As wedding photographers, there is a dilemma in how to build the homepage of our websites.
Our instinct, and creative mind encourages us to have our lovely big photos on the homepage and little else. However, the little nagging SEO demon in our head reminds us that Google and the other Search Engines really really need some indexable, meaningful content on the homepage.
Very broadly speaking, the two key elements of doing well in Search Engines is to have as many relevant incoming links to your website, and to have as much relevant content in your site (not over keyworded – Remember: Your site is for your clients, not for Google).
Google suggest your homepage should have around 200 indexable, and relevant words. Generally speaking, this will be an overview of you as a photographer or of your wedding business etc. So many photography websites that I visit have little, or in extreme cases, no meaningful text on the homepage.
As photographers, there has to be a middle ground because our “wares” are our lovely photographs, so it is very important to showcase those too.
Kevin Mullins Photography Website
My wedding photography website is a WordPress site that I have heavily customised over the last year or so. It’s certainly not perfect, but my aim was to still showcase the photography and give an instant impact, but to also have relevant indexable text on the homepage:
You will notice that I still have a large image on the homepage, but I still have the crucial text.
This is one of the most important things when it comes to SEO. Google no longer uses meta keywords so don’t rely on those for your indexing.
It really is worth looking at your homepage and re-thinking your strategy if you simply have links to a portfolio and blog for example. The homepage is king-of-content when it comes to Google and other Search Engines so it’s imperative really to have decent information there.
HOWEVER, please don’t use traditional “black hat” techniques such as having loads of irrelevant, keyword heavy text hidden on the page. Methods of doing this are to have white text on a white background, or extremely small font sizes.
You will find yourself at the bottom of the Google pile very quickly if you adopt those techniques.
Don’t forget that this site is for you so please leave comments or get in touch. If you have other opinions or information or links etc please share them with us all.
Finally, if you want to be in the online directory – just let me know. It’s free and benefits all.
-km (listening to: Bob; Drive by Truckers)
Thank you Kevin. Great read.
Very informative stuff as usual Kevin thanks for posting. dp
It’s amazing how far WordPress has come! There are so many features in 2.9 that the photographer can really take advantage of. From a SEO view WordPress ain’t that bad either!
[Just remember to turn your blog visibility ON via Settings>Privacy...... made that mistake myself...oops!]
Thank you Kevin, this is a really good resource for web newbies like myself, I’ll be a regular visitor.
Im still slightly confused as to what to put on my home page for google, not sure if I have it right yet.
Think Ive got it!!
Thanks though for highlighting this
hi karen, im sure kevin wont mind me jumping in here, I have been using kevins knowledge for a while now and he is very open and helpful with it. One of the best bits of advice he gave was to simply write it to the bride (who is most likely to be searching for us) have a page which offers enough impact that the bride stays and looks and enough content for her to read and want to read more of. i dont have a big image on my home page but i use the same smaller poloroids at the bottom and feel it offers a good impact. since tweaking and changing it my hits and enquiries have sored
SUPBERB advice, as always – right I better go look at making some changes! xx