Are you a photographer or fellow creative looking to improve your online presence and drive more traffic to your website? You’re in the right place! SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can seem like a complex subject, but we’re here to break it down and make it more accessible. In this post, we’ll focus on two fundamental elements of SEO: page titles and meta descriptions. With easy-to-understand examples and simple terms, we’ll help you create engaging and optimized content to help your website stand out in search engine results.
What Are Page Titles and Meta Descriptions?
Page titles and meta descriptions are essential components of your website’s content that provide a brief summary of each page. They appear in search engine results, and their primary purpose is to entice users to click on your website.
The two elements in this post are just as crucial for conversion as for SEO. You’re potential client bases whether they will click on your site on what they see in the search results: page title, and meta description.
You can read more about why you might not be converting on your site here, but a common problem is having ‘ho-hum’ page titles and meta descriptions. Basically, these two elements matter a lot in driving traffic to your site.
- Page Title: A page title is a clickable headline displayed in search engine results. It should accurately describe the content of the page and include relevant keywords. An ideal page title should be around 60 characters long.
- Meta Description: A meta description is a short summary of a webpage’s content that appears below the page title in search engine results. It should provide users with a compelling reason to visit your page. A well-written meta description should be between 150-160 characters long.
Crafting the Perfect Page Titles
Be Descriptive: Your page title should clearly describe the content on the page. For photographers, this could include specifying the type of photography, location, or event.
Example:
- “Stunning Landscape Photography: Capturing the Beauty of Yosemite National Park”
- “Documentary Newborn Photography Missoula, MT | JD Images”
- “Missoula Lifestyle Family Photography | Your Business Name”
Use Keywords: Incorporate the main keywords your target audience might use when searching for your services. This will help search engines understand your content and rank your page higher.
Need help to decide which keyphrase to rank for? You can find a keyphrase planning article here to get you started.
Example:
- “Wedding Photographer in New York: [Your Name]”
- “Denver Corporate Headshots | [Your Name}
Keep it Unique: Each page on your website should have a unique title. This will help search engines differentiate between your pages and display the most relevant results to users.
Balancing the perfect 60-character page title
Page titles should ideally be around 60 characters. Any longer, and you risk Google cutting off the end. However, deciding what to include in your title can be hard when I say make it descriptive, keyword rich, and you want your brand name.
A good rule of thumb is it first needs to include the main keyphrase you want to rank for on that page. Secondly, try and fit in 1 descriptive word about your brand. And last, sneak your brand name in.
If you have a long brand name, try shortening it to fit all the elements into the title. Instead of photography, say photo.
Do you need your brand name in your page title? This is much debated. Some people will say “no” because your business name takes up too much valuable space. However, the other argument is that your brand name tells the user you’re a reputable business. Would going to a grocery store without a visible name look weird? If it just said “Grocery Store,” would it change how you perceived it? That’s an over-dramatization, but hopefully, it makes the point.
Writing Engaging Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are my favorite element of SEO and websites in general. That’s a bold statement, I know. However, meta descriptions are 160 characters where you get to convince someone to click on your site versus whoever is above or below you on Google search results, so what you say here is often a make-it-or-break-it moment.
Be Persuasive and On Brand: Your meta description should entice users to click on your link. Highlight the unique aspects of your work or offer a sneak peek into your content. Use brand words unique to your business such as: bold, colorful, boho, intimate, dog-friendly, candid
Use Active Language: Encourage users to take action by using active verbs and strong adjectives.
Example:
- “Capture your modern once-in-a-lifetime moments with a New York wedding photographer with 20 years of experience in weddings and elopements. Contact today to get started.”
Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): Guide your users to take the desired action, such as viewing a portfolio, find out more, etc.
- “Ready for a more laid-back approach to newborn photography? See what an in-home Dallas Newborn photography session is like and why more people choose Home Vs Studio.”
Final Ideas on Meta Descriptions and Page Titles
Mastering page titles and meta descriptions are essential for any photographer or creative looking to boost their online presence. They are where your SEO meets your website conversion and should not be overlooked.
By following these simple guidelines and examples, you’ll be on your way to creating engaging and optimized content to help your website stand out in a sea of others. Remember, SEO is not just for tech-savvy experts; with a little effort and creativity, anyone can make their website stand out amongst the crowd.
This blog is part of an Introduction to SEO series. Be sure to also read What is SEO: Basics Explained.
For a free SEO Starter Kit and access to my small business newsletter crew, grab your free download here.
Are you a visual learner? Dive deeper with my Youtube Video walking through mastering meta descriptions.
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