Welcome to the digital age, where the online presence of your business is often the first impression potential customers encounter. In this competitive landscape, standing out is not just an option – it’s a necessity. As a business owner or marketing professional, you’re likely familiar with the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) in driving traffic to your website. But did you know that custom professional photography can play a pivotal role in boosting your SEO efforts and overall online visibility? In this blog post, my friend and SEO expert Noah Kain and I delve into the correlation between SEO and custom photography, exploring why investing in high-quality, personalized imagery can be a game-changer for your business.
Let’s segue for a second. What the heck is SEO?
What is SEO?
“Search Engine Optimization” is the process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine.
What that means is… ranking organically (without paid placement) when a person searches for what you sell, what you offer, or what you are advertising on your website.
How do you do rank organically? Your organic ranking is dependent on your web presence trustworthiness. A search engine decides your rank placement based on endless factors. But to put it plain and simple – a search engine robot judges if you appear to be a real and legitimate business, that has been around a long time, and will be around a long time. This is heavily based on your website copy and technical aspects and ALL external sources that reference you. We like to call this your digital footprint.
What is a digital footprint? Your website is a piece of the puzzle – and encompasses your internal SEO. External SEO is the rest of your digital footprint: social media profiles, directory listings, local business listings, association listings, mentions in the press, mentions on other people’s websites, video marketing, published articles, mentions for community involvement, guest blog posts… your digital footprint is the giant web of link-building that all points back to your final stop (which in most cases, is your website or a “landing page” within).
How do you create a digital footprint that the Search Engines will find trustworthy? Search Engines dislike content that is clearly created for ranking. Writing for robots to “work the system” will always be frowned upon. What Search Engines LOVE is unique content written for humans. This type of content leads to organic, natural growth over time. That means writing with the end user in mind and developing a positive experience for your audience.
END KELLY’S SEO LECTURE 😉
The SEO Value of Custom Photography
Picture this: You’re scrolling through a website, searching for information about a product or service. What catches your eye first? Chances are, it’s the visuals – the photographs that instantly convey the essence of the brand and its offerings. Here lies the power of custom photography in SEO. Unlike generic stock images that are littered everywhere across the web, custom photography allows you to showcase your unique brand identity and offerings in a way that resonates with your target audience.
- Authenticity Breeds Trust: In today’s digitally savvy world, consumers crave authenticity. They want to connect with brands on a personal level, and custom photography enables you to do just that. By featuring real people, products, and settings relevant to your business, you’re not just telling a story – you’re inviting your audience to be a part of it. This authenticity builds trust, which is a cornerstone of effective SEO. Search engines prioritize websites that users trust, leading to higher rankings and increased visibility.
- Enhanced User Experience: User experience (UX) is a key factor in SEO rankings. When visitors land on your website, you want to captivate them from the get-go and keep them engaged. Custom photography plays a crucial role in creating a visually appealing and seamless browsing experience. High-quality images that are relevant to your content can significantly reduce “bounce rates” and increase time visitors spend on your website. Both are metrics that search engines take into account when determining rankings.
- Optimized Image SEO: While text-based content is undoubtedly important for SEO, images should not be overlooked. In fact, optimizing your images for search engines can have a significant impact on your overall ranking. Custom photography allows you to tailor image titles, alt text, and descriptions to include relevant keywords, making it easier for search engines to index and rank your visual content. Additionally, original images are more likely to be shared across social media platforms, driving additional traffic and boosting your online presence.
Guest Excerpt by KHP Client & Friend, Noah Kain of Noah Kain Consulting | workwithnoah.com
How Images Help You Show Up On Google & Get New Customers & Clients
In addition to providing your business and brand with a professional look, professional photography and headshots can do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to SEO.
If you’re a local service business, it’s likely you already have a Google Business Profile (if you don’t have one, you should get one!). Your Google Business Profile is a web profile that shows up on Google Maps and in Google Search Results when people search for the types of services your business offers.
Adding high-quality photos of your team, interior and exterior of your building, and showcasing the work you do for your clients is a valuable way to enhance your Google Business Profile. Adding these photos will not only make your profile stand out to people searching and looking for your services, but Google will also rank your business higher on Google when you have a better optimized Google Business Profile.
Google Business Profile Examples:
The Power of Google Image Search
It’s no surprise Google is the leader of the pack when it comes to online search market share. Many more people go to Google first or instead of Bing or Yahoo. But did you know that the 2nd largest driver of online searches is Google Images!?
Below is a chart from Moz that breaks down how people search online. While this graph is from 2017, it shows a great breakdown that proves how important it is to show up on Google Search Results & Google Image Results.
The more digital real estate you own on Google, the more people will trust your business and look forward to working with you.
By investing in high-quality, personalized imagery, you not only enhance your website’s SEO performance but also elevate your overall online presence and marketing strategies. So, why settle for stock images when you can capture more success with custom photography? Unlock the potential of visual storytelling and watch your business soar to new heights in the digital landscape.
About the Co-Author, Noah Kain
I’ve known Noah for a long time. He’s an SEO whiz and the owner of the SEO Agency, Noah Kain Consulting. They help businesses get qualified leads from Google by helping their websites show up for relevant Google Searches. If you’re interested in speaking with Noah about SEO, feel free to book a call with him here: https://calendly.com/noah-kain-consulting/30min
