Photographer's blog

[olgabe]

Another website/business question..

Have you seen any great photographer's blogs lately?
Are you doing a photographer's blog for your business? Can you attribute some of your success to your blog efforts?

I'm following PlanetNeil, which is great, but not designed to attract customers. I've seen many photographers using a blog, but in most cases it is not very well updated, and there are rarely many comments. So - what's the consensus? are they useful? needed? what is really the key purpose?

Thank you for your thoughts!

[TAGfan]

I just started on on my site, but I must say that it does not get much traffic. Looking at my google analytics account, its pretty much the gallery and the prices that people click on - other things are secondary.

Its too bad really, but that's the way it goes I guess.

[hibou]

I don't think that having a blog has been a huge help to my business, except that it does allow me to show clients their photos ASAP, and the SEO is better than my website lol. So I guess it helps drive traffic to my site.

I follow a ton of photographers blogs though, people like Jasmine Star, Ryan Brenizer, Jessica Claire, Jamie DeLaine, Margaret Singer, dozens more etc. They post frequently and get a fair bit of feedback on their work and comments.

[listenthenspeak]

I love following other photographers' blogs....I "photograstalk" a couple. My favorite is a local photographer: Hoffer Photography Blog | Modern Weddings and Portraits » Philadelphia Wedding Photographer, Downingtown, West Chester, Exton, Lancaster, Chester County Portrait Photographer, Tony Hoffer
He updates a few times a week, and I always look forward to it! As for my blog, the hits go up quite a bit whenever I post the link on facebook saying I've updated it. So I might not have "followers," but there are people who check it out whenever I use facebook to let them know.
And, I just had my first complete stranger contact me last week about doing a photo shoot...he found me by googling! (I use my "blog" as a website/blog hybrid. It's what I can affod for now...)

[KathrynWilson]

They are useful if you use them right. It presents a way for customers you do have to interact with you, a way for customers you don't have yet to see recent work that's not in your portfolio, a way for you to share more of yourself with your customers, and way to be creative.

I have probably about 50 photography blogs in my reader, and many of them do have loads of comments and readers. Jasmine Star is a great example - she credits her blog as being a key part of her business.

[disappearingmist]

Blogging is really important to me. I have made tons of connections with other photographers through it. It's a great way to see other photographer's works and get their commentary on it, as well.

I update generally once a day with one photo. Others blog whole weddings a couple times a week. Whatever you do, make sure it is consistent.

[olgabe]

Thank you for responses! Seems like it's a good idea if you have the time to put into it and enough photographic material to update frequently.. and if you make sure the SEO is working well.

[WickPhotography]

I feel like I get a lot of business from my blog.

I recently started telling seniors that if they got so many comments on their post, then I'd give them a free little brag book.

The first senior I did this with emailed her post to all of her friends, and four of her friends had booked their senior sessions with me within a couple of days.

So in that way, it's really helped me get my name and personality out to new clients.

[disappearingmist]

Originally Posted by WickPhotography

I feel like I get a lot of business from my blog.

I recently started telling seniors that if they got so many comments on their post, then I'd give them a free little brag book.

The first senior I did this with emailed her post to all of her friends, and four of her friends had booked their senior sessions with me within a couple of days.

So in that way, it's really helped me get my name and personality out to new clients.

That's an awesome idea! I'm glad to hear that it is working out for you!

[Xposurepro]

My primary concern with updating my blog is for SEO. The blog ensures that I am #1 in google for every key phrase that my local potential clients will search for. As far as updating content to keep it fresh .. I update only when necessary. I don't post for every single client .. That would take time away from me making money. I post just enough that I maintain my #1 spots in google. Do my clients care if I don't spend all my time posting on it? Heck no. They are looking for a photographer "now" .. they are not hanging out on photographer blogs for the fun of it. They need to hire a photographer and that's the only reason they are looking at my site. The look .. they find me .. they make the call. I also do not waste time with strategies to encourage commenting on my blog. Will people commenting on my blog get me clients? Nope .. the photos they see are what makes them call. If I encouraged commenting all it would do is take away from time I could be spending making the moola !!!

You want to create repeat customers but creating interaction on a blog is not the way to do it. That is an area where you should be thinking about your customer service, thank you cards, packaging, etc. etc.