings on your site if you don’t have a SSL certificate
Google is really making a push towards HTTPS recently, and this is just the next step. You should really take some time to get an SSL certificate and move your site to HTTPS.
Read articleSingle-page websites: when are they a good idea for your photography business?
If you just want an "online business" card (a bio, a short portfolio, some info about your services, and your contact info), then a single-page website might be a great fit for you. But you have to learn their pros and cons first.
Read articleQ&A #10: Portfolio tools SEO, domain name tips, blog vs portfolio pages, WP plugin performance
Answering your questions about SEO-shortcomings of portfolio tools, tips for choosing your domain name, differences between blog & portfolio pages, and how WordPress plugins don't slow down your site.
Read articleQ&A #9: how to get stated, slideshows & galleries, child themes, photography website services
Answering your questions about getting started with your first photography website, WP child themes, slideshows, etc. Plus: a chat about comparing photo website services.
Read articleKeeping your online portfolio fresh
Stop your photography portfolio from collecting dust by regularly adding new projects, rotating some of your past galleries and scheduling portfolio clean-ups.
Read articleQ&A #8: domain names, images sizes, SEO and keyword research tools
Answering your questions about changing domain names, on-page SEO for blog posts, image sizes and keyword suggestion tools.
Read articleIn-depth guide: 60+ photography website mistakes – the complete guide to finding and fixing your website problems
With straight-forward ideas and many examples & resources, this guide will get your site on the right track. Fix as many mistakes as possible to achieve photo website mastery! All ideas are short and come with their own resources and solutions to help you eliminate any website problems.
Read articleQ&A #6: WP themes, PhotoShelter integrations, SEO, copywriters
This Q&A covers WordPress themes, tips & integrations with PhotoShelter, SEO thoughts and a curated list of copywriters.
Read articleA quick overview of integrating a blog into your photography website
Your options for integrating a blog into your existing site and combining different platforms into a hybrid photo website.
Read articleIn-depth guide: Having separate photography websites or merging them?
Understanding the compromises you have to make when promoting multiple photography specialties on the same website. It's a game of compromises, and sometimes, the benefits outweigh the problems.
Read articleQ&A #5: On-site vs off-site SEO, PhotoShelter vs WP, finding sites in your niche
In April's Q&A we cover on-site vs off-site SEO, PhotoShelter vs WordPress, and how to find other websites in your niche.
Read articleIn-depth guide: How to define your target audience & elevator pitch (and use them on your site)
What do you do? What makes you unique as a photographer? Understanding answers to those questions in a very nuanced way is incredibly valuable to the long-term success of your photography business. And having a clear "unique selling proposition" (USP) can help you build a focused and attractive website.
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