Posts Tagged ‘Web search engine’

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Jan
10

A sacrifice to the Google gods: May the harvest be fruitful

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Last month I sacrificed a quality Google image listing for an experiment.

The second photograph on the left is my image. It comes up under the search term “people photographer.”  I am well-represented in that department.  My Web site portfolio tends to appear consistently in the top five.

The front-page image of my people site has been represented in the top four for at least a year.  While reviewing my rankings, the thought came to me that the two-image collage on my front page was not marked as a copyrighted image.  I wondered what would happen if I changed it to a copyrighted image in the meta data?

Within five days the image was no longer listed as one of the top four images.  I waited a few weeks to see if it would reappear.  It did not.

Next, I made some needed adjustments to the image and removed the copyright information in the meta data.  I also strengthened the SEO on the image.  It took about two weeks for it to return.

If I’m looking for Google’s attention, should I spend more time adding key words to my images without the copyright tag in the meta data?

The biggest question I have to answer is: What is the value of having a photograph as one of the four displayed for the world to see every time someone types “people photographer” into Google’s search window?

The next experiment might be to see how large a watermark, if any, I can slap on the image without getting booted.  For now, I’m going to leave well enough alone. I like the traffic.

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Dec
30

If you didn’t like social media in 2009, you’ll hate 2010

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Last year I traveled the country sharing the idea that current social media platforms are the training wheels for how we will do business in the future.  Collaboration is our future.  Social media will eventually affect us all —  like it or not.

It didn’t take long. Halfway through the year, Google came out with Wave, which is a real-time collaboration tool.

Social media has actively worked its way into our lives with up-to-date information, networking opportunities and amazing smart-phone applications.

Those who still don’t get social media may think it’s about posting what they ate for breakfast, or participating in Farmville on Facebook, or looking for the direct return on investment (ROI), or are still afraid people will steal their images and know too much about them.

Are you going to be left behind in 2010?

Unless you live in a cave, by the end of  2010 social media will touch everyone’s life. We will see more real- time applications. Search engines will become more dependent on relevant updates supplied by the social media. More companies will demand collaboration using these tools.

Smart phones will become the standard phone of choice. Smart applications within these phones will help their owners find what they are looking for virtually and in real life. Social media will offer the facts and opinions to support people’s final decisions.

Tools such a Foursquare will help people become more connected, develop better relationships and become more social.

We’ve had hints of what is to come with Tweetups, unconferences and BarCamps. These activities are going to move beyond the geek world.  More people will be untethered from their office computer screens. The opportunity to connect with more people in new ways will amaze us.

In 2010, more of your clients and prospects will be available to you. Editors, marketing directors and creative directors want to meet you — if you are respectful. People would like to refer you —  if only they knew a little more about you. Your current clients might refer more work if they had the opportunity to know more about your abilities.

The tools are here.  Are you?

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Dec
18

Don’t forget Web site basics

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Sometimes it’s good to review some of the basics.

What do people find when they land on your page? Are they pleased?

Does your Web site look professional? Can visitors easily identify who you are and the name of your business?  Don’t forget  to have easy-to-find contact information on every page of your Web site.

Is your Web site easy to navigate? Just because it’s obvious to you doesn’t make it user-friendly for the rest of the population. If you think they will be able to figure it out, you have figured wrong. Don’t make people work too hard.

If you are using a blogging platform such as WordPress as a base for your site, you have a wonderful opportunity. Most blogging systems offer a real simple syndication (RSS) feed so people can subscribe to your site with their favorite reader, such as Google reader.

It’s amazing how many sites don’t have the option to request more information or subscribe to  newsletters. Acquiring e-mails from people who care about you and what you do is extremely valuable.

If you want people to click on a button, make it  easy to find. Make it loud.  Slick buttons that flow with the beautiful design of your site often are overlooked.

How quickly does your Web site load? This is important.  In 2010 it will become even more important as the search engines continue to use page-load speed as a criteria for page rank.

Remember, it is important to test how your Web site looks on different browsers.  Your favorite browser is not enough.  You might be surprised at how different your site looks on other browsers.

While the latest focus is on driving traffic to your site, don’t forget to pay attention to the basics.  All the traffic in the world doesn’t do any good if people can’t find what they are looking for and don’t like what they see.

Rosh

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Nov
24

Blog like Jack Hollingsworth

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Jack Hollingsworth has been a major champion of Twitter since opening his account in February 2009. Since then he has earned many fans and more than 10,000 followers.  This month, he started a new blog.

Jack is a well-known, top stock photographer.  Over the last couple years the stock photography market followed the financial stock market – off a cliff.  The only difference is that the photo stock market doesn’t seem to be recovering.

Hollingsworth is a serial entrepreneur who looks for opportunities around every corner.  Jack has embraced the chance to teach what he knows about successful portraiture and stock photography.  His new blog is living up to its potential.

Cleverly, Jack starts each post with “I am.”  Sample headlines include: I am cool, I am laughter, I am simple and I am home.  Below each headline are sample pictures, analyses and commentary related to the theme of the day.

He is doing it right.  If you know @photojack on Twitter you know he is an educator, people connector and champions others to their benefit.  As a result, over the last year he has become one of the biggest photography-related social media names on the Net.  It reminds me of the saying: You can’t spray perfume on others without getting a little on yourself.

Jack’s blog serves as a great educational tool. It introduces more people to his quality images and ability to teach others his craft.  He uses key words that make it easier for search engines, especially Google images, to find his work.

If you are looking for inspiration and insight,  I highly recommend Jack Hollingsworth’s new blog.

Rosh

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Nov
10

Giving up the Web site

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Is it time to give up the standard Web site?  Is the online brochure a thing of the past?

In the age of social media, the brochure is still important. But static Web pages should only be a part of your Web site.  The law of Google requires regularly updated relevant content and lots of quality inbound links.  Search engine optimization, if it hasn’t already, ultimately will become the most important form of advertising — besides word of mouth — for every photographer.

Quality inbound links need to be earned;  Web site content must be updated to attract the attention of current search engine algorithms. More importantly people will not return to a Web site without the promise of future quality content.  People will not link to a sales pitch.

The standard Web site becomes forgotten and stale quickly.  A blog platform such as WordPress easily allows for the addition of new content  on a regular basis.  This is required in our new interactive online networking world.

I’ve replaced most of my Web sites with the WordPress platform. It makes the sites more social media friendly.  I use plugins that encourage people to post my content to Facebook and to tweet my photographs and writings.

One nice element of the blog platform is the RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed.  RSS allows clients and prospects to subscribe, free of charge, to your updated information.  This helps to keep you fresh in the mind of prospects who care about your products or services.

If you use a true social media platform, your prospects will have multiple ways to comment, contact you or your staff.  The ability to build quality relationships encourages confidence and loyalty.  Static Web sites only offer information in one direction.

I still have a brochure component to my sites.  It always will be important to ask for the sale.  Many people will not buy unless you ask them, but few people like a sales pitch.  People want to be educated or entertained.  If they wish for more sales information, a brochure section should be provided with a strong call to action.

The days are numbered for the average, non-interactive Web site. Online customers and prospects will require a real relationship to do business. Technology has allowed people more free time and connectivity. The result is more of your time is required to build relationships.

Rosh

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