unfinished or, even worse, if you haven’t even started one. I’m going to explain why you really need to have a live website if you’re serious about this business of yours thriving.
Website is absolutely crucial for a photographer!
This is not something that can wait. You must have one if you want to be taken seriously, stand out from the competition, draw in a specific clientele, and, most importantly, charge more for your services.
5 Reasons You Should need a website
When it comes to getting yourself and your business out there, it should be the first thing you do, not something you put off until the last minute.
You need somewhere online that you have full control over and own
Is it possible to survive on social media alone? It’s definitely feasible, especially if you’re a part-time photographer. But if you want to make a good living from photography and do it full-time, using platforms you don’t own or have any control over is a really bad idea if you want to see your income grow year after year.
The online future of your company is beyond your control. Platforms can abruptly suspend your account, modify the rules at any time, or significantly change how you reach your audience overnight. You are entirely at their mercy.
Additionally, they own your content and decide where, how, and for how long it will be displayed. When you have your own website, you can decide how to organise the material and how you want visitors to navigate it.
What’s on your website is evergreen. It won’t be buried in someone’s crowded newsfeed in a matter of minutes but will be there forever for you to feature and show to people.
You don’t have to compete for users’ attention.
There are a hundred different posts on your Facebook or Instagram page that can divert someone as soon as they land there. You know how it is: posts from other businesses, posts from their friends and family, YouTube videos, hilarious memes…
As soon as they click on something of yours, they are off down the next rabbit hole, so they don’t have time to get to know you or your company.
If you’re savvy, you might be able to keep them on your website. Nobody else in the area is fighting for their attention. There’s only you. You are responsible for giving them a wonderful experience since YOU OWN THE SPACE!.
You can rank higher in online searches thanks to your website.
Are you going to show up in a google search if your ideal client is looking for a wedding, baby, or pet photographer in your area just based on your social media presence? extremely unlikely and what a stupid waste that is. Keep in mind that the industry you are aiming to excel in is incredibly competitive.
Your efforts to get up those search results can start as soon as you have a website. I assure you that it won’t happen overnight, so the sooner you begin, the better. You may use all of your keywords and phrases and Backlinks to optimise your web pages and write blogs, and as you start to see the results of your labour, you’ll be so glad you did it.
Are Backlinks Important for SEO?
Build your email list
Email is still one of the greatest ways to promote your photography business, in case you missed the memo. 50 social media followers are worth one fantastic email subscriber. However, it is only the case if you engage and motivate your email subscribers rather than just sending them dull newsletters every month.
What will build your email list for you is your website. You can gather the email addresses of your potential clients in exchange for compelling opt-ins like checklists or eBooks. In order to stay in touch with people who have shown enough interest in you to visit your website and subscribe to your emails.
Credibility is key!
As soon as you have a website, you become more credible. If your competitors have websites and you do not, a potential customer looking for a photographer will view them as being considerably more professional than you.
Have you ever searched online for a company only to discover that they don’t have a website? Certainly, I have. And the moment I was unable to locate them, my trust was gone.
I’d prefer to discover a simple website to none at all. Do I really want to trust a business owner with my hard-earned money if they can’t be bothered to finish something as vital as their website?
If you’re savvy, starting your website can cost you a little money, but once it’s up and running, it will more than pay for itself.
Photographers who have strong websites typically charge significantly more than those who don’t. This isn’t only because they give off a far more credible and professional appearance by exhibiting their work and services at their absolute peak on a platform that they own and control, they are far better able to draw in those ideal customers who value photography.