Witchcraft and technology - SEO for photographers workshop anyone?
Hello Louisville!
I am new here at LPC, so maybe I should introduce myself briefly. I am a
German resident, but also a bit of a virtual inhabitant of Louisville
and an honorary Kentuckian. I was an exchange student at Elizabethtown
High School with the class of 1989, I visit whenever I can, and I still
maintain close relationships with my Kentucky friends. I have been an
internet professional for over 15 years now, and in addition to my day
job as a web consultant for an internet marketing firm, I also do
freelance web design and SEO work, as well as enjoying my own personal
test projects on the web. Over the past 8 months, I have been working
with a dear friend who is a well known Louisville wedding photographer.
I've helped her with her homepage and am continuing to develop an
ongoing SEO strategy for her business, which is working very well for
her. Within just weeks of concentrated effort, her website jumped to
Google's very first page on a variation of important wedding search
terms. Since her business name has changed this year, we are very
pleased with the results, as she was quite concerned about losing word
of mouth and recognition with her new business name.
During this time, I've done a great bit of research reviewing nearly all
of Louisville area photographer's websites, blogs, and other web
activities. I've been very surprised at how few I've found that really
take advantage of important SEO strategies to promote their businesses.
I have an opportunity to second shoot a Louisville wedding in June with
my friend I mentioned above. While I am there, I have an idea that
could be a win-win-win for everyone. So, is anyone willing to pay for
my flight? Anyone? :)
Just kidding, sort of. My idea is to hold a workshop with 10-15
interested photographers who are wanting to learn about SEO and online
marketing. I am thinking of a price somewhere around $50-$75 for a 2-3
hour workshop.
I would cover topics such as:
--Bad practices (a review of any volunteer's or just random
photographer's websites to illustrate what could be done better)
--Moving from the evil flash website (see below) to a website
that really makes best use of SEO opportunities
--Simple rules of SEO
--Advanced SEO technology
--SEO for Google, focused on the local
--Basic online marketing strategies
As a bonus, you'll get:
--Hands-on ideas and techniques for people of all internet
skills and levels
--The entertainment of the funny English speaking skills of a
German computer nerd :)
This will not be some boring and goofy consultant wearing a tie spouting
off useless buzz words to make the message sound trendy. This will be a
fun get-together of cool, like-minded people who want to learn how to
improve and grow their business using up-to-date online marketing
techniques.
So, anyone interested? I have references and work samples that I will
be more than happy to provide, should anyone want to discuss further
(starting with my dear photographer friend mentioned at the start of
this message).
(Note--On the very first day Apple offered the iPad, they sold 300,000
of these little toys. On the first day. It is common knowledge (at
least among iPhone users) that neither the iPhone or iPad show any sites
made with flash. So, did you know that 70% of Louisville
photographer's websites are not able to load on this ubiquitous new
technology tool?)
I am new here at LPC, so maybe I should introduce myself briefly. I am a
German resident, but also a bit of a virtual inhabitant of Louisville
and an honorary Kentuckian. I was an exchange student at Elizabethtown
High School with the class of 1989, I visit whenever I can, and I still
maintain close relationships with my Kentucky friends. I have been an
internet professional for over 15 years now, and in addition to my day
job as a web consultant for an internet marketing firm, I also do
freelance web design and SEO work, as well as enjoying my own personal
test projects on the web. Over the past 8 months, I have been working
with a dear friend who is a well known Louisville wedding photographer.
I've helped her with her homepage and am continuing to develop an
ongoing SEO strategy for her business, which is working very well for
her. Within just weeks of concentrated effort, her website jumped to
Google's very first page on a variation of important wedding search
terms. Since her business name has changed this year, we are very
pleased with the results, as she was quite concerned about losing word
of mouth and recognition with her new business name.
During this time, I've done a great bit of research reviewing nearly all
of Louisville area photographer's websites, blogs, and other web
activities. I've been very surprised at how few I've found that really
take advantage of important SEO strategies to promote their businesses.
I have an opportunity to second shoot a Louisville wedding in June with
my friend I mentioned above. While I am there, I have an idea that
could be a win-win-win for everyone. So, is anyone willing to pay for
my flight? Anyone? :)
Just kidding, sort of. My idea is to hold a workshop with 10-15
interested photographers who are wanting to learn about SEO and online
marketing. I am thinking of a price somewhere around $50-$75 for a 2-3
hour workshop.
I would cover topics such as:
--Bad practices (a review of any volunteer's or just random
photographer's websites to illustrate what could be done better)
--Moving from the evil flash website (see below) to a website
that really makes best use of SEO opportunities
--Simple rules of SEO
--Advanced SEO technology
--SEO for Google, focused on the local
--Basic online marketing strategies
As a bonus, you'll get:
--Hands-on ideas and techniques for people of all internet
skills and levels
--The entertainment of the funny English speaking skills of a
German computer nerd :)
This will not be some boring and goofy consultant wearing a tie spouting
off useless buzz words to make the message sound trendy. This will be a
fun get-together of cool, like-minded people who want to learn how to
improve and grow their business using up-to-date online marketing
techniques.
So, anyone interested? I have references and work samples that I will
be more than happy to provide, should anyone want to discuss further
(starting with my dear photographer friend mentioned at the start of
this message).
(Note--On the very first day Apple offered the iPad, they sold 300,000
of these little toys. On the first day. It is common knowledge (at
least among iPhone users) that neither the iPhone or iPad show any sites
made with flash. So, did you know that 70% of Louisville
photographer's websites are not able to load on this ubiquitous new
technology tool?)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jan, the German on -
I will probably be in Louisville for that wedding in June (11-14) and then again in September.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on -
Ahhhh, I know who you are now...
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Permalink Reply by Shane E. on -
So how does teaching SEO to photographers in Louisville help your friend's SEO? I would assume that if you spent 8 months working on your friend's site that you aren't going to tell everything to other people here. Why would you? But, if you make some money, I'm cool with it. I'm a capitalist.
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Permalink Reply by Jami Guess on -
You have been a site member for roughly 5ish hours and your trying to sell me stuff now...YAY Capitalism .
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Permalink Reply by Jan, the German on
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Well Shane, me telling some of her competitors wont help her at all, but then it wont harm her. As you said, I spent quite some effort and knowledge in her SEO in the past 8 month. So even if I tell you everything I did, it will take you about the same time to get to her point. And in this time, I will have done some more, and so on and so forth. So I am not worried at all. Besides, of course, as I am a web professional, I have other tools and other ways to get my goals, besides I dont have to shoot people and take care of their pictures. All I do all day is sit on the mac and do internet stuff anyway.
I wont tell you anything new saying that SEO is nothing you do overnight. So I can only tell you, what I experience does have some effect and you can use that new knowledge to have an advantage to the other 150 Louisville photographer who try to make a living and get some clients on their sites.
And yes, I am a professional, of course I like to see some money. You dont shoot for free, right? And what you will get for the money is probably more than you will ever get in any other way over there, because I will be a SEO on vacation, just sharing some knowledge to get a free flight overseas. Besides, I really like the idea that me - some German - is teaching Americans about the internet ;)
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Permalink Reply by Jan, the German on
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Ok Jami, I think I finally got the Collective vs Capitalism thing. I dont think I am trying to sell anything. I will have to work out a presentation and handouts (about 6 hrs), review the sites of photographers that would come ( 10 x 15 min = 2.5 hrs ), held the workshop ( 3hrs ), be on location an hour before and after (2 hrs). So that will make it a 13 hrs job.
Assuming that 10 ppl come paying 75 bucks, and probably I have to pay for the location. Then I will end up with less than 30 bucks/hour: That is not really what I would call "sell". I am not sure about prices over there, but you wont find any workshop over here for 75 bucks.
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Permalink Reply by Jan, the German on
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Aside Jami, the meta description of your homepage is no good! And this one is for free. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on
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Quick question Jan, in 8 months time said friend is popping up on the 4th page for "Louisville Wedding Photographer" in a Google search.
Not trying to bust your balls here, but that is a pretty slow climb up the Google page rank ladder...
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Permalink Reply by Ryan Armbrust on
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Oh, and I am a HUGE fan of capitalism.
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Permalink Reply by Jami Guess on
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You don't think your trying to sell anything?
Via Wikipedia: "Selling" is trying to make sales by persuading someone to buy one's product or service.
Via www.merriam-webster.com: Main Entry: 1sell ,2 a (1) : to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money).
I think you wanted to convey that you are not intending to make a profit and doing this to be nice.
Honestly, More power to you. I don't do SEO, you do. There are several people who solely rely on their websites I however do not. But, I am sure it will benefit many others.
Jan Gleitsmann said:Ok Jami, I think I finally got the Collective vs Capitalism thing. I dont think I am trying to sell anything. I will have to work out a presentation and handouts (about 6 hrs), review the sites of photographers that would come ( 10 x 15 min = 2.5 hrs ), held the workshop ( 3hrs ), be on location an hour before and after (2 hrs). So that will make it a 13 hrs job.
Assuming that 10 ppl come paying 75 bucks, and probably I have to pay for the location. Then I will end up with less than 30 bucks/hour: That is not really what I would call "sell". I am not sure about prices over there, but you wont find any workshop over here for 75 bucks.
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Permalink Reply by Jan, the German on
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Uhm Ryan, this is not supposed to sound any rude at all, its just my weak English. But your question pretty much reveals that you have not any idea about SEO at all.
Starts out with "Louisville Wedding Photographer" is not really the keyword combination that is really interessting. Then ranking on one keyword combination only is nothing that really helps you unless there is just this one combination. Then it is not only instressting at what position you end up, but although where you have started. And it ends with that SEO is nothing you do and oops, there you are on place 1 for a week or two. SEO is all about doing certain things in a right way to stay in the top 7. Why bother about being #1 or #7, the client will see my business that's all that counts.
Besides, with a tiny effort your site should be able to be listed on place 4 as well when searching for "louisville boudoir", specially as their are just 3 other businesses shown. :)
And yes, Jami, I was trying to point out, I will do it for free, if you get me the money to get there. And I am more than happy for you that you are doing well, as far as I heard from others (and read in this collective log), at least the wedding season started somewhat slow. And in Germany, which I believe now is the center of capitalism, we rather turn down 5 potential clients for the dates we have booked than keeping one date unbooked. Here the season has just a few weekends. ;)
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