SEO for Photographers and Artists
Today, as I was adding new poster designs to my online portfolio, I was reminded of very important areas where SEO can help creatives draw more traffic.
When you are building galleries to showcase your photography or paintings, or you are just adding photos within your blog, don’t forget to add the “alt tag” copy and especially a detailed caption.
You can add SEO-friendly keywords in that caption as well as a hyperlink.
Also, remember to name your images properly before you upload them. For example: please don’t name your headshot, “my-portrait.jpg.” Instead name it something like: susan-newman-headshot.jpg.”
If someone is looking for a photo of you or even your company’s logo, and it hasn’t been named right, nothing will show up on Google! This just happened again last week. I needed a Jersey City organization’s logo for a poster, and had to ask the client directly because there was nothing in a Google search. In addition, the client only seemed to have it as a small low resolution jpg. Be sure you have an original (.eps of your logo), and a few sizes of the logo and your headshot on your website’s media page or have them available.
In my website (driven by WordPress) I am using a great plugin for my design galleries called, Portfolio Slideshow Pro. In the photo below you will see how you can upload, drag and drop to rearrange, and manage other aspects of your images.
Portfolio Slideshow Pro WordPress plugin showing gallery images of Website Designs.
With each one, as you click the “view,” you can add those important alt tag and caption details. Who was the client? Where was the location? Did anybody assist you? Create a solid caption that touches on these points and highlights your strengths too.
Adding alt tags and an SEO-friendly keyword rich caption sends more traffic to your online business.
We know that keyword-rich content drives traffic, so the more specific details and links, the more your website will have improved SEO and of course then, more prospective clients (and SER ( Search Engine Results!)
– Susan Newman, brand visibility designer and web specialist