Hello, fellow Canadian wedding photographers! If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering how you can up your website’s SEO game without breaking the bank. Let’s be real—running a photography business comes with its fair share of expenses, and sometimes, splurging on premium SEO tools feels like a luxury. But what if I told you that you could still get some pretty solid insights using the free versions of Semrush and Ahrefs? Yep, it’s totally possible, and today, I’m going to show you how.
Why SEO Matters for Wedding Photographers
Before diving into the tools, let's talk about why SEO should be a priority. Your website is your digital storefront, and in a world where couples are increasingly finding their vendors online, showing up on that coveted first page of Google is more important than ever. Good SEO means more visibility, more inquiries, and ultimately, more bookings. It's as simple as that. Learn more about the power of good SEO
Getting Started with Semrush’s Free Version
Semrush is one of the giants in the SEO world, known for its in-depth analysis and powerful features. But even its free version offers plenty of value, especially if you know what to look for.
1. Keyword Research
- Why It Matters: Keywords are the bridge between what people are searching for and your website. If you’re not targeting the right ones, you might as well be invisible.
- How to Use It: In the free version of Semrush, you can perform up to 10 searches per day. This might seem limited, but it’s perfect for zeroing in on specific keywords. Start by searching for phrases like "Canadian wedding photographer" or "Winnipeg wedding photography" and see what comes up. Pay attention to the search volume and keyword difficulty. The goal here is to find keywords with decent search volume but low competition.
2. Site Audit
- Why It Matters: A pretty website is great, but if it’s riddled with technical issues, Google isn’t going to give you any love.
- How to Use It: Semrush’s free site audit feature allows you to scan your site for common issues like broken links, slow loading times, and mobile usability problems. You can perform up to 100 pages per crawl, which is usually more than enough for a photography website. Fixing these issues can give your SEO a significant boost.
3. Backlink Checker
- Why It Matters: Backlinks are like votes of confidence from other websites. The more quality backlinks you have, the more credible your site appears to Google.
- How to Use It: The free version gives you a glimpse of your top 100 backlinks. Use this information to identify who’s already linking to you, and brainstorm ways to earn more. Maybe reach out to a wedding blog you’ve been featured on and ask for a link back to your site.
Ahrefs Free Tools: Simple Yet Effective
Like Semrush, Ahrefs is another powerhouse in the SEO world. While their free tools are a bit more limited, they’re still incredibly useful for wedding photographers trying to get an edge.
1. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT)
- Why It Matters: It’s essentially a free SEO audit of your site, offering insights into your backlinks, organic traffic, and technical SEO issues.
- How to Use It: After signing up, you’ll get access to reports that show your site’s overall health. Focus on fixing the high-priority issues first, like broken links or missing meta descriptions. This will help your site run smoother and rank higher.
2. Keyword Generator
- Why It Matters: Like Semrush, this tool helps you find relevant keywords to target in your blog posts, portfolio descriptions, and service pages.
- How to Use It: You get up to 100 keyword ideas per search. Use this to your advantage by searching for terms like "best wedding venues in [your city]" or "elopement photographer Canada." Find keywords that align with your content and sprinkle them naturally throughout your site.
3. Backlink Checker
- Why It Matters: Backlinks are still king, and Ahrefs is particularly good at finding them.
- How to Use It: The free backlink checker shows the top 100 backlinks to any website or URL. Use it to see who’s linking to your competitors and reach out to those same sites. Maybe they’d like to feature your latest wedding shoot or expert tips for couples planning their big day.
Combining Forces: A Simple SEO Strategy
Now that you’ve got these tools in your arsenal, let’s talk about strategy. SEO isn’t just about plugging in a few keywords and hoping for the best. It’s about creating content that resonates with your audience, building a site that’s easy to navigate, and earning trust from other sites in your niche.
- Start with Keyword Research: Use Semrush and Ahrefs to identify the keywords you want to rank for. Look for a mix of high-volume terms and long-tail keywords that are less competitive but still relevant.
- Optimize Your Content: Take those keywords and integrate them naturally into your site. Focus on your homepage, service pages, and blog posts. Remember, you’re writing for humans first, search engines second.
- Audit Your Site: Use the site audit tools to fix any technical issues. This could be as simple as compressing images for faster load times or as complex as restructuring your site’s navigation.
- Build Quality Backlinks: Reach out to other wedding vendors, blogs, and industry publications to earn backlinks. This can be a game-changer in boosting your credibility and search engine rankings.
Conclusion: Free Doesn’t Mean Limited
Sure, the free versions of Semrush and Ahrefs don’t offer the full suite of features, but they’re more than enough to get you started on improving your website’s SEO. With a little time and effort, you can increase your visibility, attract more clients, and book those dream weddings all across Canada.
And remember, SEO isn’t a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing process, much like nurturing relationships with your clients. So, keep learning, keep optimizing, and most importantly, keep capturing those stunning moments that make wedding photography so special.
Happy shooting, and even happier ranking!
Written by Canadian Wedding Photographers Founder Joel Boily