Archive for August, 2009

New Media Photographer Podcast 64

Monday, August 31st, 2009

This week Rosh talks about a tool to look into your keyword future, should you be apart of social media and image search.

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Should you care about image search optimization?

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Are you missing out on photography income opportunities? Photography buyers use many sources to find images to support their marketing and editorial needs. Many photographers are overlooking the benefits of organic search results.

Magazine editors often e-mail or call me requesting prices on images they have found on my blog or through image searches.

The only way they know these images exist is because I’ve properly labeled them or the wording around them.  IMG_9432.tiff doesn’t pop up very well in a search for a celebrity, a local businessperson, or a historic building.

Remember: Google cannot see the 1,000 words your images represent.

This is why labeling your images is so important in the process of image search optimization (ISO).  Make sure the title is clear and represents the image you are displaying.  Use ALT tags. Although they offer minimal support for page and Web site search engine optimization, they can play an important role in image search.

Don’t forget to add a sentence or paragraph, where possible, close to the photograph.  Offer as much relevant information as possible to help people find your images.

I believe photographers underestimate the number of paying customers using standard Google, Bing and Yahoo image search functions.  Images and videos are becoming more common within standard search results.  I find my images displayed all the time on the front page of Google for common search queries.  I’m grateful for the additional search advertising.

If you photograph well-known people, landmarks, or news events in your region, you need to take advantage of all the opportunities these advances in search technology are providing you to sell your photographs.

Rosh

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Ask me about social media

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

People ask me: “Do I need to be on Twitter?”

I ask them: “Do you need a powerful media stream to share information?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me: “Do I need to be on Facebook?”-

I ask them: “Do you need to keep top of mind with friends and associates?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me: “Do I need to be on Linkedin?”

I ask them: “Do you need a powerful networking tool?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me: “Should I subscribe to blogs?”

I ask them: “Do you need to keep up-to-date on current ideas, opinions, and topics related to your industry?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me: “Should I write a blog?”

I ask them: “Do you wish to be considered an expert in your field?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me: “Should I open a Google alerts account?”

I ask them: “Do you care about what people are saying about you or your company on the Web?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me:  “Should I keep up on topics via Twitter?”

I ask them: “Do you need the most up-to-date information on the planet?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me:  “Should I use an RSS reader?”

I ask them: “Do you care about saving time by receiving updates in one place from your favorite blogs and Web sites?”

If not, the answer is no.

People ask me:  “Should I care about search engine optimization?”

I ask them: ”Do you care about increasing traffic to your Web site?”  If not, the answer is no.

I’m sincere when I say there are millions of people who can answer no to all the above questions.  They should not even bother with social media outside of having a little fun and killing time.

Rosh

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Looking into the future

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

Google added a key words forecasting element to Insights for Search, which is one of my favorite tools.

Insights for Search is used to discover Internet inquiry requests based on specific key words entered into Google’s search engine. The application allows you to view trends based on dates, region, or type of search. The site offers insight to related words that are relevant to your needs.

Sometimes a key word you think is well-suited to support your Web site is neither the best nor the most searched. Use Google’s data to follow the trends and see the up-and-coming key words that could be relevant to your Web site.

I used this new feature to learn that “photographer” as a key word is on a downward trend. However, “Photographer blog” — especially “wedding photographer blog” –is on a major upward trend. Google predicts these trends will continue for the next year.

How well  will this tool work for you? I can’t predict.

insightforecast

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New media photographer podcast 63

Monday, August 24th, 2009

This week Rosh talks about your target market, social media – is it a waste of time and introduces Trevor current sharing the latest photography news.


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