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blog blog blog....Is it worth it?
Patrick Meredith, Photographer, Assistant
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Austin | TX | USA | Posted: 9:17 PM on 08.04.09 |
->> If you're like me, and I know a few of you are (I read many members blogs frequently), you probably have a blog that you update regularly to semi-regularly.
A fellow photographer and I were talking about the pros and cons of blogging...He doesn't blog and I do. But the question I have for you is this...Is it worth it?
He quoted a number of reasons why he doesn't blog, including:
-It takes too much time
-He already has a website with good SEO
-He doesn't think anyone would care to read what he wrote
-He already has a steady client base so he doesn't feel the need to "expand" through a blog - including a few other reasons I can't remember at the moment.
Personally, I blog for a number of reasons, many exactly opposite of my friend:
-It doesn't take much time
-My website has virtually no SEO (working on a new one!), so the blog helps tremendously
-Leads perspective clients looking for specific images to my website
-Has lead to steady, weekly jobs
-Keeps my mom happy :)
I don't blog everyday and I certainly don't get a lot of hits, roughly 40-50 a day, and anywhere between 1,003 (lowest) to 1,846 (highest) a month since I launched it in March...But these hits have also led people to my main website, my photoshelter site and has led me to numerous jobs, contacts, photo sales and leads. Something my website has done very little.
I ALWAYS ask potential clients how they got my name so I know who to send dried meat and cheese to during the holidays and where I should beef up my keywords in my blog and website.
Blogging has paid off very well. I think I will continue to blog after I get my website up to continue to get my name out there in this industry. I'm very curious to hear about your personal experiences regarding your blogs...
Those of you that do blog, why? And those of you that don't, why not?
Is it worth it?
And I'm sure you've read it on the SS newsletters:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2171
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2082
(Interested in seeing what I blog about? http://www.patrickmeredith.wordpress.com) |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 9:33 PM on 08.04.09 |
->> I do it and I think it is worth it.
I think my answer comes in part of why I read other photographer's blogs and why I would hope people read mine:
1.) By seeing a behind-the-scenes insight in how the photog makes his pictures is not only interesting, but can also help me solve some of my problems of shooting in different scenarios.
2.) Seeing their work inspires me to continue my shooting and to try new things in my own workflow.
3.) It personalizes the work, which I think is important in photojournalism in that it's a career about people and how we live.
4.) Adds stories to certain photos and why a photo might be important to me and to the story.
That's all I can think about right now, but hope it helped.
~ nic
http://photographnic.blogspot.com/ |
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Jamey Price, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 9:43 PM on 08.04.09 |
->> I saw a thread floating around here not too long ago that basically blasted (if I remember right) those that do blog.
I agree with both of you in your answers. While Im early on in the career, I find it a nice release for me as a person to write about what I did and how I did it. Some people find it interesting to see behind the scenes and it gives people a more "intimate" look at you as the photographer. What makes you you, and what you see.
Also, my blogging may help you too. I have a blog roll and if your stuff is awesome, I definitely add it. I have a few SS members portfolios linked on mine and with wordpress, I see how people got to my blog, what theyre looking at once theyre in it and what theyre clicking on as far as links go. I know Ive sent some web traffic in different directions simply because my blog exists. It has plus' for everyone.
But Im sure there are more then a few around here that will disagree and that is their opinion. Do what you like and if youre not wasting valuable time, making yourself look an idiot or whatever else, then go for it!
I personally love reading other photographer's blogs. |
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Dan Routh, Photographer
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Greensboro | NC | USA | Posted: 10:49 PM on 08.04.09 |
->> I try to post to my blog daily during the week. Has it had a positive effect on my business? Hard to say, although I did get a couple of jobs from Sweden after an art buyer found me through my blog. So, is it worth the time and effort? For me, I have to say yes.
I'm a commercial shooter in a market that's been hit pretty hard by the economy. I've managed to stay pretty busy for the past 30 years and although I've always shot a few things just for me, I never made an attempt to shoot something just for me on a daily or almost daily basis. Didn't have to, my clients kept me busy. The past year or so has changed that. I found myself sitting around waiting for the phone to ring, so I decided that my time would be better spent producing something, even if it wasn't for a job. So, I started posting on a blog, first some of my old stuff, and then I started making a concerted effort to produce images just for the blog. I can honestly say I've shot more original work in the past year than I have in years. I get a modest amount of hits per day, but beyond that, it's really helped my creativity. I get excited about looking for something to shoot, just to be shooting and I genuinely look forward to posting.
As a marketing tool, I think a blog will pay off down the road. I think that if the economy didn't suck so bad now, and we were in more normal times, it would be having more of an effect now.
If you're interested, check http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com. It's an eclectic body of work for sure. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 11:50 PM on 08.04.09 |
->> I know that blogs basically helped to kill the video program at my previous job. Gannett laid out a ton of money for HD video cameras and with the exception of a few, about nine of them sat on a shelf, unused until the paper closed.
Once they learned blogging would virtually cost nothing, they didn't have to worry about paying people to go out and shoot video work, edit it and take up their precious bandwidth. It was really disgusting and we all had to hear about the latest rants they put online. No creativity or thought was put into it other than "we're saving money." |
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 12:02 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> The blog on my website I have been doing since December 2005. I have another blog on BodyBuilding.com that I have been doing since August 2006. I update both very often.
I use the blog on my website just as a from of putting out something new fairly often with some narrative so people can see what I do. Of course the same goes with the other blog but in that case it is very specific to my industry and it is on the largest bodybuilding and fitness resource in the world. And it has been since the beginning a featured blog and one of the most trafficked.
While I cannot point to a specific dollar that resulted from either I can say that blogging has hugely raised my profile in the bodybuilding and fitness industry among the athletes, just the people and fans, the magazines and all of the many supplement and accessory companies.
It has been a good thing.
Directly to my website blog at http://secondfocus.blogspot.com
Directly to my BodyBuilding.com blog at http://blog.bodybuilding.com/SecondFocus |
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Daniel Berman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 12:52 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> Like the other posters, I have gotten work, networked, and had a positive experience by posting my work for the Seattle PI and my freelance clients to my blog.
It is not really a release for me, so much as a way to showcase a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the pictures readers see online, or in print. As a result, some high profile stuff for different clients gets posted, and a lot of traffic will come for a week after each post.
It has lead to work and referrals that I know did not come from my website.
That said, I hope that those checking out my blog then visit my website, where they can also get a sense of how I shoot.
I think of my blog as bait, to lead them to my website.
And for those interested, my blog, http://www.bermanphotos.wordpress.com
Daniel |
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Mike Janes, Photographer
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Attica | NY | USA | Posted: 1:17 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/2082
#2 is the reason I don't blog - I don't have anything of overall greatness to say, not to mention what I would say wouldn't help me gain any clients. My old site had a lot of info (words) on it and just found it too much, nobody cared to read it and wanted to see the results and what they'd be getting more so than know about things that are not of importance to them. Blogs that have reason I like, be it educational or telling the story of an event, however, most that I see fail to do this and only serve as a "I did this, I did that" and really dribble on. (For info I didn't read anyone's blog here so that's not a reference to anyone that's posted).
Thought about creating one but it would be strictly on the event and story, more of article writing than "I just did this...or that...or the other thing". |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 1:23 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> Love the idea --- and a read several.
I just HATE that word. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 1:36 AM on 08.05.09 |
| ->> This will totally piss a lot of folks off (imagine that! ME pissing people of!) but blogs are for the most part self flagellation. We all want to think we have REALLY IMPORTANT stuff to tell people, but do we really? Crap, I might THINK I have a lot to tell you folks but do I really? Is it enough for me to blah, blah, blah on a blog? I think not. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 1:52 AM on 08.05.09 |
| ->> Thank you, Chuck |
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Eric Jones, Photographer
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Greenville | NC | USA | Posted: 7:57 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> I can tell you that more and more people are using blogs for their main site and to show their current work. I always direct people to my site and my blog as I'm always updating at least once a week. It shows people that you are staying current and also staying busy with your photography. It has done nothing but help my business. Why put one to two shots on your main website when you can put 10-12 pictures of the same shoot on your blog so potentinal clients can see different shots. It's just getting bigger and bigger and you find that a nice blog will draw in a person or couple really fast...they want to read and see more vs going back to your website and looking over the same images over and over to see if you have made any updates.
I'll keep blogging as long as I know it's helping.
EKJ |
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Fredrik Naumann, Photographer
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Oslo | Oslo | Norway | Posted: 8:35 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> I can certainly see from the statistics that I get traffic to my Photoshelter archive, and subsequent sales, as a result of my blog. So it makes sense from a business point of view to blog.
@Chuck: Must a blog be IMPORTANT to be interesting? I think not. Entertaining or educational works for a lot of folks too. Some people blog, others use (a/this) forum to promote themselves or vent their frustrations. Perhaps you should try blah blah bla blogging as an alternative? You might even enjoy it!
And here is the plug: http://felixfeatures.blogspot.com/ |
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David Stephenson, Photographer
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Lexington | Ky | USA | Posted: 8:55 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> I'm with Robert - I'm not fond of the word 'blog'. I hope it goes away and evolves into something like 'my web site'.
And why must we all have two web sites (or more)? I am combining my portfolio site and blog into one and I'm not going to use the 'b' word.
But to answer the original question: Yes, I think updating your website with fresh, quality content that is SEO friendly is always worth it, especially if you or your business needs promoting and/or traffic. |
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Jon Wright, Photographer
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Wayzata | MN | USA | Posted: 10:31 AM on 08.05.09 |
->> I love my blog. It get's as many hits as my website. Blog entries show up in search engines and that all helps for general exposure. I use Linkeding, Facebook, Twitter and any other social or business network that I can with the main purpose of driving business to my website.
Jon |
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Dan Routh, Photographer
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Greensboro | NC | USA | Posted: 12:36 PM on 08.05.09 |
->> "blogs are for the most part self flagellation"
Of course they are Chuck. And you are more than welcome to stir the pot. I shoot and post on my blog for me, and just me. I shoot what I want to and don't worry about pleasing a client or an editor. It's just an opportunity to build a body of work over time that pleases me. If it pleases someone else in the meantime, then so much the better. If it doesn't, then too bad. At least it kept me out of trouble and in practice. Do I really have anything to say on my blog. Probably not, but then who does on the internet. It's merely what I see and how I see it. |
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Lane Hickenbottom, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | usa | Posted: 1:20 PM on 08.05.09 |
->> Patrick, I wouldn't mind seeing your friend's website with good SEO.
In SEO, text content is king. And regularly updated and changing text is even better. If you are just posting photos with zero text, blogging doesn't do much for SEO. But if you include the proper name of each of the locations where you shoot and include the city and state, and always write about your "photography" or about your experience as a "photographer", it goes a LOOOONG ways towards promoting you in google searches where somebody is looking for "Austin, Texas Photographer" in a google search.
I think you are correct in your assessment that your blog helps with SEO. Even if the non-blog area of your is very search-engine friendly (very few photography sites are), a blog can only help.
I moved to Omaha right at a year ago. Today I'm on page one for "Omaha Photographer", "Omaha wedding photographer", "Omaha wedding" and several other google search variations...mostly due to my blog.
http://laneweddings.com/blog/ |
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Myung Chun, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 2:18 PM on 08.05.09 |
| ->> Grover, during his fantastic presentation at the VJ Multimedia Workshop at Brooks, placed blogging as the No. 1 way of being SEO friendly. |
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Jonathan Castner, Photographer, Assistant
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Longmont | CO | USA | Posted: 2:38 PM on 08.05.09 |
->> Yes it's worth it for a number of reasons.
1) It's less formal than your folio. You can show work that doesn't fit into your book but is very still good or shows additional aspects of your capabilities. My blog has replaced the "new work" section of my folio.
2) Promotion. The "blog", yeah I hate that term too!, gives existing clients a way to see what you are up to. Not everything that we shoot becomes a folio piece but they can still be interesting to a potential client. Add to that the additional SEO aspects, the "newsletter" aspect and the less formal "have you seen my new blog entry?" conversation and a blog is great to have.
3) Gives one personal insight into you. Folios and their images tend to be so highly constructed and 3rd person that it's very hard to figure out who the photographer is as a person. Editors and AD's want to take the photographers personality into consideration for assignments. The way that you write in your (b)log as well as the things that you talk about say a lot about you as a person. I've had many new clients tell me that after they looked at my folio they read my blog and that clinched the deal. They liked my work and then got to know me before calling to arrange the assignment. |
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Jordan Murph, Photographer, Assistant
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Carlsbad & Honolulu | CA/HI | USA | Posted: 2:49 PM on 08.05.09 |
->> Blogging can just fun too. Blog blog blog.
www.jordanmurph.wordpress.com
Bert, don't be mad. It's just a blog. Thanks for the burrito.
Aloha!
Jordan |
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Marc F. Henning, Photographer
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Bentonville | AR | USA | Posted: 3:06 PM on 08.05.09 |
->> I find a blog to totally be "worth it" for pretty much all of the same reasons mentioned already. A blog is also a great place to showcase work that would otherwise never see the light of day through regular publishing. I've sold stock images through my blog. It really is amazing to see through Google Analytics how far reaching and diverse your audience can be. I have fans in Kazakhstan. That's Crazy!
marc
www.marcfhenning.blogspot.com |
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