I always promote working smarter, not harder… so I invite you to take advantage of all my hard work and download my ten step system that covers all of the steps necessary to boost the on-page optimization of any website. The best part? It’s FREE! Check it out below.

A couple things I want you to know about this system:

• Stuff happens. Algorithms change. As I update my system, I’ll share my notes with you.
• Many of the posts you’ll find here are targeted towards one industry but don’t get stuck inside that box. Each of the methods mentioned can be applied to almost any website.
• I cannot guarantee that you’ll end up on the first page or in the number one spot of a Google search result. No one can. If they promise you that, they’re lying.  #SorryNotSorry
• Getting your site ranked can require a LOT of work. Ten steps does not equal ten minutes. If you want to be successful, applying best SEO practices to your website will become a way of life (not just a one-time thing).

I wish you all the best and would love to hear your feedback!

The post 10 Steps to AMAZING SEO! appeared first on Atterbie.

This incredible platform completely removes the question of “What day works for you?” from your workflow!

It allows you to set up your real-time availability, appointment types, and prices. Clients then just visit your scheduling page, choose the day/time that works for them and the type of appointment they’d like to schedule, and pay. Both you and the client will receive a notification via email when the transaction is complete. Easy peasy!

Acuity Scheduling is compatible with a variety of payment types including: Stripe, Square, PayPal, and more.

The scheduling page is available to your clients in whatever format you prefer. It can be embeded into your site, shared in link, or posted on social media. Whatever is the easiest for you and most convenient for your clients, they have you covered.

Wondering what it might look like on your site? While each scheduling page can be customized to fit your specific branding guidelines, feel free to check out my calendar. I threw this together in less than ten minutes! It still needs a little work but the hardest part (getting started) is now complete.

Acuity Scheduling offers a FREE TRIAL (can’t beat that!) and once your trial ends, there are four membership types to choose from. Free (a total no-brainer if you just need the basics), Emerging Entrepreneur ($10/month), Growing Business ($19/month), and Powerhouse Player ($39/month).

Seriously low fees, especially when you consider all of the incredible tools you receive!

For more information and to get your trial started TODAY, visit AcuityScheduling.com.

I’d love to hear all about your experience with Acuity Scheduling in the comments below!

– – –

In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, this post includes affiliate links, which means that I may get a commission if you decide to purchase anything from the company listed above. I only recommend products and systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.

The post Acuity Scheduling makes dreams come true! appeared first on Atterbie.

Let’s face it. They’re all over your website. Hundreds, sometimes thousands depending on how long you’ve been in business.

So how can you use this to your advantage? Let’s break it down…

1.  Every image on your website is a representation of your brand.

Keep the look and feel consistent. Make sure you’re proud of the work you are showcasing. Your portfolio can make or break a sale.

2. Set up your image details properly.

Again, consistency is key. You’ll hear that a lot around here. Before you even upload an image, make sure that the filename is focused on the keywords/phrases of your page/post. Once uploaded, add your alt text and again make sure that the keywords/phrases are included. In the example below, our key phrase is “DIY SEO for Photographers Guide”.

TIP:  Add your keywords/phrases and your business name. After a little time, check out Google image search.

3. Use images to break up your content.

Any blog post or website page should have around 300 words of content in order for best case on-page optimization. That said, posts don’t have to read like the intro to your favorite novel. Use the beautiful images you’ve so carefully chosen for your website in order to break up the copy and keep your readers’ attention.

4. Placing images throughout your site.

When placing photos throughout your website, keep in mind the standard screen size. Photographers often have huge beautiful monitors that allow them to meticulously edit their images. This is AWESOME for anyone who also has a wildly large screen, but here’s the thing… there’s this whole slew of people who work on laptops or view your website on their cell phone. Every now and then, pull up your website on a device you don’t usually use and make sure it looks/feels exactly how you want it to (especially the images).

5. Image size.

Assuming you have a gazillion images on your site (or will soon), the size of your images will have a major impact on how quickly your site loads. For crazy details on image size and how to make every single image look amazing on your site, check out this article from the good developers at Google.

Go ahead and apply these tips to each and every image on your website. If it feels overwhelming, go ahead and take one page or one post at a time. The results you see will motivate you to finish the rest.

We’d love to hear your ideas for the fourth step in our DIY SEO for Photographers Guide! Leave all of your SEO questions in the comments below and we’ll get you answers.  

The post DIY SEO for Photographers Guide – Atterbie appeared first on Atterbie.

The Basics

You’ll need to make sure that your focus keywords are included in the basic setup of your website. These areas include:

• Website title
• Website description
• Page titles
• Page descriptions

Content. Content. Content.

We’ve discussed some of the advantages that photographers have over other business owners when it comes to SEO. The reverse is true in this situation… trying to fill your website with keywords can sometimes just feel (and read) weird or boring.

So what do you do?

You think outside of the box! Let’s say you’re getting ready to post a preview from your seventh engagement session. You’re tired of repeating the words “Bowling Green Engagement Photographer”. So what do you write? Here are a few options…

• Tips on how to make an engagement photography session successful.
• What to wear during an engagement photography session.
• How you help your newly engaged couple feel comfortable in front of the camera during their photo session.
• The best time of day to capture those soft and romantic shots for your engagement session.
• Top ten things to look for when searching for an engagement photographer.

There are seriously a zillion options, you just have to get creative and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Now that you’ve figured out what to write, where exactly should it go?

• The basic pages throughout your site are the most important; home, about, services, prices, contact.
• Utilize every single blog post to the fullest. Every post needs a focus, make it one of your keywords/phrases.

Wrap-Up

Every word on your website is there for a reason. Whether it’s entertaining or just there to help you connect with your readers, make sure that it’s also helping to increase your site’s SEO.

Don’t forget, potential clients can’t hire you if they can’t find you!

Check back soon for Step 3 of our DIY SEO for Photographers project… all about images!

Questions? Comment below or email us at info@atterbie.com.

SEO Hudson Ohio | SEO Ohio | Search Engine Optimization | SEO for Photographers

The post DIY SEO for Photographers – 102 appeared first on Atterbie.

With that in mind, we’ve created this DIY SEO series for folks who have some extra time and want to learn how to apply simple SEO practices to their websites that will help improve their site’s search ranking.

And now for the first step in DIY SEO series…

SEO:101 – Define your Keywords and Phrases.

Keywords and phrases are the specific terms people enter into a search engine (like Google) to find whatever product, service, or information they’re looking for. Knowing the terms that your ideal clients are looking for will help you determine how to properly market your website.

Example: If you are a photographer who takes pictures of babies who were just born, your keyword may include… Newborn Photographer, Baby Photographer, Baby Photos, etc.

Once you’ve figured out what the general terms that people are looking for, it’s time to think about how you can narrow these keywords and phrases down to best describe your business.

The first thing you must consider is niche. Do you serve a specific portion of the market or offer a product that is unique to your business? Make sure to include terms that will help set you apart from the competition.

Example: If you are a photographer who focuses on elopements, don’t rely on “wedding photographer” to best describe your services. Make sure you utilize “elopement photographer” while making your DIY SEO plans.

The second thing you must take into account is location. Most photographers serve the area located within 1.5 hours (at most) of their studio or home base. With that in mind, you can add general locations to your keywords to filter out clients who you will likely not travel all day to photograph.

Example:  If you are a family photographer located in Detroit, Michigan – make sure that you use “Detroit” as a keyword.

Don’t be afraid of losing people searching for those general “family photographer” terms. Ideal clients are looking for photographers who will serve their specific needs. While you may get traffic from around the world if you one day have high rankings with the term “family photographer”, chances are you won’t want to travel to Timbuktu to do a one-hour family session.

We’re going for quality over quantity here folks!  

Questions? Comment below or email info@atterbie.com for help.      Atterbie – Digital Marketing Solutions – SEO Services – SEO Hudson, Ohio – Search Engine Optimization – SEO For Photographers

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Now through February 14, 2017 get $100 off our Website Review Package. With this special, you’ll receive:

• Full technical review of your current website including:
  • Feedback on every page of your site
  • Recommendations on structure changes including URLs, Page Titles, Descriptions, etc.
  • Notes on how to improve the user experience
  • List of opportunities to increase searchability for SEO purposes
• Keyword analysis:
  • Includes up to five keywords/phrases
  • Helps you better understand your current rankings, search volumes, and SERPs
  • Includes a comparison of your rankings to up to two competitors of your choosing

COST:  One-time fee of $129 (normally $229, a $100 savings!)

Upgrade your package to include 10 days of unlimited email support for only $69.

How exactly does this work? We’re so glad you asked!

Email us at info@atterbie.com with a link to your website.

Once your purchase is confirmed, we’ll send you an email with the items we need to get started…

• Login information for your site (we want to see the details!)
• The five keywords associated with your site that you’d like analyzed.
• The two competitors you would like compared to your search engine rankings.

It’s super easy and super fast. Your Website Review and Keyword Analysis will be completed within 48 hours of your purchase!

Email info@atterbie.com to purchase your Website Review Package today!

We can’t wait to hear from you.  

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Whether you’re setting up your blog for business or personal use, the process is super simple and can be done in minutes.

With a little help from our friends at Blue Host, you can be up and running in five simple steps and for only $3.95 per month!

But wait – why Blue Host?

Here’s the deal… Blue Host offers the highest quality service for the lowest prices. You need no technical training to get started and you can literally launch your website in minutes. Their customer service is wonderful and they offer a money-back guarantee.

I run this website through BlueHost.com and know many others who run their blogs and professional websites through Blue Host. (I would never recommend something that I don’t use or at least love myself!)

Ready to get started yet? Here are your five simple steps (with pictures!):

STEP 1:

Visit BlueHost.com and click on “Get Started Now”.

STEP 2:

Select your plan. My readers can enjoy the basic plan for only $3.95 per month!

STEP 3:

Choose a domain name or enter your existing domain name and press next.

STEP 4:

Create your account. It’s super simple, just enter some basic info and press submit!

STEP 5:

Log into your Blue Host account, scroll down to the subtitle “website” and click on “Install WordPress”. The install process will take a few minutes. You will receive an email when it is complete.

That’s all there is to it! If you need help, BlueHost.com offers a chat option in the menu bar at the top right portion of your screen.

Once you’re ready to share your blog with the world, tag us on social media @atterbie or post the link in the comments below. We’d love to check it out!

In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, many (not all) of these are affiliate links, which means that I may get a commission if you decide to purchase anything from one of my favorite companies listed above. I only recommend products and systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.

The post Blue Host 05 appeared first on Atterbie.

There are two key factors to consider when you’re adding content to your blog or website…

Blog Content: Timing and Topics

TIMING is everything, but the exact time on the clock isn’t what matters when it comes to publishing blog posts. Rather, consistency is what will make the biggest difference in keeping the attention of your audience.

New content is always exciting, but you can’t expect to have time to write and publish posts 24/7. Setting up a consistently publishing schedule will allow your readers to know when they can expect to see new content.

So how often should you publish posts to your blog? Once a week, 2-3 times per week, every day?  That’s totally up to you! Whatever you decide, set a reasonable standard that you can actually stick to – which will likely depend on the topic you’re writing about.

The TOPICS you write about should be based on the goals of your specific blog.

If you’re blogging for business, posts should include examples of your work and general information about your industry and the specific services you provide that will entice clients to contact you.

For example:  If you’re a photographer, publish a post for every single client session you do. Sounds like a lot of work, but if you include this as a step in your general process it won’t become overwhelming. In addition, write blog posts about fun things like “what to wear” when you’re getting family photos taken.

If you’re writing a personal blog, posts will vary daily depending on your target audience.

For example: If you’re a mommy blogger who wants to share your daily household fun with the world, publish posts about fun arts and crafts projects that you do with your kids or other activities that you enjoy. Include photos and tips for others who may want to enjoy these things as well. (Always keep in mind privacy and security issues.)

You don’t have to decide on a full calendar of writing ideas in order to start posting…

The best time to start your blog is TODAY.

Well, I guess you could say the best time was yesterday… but if you haven’t started posting yet, GO!

Do it now! If you need help getting started, we’re available – just email info@atterbie.com.

The post Adding content to your blog with intent! appeared first on Atterbie.

Specific SEO methods may vary, but the basics remain the same; keywords, metatags, descriptions, titles, headers, filenames. If you’re at all interested in SEO or if you are a DIYer and built your own site, chances are that you’re already familiar with most of these.

But, do you know the secret magic behind Alternative Text aka “Alt Text” aka “Alt Tag”?

What exactly is Alt Text?

A description of the image it is tied to.

No matter what web host, software, or platform you are using for your site, there is always the option to fill in an Alt Text field for your images. You can usually find this field under image options along with title, caption, description, etc.

Technical definition: An attribute added to an image tag in HTML.

For example, here’s a screenshot of what my edit screen looks like (via BlueHost) for the photo above:

If you have any trouble finding your Alt Text fields, feel free to reach out in the comments below.

What does Alt Text do?

Search bots can’t see photos. Your image may be worth its weight in gold, but those darn bots just don’t care. What they DO love and take note of are image titles, descriptions, captions, and alt text.

Here’s the short list of how Alt Text works for you.

1. Help search engines (those mean ole bots) understand what your image is all about.
2. Display text inside the image container if for some reason the image cannot be displayed.
3. Serve as the default filename should someone right click and save one of your images.
4. Serve as the default description should someone pin your image to Pinterest.

What should you use as your Alt Text?

Utilize this space as another plug for the keywords and phrases you’ve already identified to help you reach your target audience. Your Alt Text does NOT need to be the same for every single image, so use it to your advantage and adjust where necessary.

Why is this an important part of SEO for Photographers?

Photographers have a unique opportunity with their websites that other businesses do not. Your work is based on creating images that clients love and your website is the best place to show them off. This means that you are generating content (that your clients TRULY want to see) on a daily basis without even trying.

Take advantage of this opportunity by publishing as much of your work as possible on your website.

My #1 recommendation to photographers that want to increase their search engine result ranking is to blog. Blog each and every session. Include a short story about your clients or details on the props you’ve used to create a specific image, to make sure that you’re hitting the word count minimum. Then, make each blog post beautiful using the photos that you’ve worked so diligently to create.

Each post you publish will have a dramatic impact on your site’s ranking as they’re satisfying the search bots in two ways – through the actual content you’ve written and the images (with alt text that includes keywords) you’ve shared.

Do yourself a favor though, before you publish to your blog…. set up the Alt Text for each and every one of the photos within your post. While it adds another step to your process, it really only takes a few extra seconds and I promise you’ll be happy with the results.

I’m not a photographer, but I love alt text opportunities and sharing photos.  

Each of the images included in this post were created by Lovebug Photography by Courtney Ucker. She’s amazing!

If you are ready to get your site in front of potential customers and trying your darnedest to get your SEO in order but just can’t seem to get results, please get in touch with me! I’d love to chat with you about your goals and come up with a plan of action steps in order to achieve them.  

Here’s how you can get in touch with me:
Amy at Atterbie
PO Box 951, Hudson, OH 44236
Email: amy@atterbie.com | Call: (234) 380-1753

I can’t wait to hear from you!  Amy

Atterbie is a digital marketing services agency located in Hudson, Ohio. We specialize in website development, search engine optimization (SEO), local SEO, content writing (blogging), and digital marketing strategy.

The post Atterbie – Search Engine Optimization Hudson Ohio – SEO Hudson Ohio – SEO for Photographers – Alt Text Details appeared first on Atterbie.

It’s time to join in on the fun! Here are 5 super easy ways to monetize your blog:

1. AFFILIATE MARKETING

Add links to another business’s affiliate program on your website. When someone clicks on one of those links and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. Easy enough, right?

2. GOOGLE ADSENSE

Long story short, you display ads on your website and make money two different ways:

1. Impressions – earn a set dollar amount per page view.
2. Clicks – someone clicks on an ad on your site, you earn money.

3. AN ONLINE STORE

Sell something. Anything!

1. Products – you know… stuff, that usually comes in a box, and has to be shipped.
2. Services – what are you good at that you can offer to help someone else with?
3. eProducts – things that can be downloaded, like eBooks.

4. PAID REVIEWS

Have you ever dreamed of someone paying you to write about something you love? This is your opportunity! Whether you want to take an exotic vacation or try out the latest video game thingy, this is your opportunity to do just that and get paid to do it!

5. BANNER ADs

Place a “banner” style ad on your website and get paid, typically on a monthly basis. It’s kind of like someone paying you to rent a little space on your site. Super easy.

What’s the catch? There isn’t one, really. But there is a key to success…

TRAFFIC. LOTS AND LOTS OF TRAFFIC ON YOUR WEBSITE.

The more people who visit your site – the better your chances that someone will view a specific page, click on a link, or make a purchase. It also increases the likelihood that a company will want to place an ad on your site.

If you’re serious about monetizing your blog and want to earn some real money, then it’s time to get serious with your marketing plan and make some big things happen!

PS – Please, please please… don’t forget to set up Google Analytics before you get started.

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