{"id":19655,"date":"2014-07-24T20:28:21","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T03:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=19655"},"modified":"2014-07-24T20:28:21","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T03:28:21","slug":"a-photographers-guide-to-seo-blogging-and-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2014\/07\/24\/a-photographers-guide-to-seo-blogging-and-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"A Photographer’s Guide to SEO, Blogging, and Social Media"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hong
Hong Kong, 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If it weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for my blog I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be anybody. I have my blog and the street photography community to thank for my \u00e2\u20ac\u0153success\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in life.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m lucky to be born in a age where one can easily build an online presence with a blog and social media. And of course, I have to greatly thank you, my dear reader, and the street photography for supporting my blog and the beautiful genre of street photography.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I have been insulted a lot when it comes to my blog, social media presence, and photography. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m told that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a horrible photographer, but really good at social media. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been told that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a social media spammer. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been told that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a terrible writer, photographer, and human being. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gotten all sort of negative feedback\u00e2\u20ac\u201c don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even get me started on YouTube comments.<\/p>\n

However it is true that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not the best photographer. Nor am I the beat writer. Nor am I the best blogger. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not really the best at anything.<\/p>\n

However, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m passionate. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m passionate about sharing knowledge, information and building a community around street photography. I feel it is the purpose why I was put on this earth.<\/p>\n

One aspect of my social media\/blogging success is that I am prolific. Meaning, I write a lot. I write everyday, and post something to social media everyday. I know that everything I write and post won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be the best. However I like to simply \u00e2\u20ac\u0153show up\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I love creating, not consuming. I try to spend as much energy and effort I can to create \u00e2\u20ac\u0153value\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c through my articles, videos, and images I share.<\/p>\n

I often am asked on advice on blogging, social media, SEO and how to become a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153full time\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photographer. I wanted to write this post to share everything I know\u00e2\u20ac\u201c as well as things which are overrated.<\/p>\n

SEO and blogging<\/h2>\n

What is SEO? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure you heard of it before, and how important it is.<\/p>\n

To sum up, SEO stands for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153search engine optimization\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (ie, how to get on top of google search results).<\/p>\n

For example if you google \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography blog\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201c you will find my blog. Or if you google \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Henri Cartier-Bresson\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, you will find my article on him on the first page of google.<\/p>\n

You can see why \u00e2\u20ac\u0153SEO\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is so important. It means people searching for things on google will eventually find you.<\/p>\n

The tricky thing is that SEO is like black magic. Nobody really knows how it works 100% (or else people will be able to game the system and have an unfair advantage). However this is what I know so far about SEO. Disclaimer: I am not an SEO expert:<\/p>\n

1. Content is king<\/h3>\n

Google is pretty smart. Google knows if the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153content\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (writing, images, videos) on your site is helpful and useful and not. To an extent, google knows if your website has \u00e2\u20ac\u0153high quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d content.<\/p>\n

So what does this mean? Well, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re blogging on photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201c try to make the information as thorough, informative, and high-quality as possible. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just copy and paste information from other sources. Create original, informative, and helpful \u00e2\u20ac\u0153content\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which will inspire and help other people.<\/p>\n

For example, most of the articles on my blog aim to be helpful and informative. Ultimately this causes my articles to be shared more on social media. And Google knows (to a certain extent) how \u00e2\u20ac\u0153important\u00e2\u20ac\u009d your content is based on how many times it has been shared on social media.<\/p>\n

2. Keywords and tags are overrated<\/h3>\n

One of the big problems I see is that people spam keywords and tags too much.<\/p>\n

Google used to recognize more keywords and tags as more important and relevant. However nowadays I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard from my SEO friends that it is overrated.<\/p>\n

To a certain extent, keywords are important. If you want your blog or website to show up high on google, you want to add the phrase: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to your title. Similarly, when I write blog articles\u00e2\u20ac\u201c I try to include \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the title.<\/p>\n

But putting a million keywords, tags, and hashtags won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t increase your search results. In-fact, it might hurt you.<\/p>\n

3. Write for human beings<\/h3>\n

The problem of SEO is that people try to write for google, not for human beings.<\/p>\n

Remember, you first and foremost want to write for a human audience. Make content that inspires, informs, and emotionally connects with people. This should be your number one priority. Sooner or later \u00e2\u20ac\u0153organically\u00e2\u20ac\u009d your google search rankings will improve.<\/p>\n

4. Consistency is important<\/h3>\n

One thing that Google favors is sites that are updated often. Unfortunately this is a problem: a lot of bloggers end up focusing on quantity over quality. I think it is possible to have both, but I know personally I focus on quantity more than quality on this blog. Unfortunately I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the patience to edit articles as much as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like to \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I just want to put out the information out on the web.<\/p>\n

So realize that you need to be consistent with updating your blog. I read a statistic once that 99.9% of blogs aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t updated after the first month. So the real secret to successful blogging is this: don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t die. This means, always keep blogging.<\/p>\n

I try to personally write at least one blog post a day. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not always able to, so on certain days when I have more time and energy\u00e2\u20ac\u201c I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll write 2\u00e2\u20ac\u201c3 articles. But I try to update my blog at least once a day.<\/p>\n

I think consistency is also important in street photography. I think the secret to a successful journey in street photography is to shoot everyday (even when you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel inspired). This is because I think that routines and processes are the most important thing. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recommend waiting for inspiration (then writing or shooting). I find that writing and shooting leads to inspiration.<\/p>\n

Starting your own blog<\/h2>\n

I highly recommend everyone to start their own blog. The benefits are great and many. Here are some benefits:<\/p>\n

1. You build a platform that you own<\/h3>\n

If you self-host a wordpress blog. I recommend bluehost.com for ease of setup.<\/p>\n

2. You build up an audience<\/h3>\n

If you have a home for blogging, you can include your images, videos, words of inspiration, and articles that help and inspire others.<\/p>\n

3. You become responsible<\/h3>\n

I find that what inspires me the most to blog is to know that I am responsible for an audience who is hungry to learn more about street photography.<\/p>\n

4. You learn and grow<\/h3>\n

Everything I have learned on street photography, I have shared on this blog. I am still a student, and on a life-long journey. I personally find that when I share information I know and write about it, I better understand it. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like when you tutor someone in school, you learn the information better. So in blogging about something, you will better learn how to articulate your thoughts and processes\u00e2\u20ac\u201c which will help your own learning process.<\/p>\n

5. You will open up doors to opportunity<\/h3>\n

When I started my blog, I had no intention to do it full time nor did I have any aspirations to become a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153full-time\u00e2\u20ac\u009d blogger and photographer. I simply started it because I enjoyed it, and was passionate about it. Fast-forward \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in 4 years I have written 1,000+ articles, got laid off my job, been able to teach workshops for a living, done international exhibitions, and collaborations with many photographers and companies. If it want for my blog, these doors wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have opened up. So realize if your own blog and have consistency and persistence\u00e2\u20ac\u201c many doors and opportunities will open up to you too.<\/p>\n

Some advice I have on blogging:<\/h2>\n

1. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry about what your blog is going to be about<\/h3>\n

It will always change and evolve over time. I know a lot of photographers who want to start a blog but don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what it will be about. But you will never really know what it is about. Even now, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still not sure what this blog is about\u00e2\u20ac\u201c or what direction it is heading. When I first started my blog, it was just snapshots of my travels and some street photos. As time went on, I started writing more tips and tricks on street photography, started interviewing other street photographers, and also started to build up a street photography community. There is never a perfect time to start a blog, so start today.<\/p>\n

2. Host your blog on WordPress.org<\/h3>\n

This will give you much more control, flexibility, and freedom in the long run. Tumblr is also a good easy platform to get started on, but the features are quite limited compared to WordPress. Other good options include blogger.com and WordPress.com.<\/p>\n

3. Write with your heart and soul<\/h3>\n

When you blog, make sure to write openly, honestly, and with your heart. Let your words bleed onto the keyboard and unto the screen. Realize that your blog doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to include words, you can make it just focused more as a picture blog (of your ongoing work).<\/p>\n

But make it personal, and emotional. One of my favorite blogs on street photography is Josh White<\/a> because he is quite transparent. I follow his thoughts, his hopes, his aspirations. He really bleeds with his words and images. I have built a strong emotional connection to him, and he has been pretty consistent in blogging ore the years.<\/p>\n

4. Realize there is never a perfect time to blog<\/h3>\n

I have a pretty hectic schedule. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m always traveling, on a plane, on a friends couch, at the cafe, or in a library. I always dreamed of having my perfect dream office with lots of natural light and a fancy espresso machine. But reality sucks. I never have an \u00e2\u20ac\u0153ideal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d time to blog. Even now, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m writing this on an iPad at a library in Saigon, while Cindy is looking for books. My hands are quite cramped from typing on an iPad (I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d prefer to use my laptop, but Cindy is using it). I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t very inspired to start writing, but I felt this topic was important enough for me to start.<\/p>\n

5. Drink lots of coffee<\/h3>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve tried every \u00e2\u20ac\u0153productivity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d hack our there when it comes to blogging. The only thing that works reliably is lots of strong coffee. I find it helps because the smell and taste of coffee tells my brain: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay eric, it is time for you to get to work.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Coffee inspires me to start writing, uploading images to share, and sharing the images of others. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like coffee, you can try drinking tea, listening to your favorite music, or having a beer or a glass of wine.<\/p>\n

Anything that can be used as a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153trigger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to start working. (As a side note, I highly recommend reading the book: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153how habits work\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to build bullet-proof habits).<\/p>\n

6. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wait for inspiration to hit you<\/h3>\n

Inspiration is overrated. If you wait for information, you will never get anything done. This applies both to writing, blogging, and photography. I feel it is the opposite way around. Inspiration follows action. What I mean by this is that when I start writing, then I feel inspired. Rather than me waiting for inspiration, then start writing.<\/p>\n

Same is for photography: I photograph then I feel inspired. Rather than I feel inspired, then I start shooting.<\/p>\n

Social media advice<\/h2>\n

There are so many social media platforms out there now. But what are relevant and important? Here are some of my personal views and thoughts:<\/p>\n

Facebook fan page:<\/h3>\n

Probably the most important one. Facebook has the most users, and most people I know check Facebook several times a day. So having a Facebook fan page is quintessential if you want to build up your online presence a photographer. Ideas you can use on Facebook: share inspirational quotes, photos, photos of other photographers (link to their website), asking questions (to start discussions or debates).<\/p>\n

I recommend updating Facebook 1\u00e2\u20ac\u201c3 times a day. Anything more than that seems spammy to me.<\/p>\n

Twitter<\/h3>\n

Good to have to connect with other like-minded photographers. Imagine twitter like a public text messaging service. I have met up some cool photographers this way. But twitter is a bit overrated in my opinion.<\/p>\n

Tumblr<\/h3>\n

At first I thought tumblr was just a fad. But I think it is a quite robust social media platform in terms of the mix of simplicity and number of features (you can write blog posts, share quotes, videos, images, etc).<\/p>\n

Also I find a lot of street photographers are quite active on it. Tumblr doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the amount of users as Facebook or flickr (in the street photography community) but I think it is the best platform to share your work on. This is because you can create sets, change the order, and lay them out beautifully.<\/p>\n

Instagram<\/h3>\n

One of the most important but \u00e2\u20ac\u0153incorrectly\u00e2\u20ac\u009d utilized social media platform. Everyone is addicted to mobile. I think most people check Instagram more than Facebook now. However, I think most photographers use it wrong. They put too many photos of their cappuccinos and food, and not enough images about photography.<\/p>\n

Whenever I post something to Instagram I ask myself: is this image useful, informative, funny, and will it build \u00e2\u20ac\u0153value\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the life of my viewer? Things which I personally try to post: covers of photography books I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m reading and recommend #buybooksnotgear, urban landscapes I shoot on my phone, street photos that I shoot on film (and I use an application like \u00e2\u20ac\u0153squaready\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to turn into 3:2 aspect ratio), or interesting photography-related things I find in my daily life.<\/p>\n

I personally try to limit the amount of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gear porn\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I share\u00e2\u20ac\u201c which is sexy photos of cameras. I think this just propagates more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153gas\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (gear acquisition syndrome). But I am a sucker for vintage film cameras.<\/p>\n

Flickr<\/h3>\n

I still find that flickr is the most dominant platform for street photography. A lot of this has to do with the fact that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hardcore street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is the most active online group\/forum\/curated gallery on street photography. So in this sense, I feel flickr is quintessential for photographers.<\/p>\n

The big downside of flickr is that you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t change the order of your images after you upload them\u00e2\u20ac\u201c which means flickr is much more about single images than it is about sets and story-telling. Also I have personally fallen into the trap of being obsessed of the number of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153favorites\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and comments I get.<\/p>\n

So use flickr to connect with other street photographers, but try to avoid the hype on how many followers, views, and social media \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pats on the back\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Phew, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty exhausted after typing this all up. But I hope it is helpful and informative to you.<\/p>\n

I have a lot To thank blogging and social media for. But also realize it is overrated in many ways. I think ultimately we should focus on making photographs that please ourselves. We should put little to no importance on what other people think of our work.<\/p>\n

In the past, I have fallen victim to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153social media syndrome\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201c in which I crave likes\/favorites\/comments\/views like a cocaine addict. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get me wrong, I still love it\u00e2\u20ac\u201c but I purposefully try to not look at my stats. This has brought me much more happiness.<\/p>\n

Ultimately my advice on social media is be yourself. If you are the type of person who likes to share everything (like myself) go for it. If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like to share, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel forced to (it is okay to be offline). But at the end of the day, stay active, passionate, and consistent with your work and photography. Leave all the SEO and blogging to the nerds (like me).<\/p>\n

I wrote this on Facebook<\/a> a while back, and I use it as a constant reminder what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important:<\/p>\n

Social media fame is a fruitless thing to chase after; will it really matter 100 years from now that you had a million followers on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr? Will these networks still be around then? Enjoy the present moment when you photograph in the streets, and remember to shoot only to impress yourself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you want to learn more on the philosophy of blogging and social media, I recommend reading these articles I wrote in the past:<\/p>\n