Photo by Burst / Unsplash license
If you’re a photographer looking to gain exposure and build a career, having a strong portfolio website is essential. Your website should showcase your best work, provide information about yourself, describe your products and services, and make it easy for people to contact you.
However, simply having a portfolio website is not enough. You need to drive traffic to your site in order to generate visibility and opportunities. Many photographers struggle with this aspect, but there are specific strategies you can employ to increase traffic and boost your online presence.
Note that you don’t have to implement all the strategies mentioned in this article. However, the more techniques you incorporate, the greater your chances of attracting meaningful traffic. Here are some effective ways to improve visibility and drive traffic to your photography portfolio website:
1. Start a Blog
One of the best methods to increase traffic to your portfolio website is by starting a blog. Most popular website platforms, such as WordPress, SmugMug, ZenFolio, and Squarespace, make it easy to add a blog to your site. A blog can benefit you in several ways:
- Boosting search engine optimization (SEO) and attracting organic search traffic
- Earning backlinks from other websites
- Driving traffic from social media platforms
- Increasing repeat visitors
- Building your professional reputation
However, it’s important to note that starting a blog requires time and effort. To make it effective, you must commit to writing regular blog posts that provide value to your audience.
While starting a blog does require work, it is one of the most efficient ways to improve traffic without spending a fortune on advertisements. With persistence and dedication, blogging can yield substantial results for your website.
2. Conduct Keyword Research
To maximize your blog’s potential for attracting search engine traffic, you need to conduct keyword research. Simply writing about any random topic won’t bring you the desired results. Keyword research helps you identify the words and phrases people are actively searching for and provides an opportunity for your content to rank on the first page of search engine results.
The process of keyword research involves using tools like Ubersuggest to find popular keywords and phrases related to your photography niche. By analyzing other photography blogs that cover similar topics, you can determine which content generates significant search traffic. However, it’s crucial to create original content rather than copying from others.
3. Build an Email List
An email list is a valuable asset for driving repeat traffic to your website and promoting your products or services. By building a list of email subscribers, you can send updates, new blog posts, and announcements directly to their inboxes. Tools like MailerLite offer easy and affordable solutions for managing and growing your email list.
To encourage visitors to join your email list, consider offering incentives such as free Lightroom presets or exclusive photography tips. Tailor your freebie to attract your target audience.
4. Focus on a Social Network
Social media platforms offer immense potential for driving traffic to your blog. However, it’s advisable to focus on one primary social network instead of spreading yourself thin across multiple platforms. Building a following on a single platform requires time and patience.
For photographers, Instagram is an excellent platform to showcase your work and gain exposure. Pinterest is another platform that can drive substantial traffic to your blog posts. Facebook, despite its limitations in organic reach, still presents an opportunity to engage with your target audience.
5. Guest Post on Other Blogs
A great way to drive traffic to your photography blog is by writing guest posts for other photography blogs. These guest posts typically include an author bio and a link back to your own website. Look for opportunities to contribute to smaller blogs or reach out to fellow photographers for guest post submissions. Writing guest posts can not only generate clickthrough traffic but also improve your website’s ranking in search results.
6. Provide Free Photos
Consider releasing some of your photos under a Creative Commons license, allowing others to use them for free. Hosting these photos on your own website and on platforms like Pixabay, Pexels, and Unsplash can generate clickthrough traffic and improve your site’s SEO. This strategy is not obligatory, but it has proven effective for some photographers.
7. Offer Other Free Resources
Expand your repertoire of free resources beyond photos. For instance, you can offer free Lightroom presets or Photoshop actions to attract traffic and backlinks to your website.
8. Participate in Interviews and Podcasts
Take advantage of opportunities to get exposure by participating in interviews or being a guest on photography podcasts. Reach out to podcasts that align with your niche and suggest interview ideas. These appearances not only provide exposure but also result in backlinks to your website.
Final Thoughts
Increasing traffic to your photography portfolio website requires time, effort, and persistence. Implementing the strategies mentioned in this article can significantly boost your online presence and generate meaningful traffic. Evaluate which techniques align best with your goals and target audience, and incorporate them into your marketing efforts.
