Why all photographers should be blogging

One of the best ways to build your brand, set yourself apart from the competition and become known as an expert in your field, is to blog.

You can write it (blog) or speak to camera and record it (vlog), whichever you prefer, the key is to be consistent and to always think about how you can add value for your ideal customer.

Not everyone is a confident writer or has enough hours in the day to schedule time in for writing, but the payoffs are definitely worth it.

Some of the ways consistent blogging can help you build your brand:

>> Builds credibility

>> Attracts more of your ideal clients

>> Cultivates trust and builds relationship

>> Turns visitors into buyers

>> Gives your brand greater authority

>> Good for SEO aka makes you more googleable

I could go on and on, there is SO much good that can come from regular, strategic blogging for your business. But before we go any further, there’s one thing I want to talk about that could make all the difference between reaching the masses or talking to crickets…

It’s all well and good to write a weekly blog, but if no one is reading then it’s a huge waste of your time, time that would have been better spent watching reruns of The Big Band Theory.

When it comes to creating new content, you have to ask the question: Who is this for?

Creating content that your ideal client actually wants to read about is key. Adding value for them will keep them coming back for more.

It’s ok to share the occasional sneak peek from your shoot. It’s a great way to showcase your work and inspire others – both of which are good things. But you want to share more than just your work. You should also be sharing content that will benefit your readers.

Think about what they need help with. What are they struggling with? What are their questions?

So for me, I write about things like dealing with no shows, tire kickers and deal seekers, how to price your services for profit, or even how to say no to family, you could also write about the best equipment, your favorite techniques, new innovations, awards you’ve won or want to win, and really anything at all you can think of that might help others in some way.

Side note: it doesn’t always have to be photography related either. It can be something unrelated to your work, but that still helps your ideal client in some way, for instance, tips for being more productive are not specifically related to photography, but it can be shared with anyone who has a business – or anyone, in any line of work, ever.

To give you a little bit of inspiration I wanted to share a couple of great examples from two photographers who are totally rocking their blog.

Meet Amelia & Dan These two specialize in fresh photography for happy people. I had the pleasure of meeting them when they photographed my brother’s wedding in Charleston last year. I was on their website ordering some images and I couldn’t help but notice what an amazing job they were doing with their blog – it was so good I had to share some of my favorites with you.

How to put together your wedding day posed portrait list

The top three tips for an awesome engagement portrait session

8 tips on how to hang and print your photographs

Top ten best questions to ask your wedding photographer

Blogging is about so much more than simply showcasing your work. You have an opportunity to build trust and add value for your ideal client, and that is exactly what Amelia and Dan have done with their blog.  

They not only showcase their amazing photography, they help their clients with information about how to prepare for their big day, how to choose a wedding photographer, and even how to hang prints.

These are all topics their ideal clients are likely wanting to know more about, so they are already providing incredible service before they’ve even started working together (and building up that all important trust bank!).

Once you’ve had a chance to check out Amelia and Dan’s awesome posts, think about how you can educate, add value, and build trust with your ideal client through blog posts.

Remember to always write your blog as if you were writing it for that one perfect client, and remember to be consistent.

It doesn’t have to be every week, just make a schedule and stick to it!

If you have a blog for your photography business, or you have a favorite blog, add the link below in the comments, I’d love to see it!

Kim xo