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