Comments on: Why you need to blog for your readers first and search engines second http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Engaging brand identities and gorgeous websites for ambitious small businesses Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:08:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fiona Humberstone http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 Fiona Humberstone Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:33:38 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1856 You're very welcome. There's a lot to learn when you're writing a new blog. Trial and error is a great teacher! I'll also be running a blogging workshop on 14th October which should really help you on this. Kind regards Fiona You’re very welcome. There’s a lot to learn when you’re writing a new blog. Trial and error is a great teacher! I’ll also be running a blogging workshop on 14th October which should really help you on this. Kind regards Fiona

]]> By: Karen Jones http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1855 Karen Jones Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:24:21 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1855 Well there you go, I have learnt another very useful piece of info today. I never gave a thought to search engines and titles or indeed search engines and blog ! I am such a nubie ! There's me keeping mine short and sweet to appear stylish. No wonder hardly anyone replies LOL. Thank you. xx Well there you go, I have learnt another very useful piece of info today. I never gave a thought to search engines and titles or indeed search engines and blog ! I am such a nubie ! There’s me keeping mine short and sweet to appear stylish. No wonder hardly anyone replies LOL. Thank you. xx

]]> By: Fiona Humberstone http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1845 Fiona Humberstone Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:09:19 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1845 You're welcome. Hope you manage to get some sleep. Impressed that you've written so coherently with such a little one! You’re welcome. Hope you manage to get some sleep. Impressed that you’ve written so coherently with such a little one!

]]> By: Vicki Knights http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1844 Vicki Knights Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:59:59 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1844 Hee hee! I love a bit of controversy, it sparks debate! I like your blog title suggestions - I guess I've always avoided putting the kiddie's names online as I've had some parents ask me not to. But I will definitely make my titles more personal when I'm doing client shoots again after my mat leave. Thanks again! Hee hee! I love a bit of controversy, it sparks debate! I like your blog title suggestions – I guess I’ve always avoided putting the kiddie’s names online as I’ve had some parents ask me not to. But I will definitely make my titles more personal when I’m doing client shoots again after my mat leave. Thanks again!

]]> By: Fiona Humberstone http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1843 Fiona Humberstone Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:51:40 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1843 Vicki you're giving lots back - love the How to take better photos of your kids thing. Had never thought about backgrounds in that way before ;-). Did your search rankings translate into lots more readers? Don't get me wrong, I guess I contrive my post titles a little. Ie: 4 logo designs for Band in the Buff (or whatever) but wouldn't it be nicer to say "Harrison's first baby shoot" or Lifestyle Shoot with Harrison and Family rather than Baby Lifestyle Shoot Surrey. But no, it's not about your blog. Now please all of you stop asking whose blog it's about ;-) This isn't meant to be a witch hunt, I just spotted something that made me think and I thought I'd share it with you. I'm really not cut out for this controversial blogging thing am I? Vicki you’re giving lots back – love the How to take better photos of your kids thing. Had never thought about backgrounds in that way before ;-) . Did your search rankings translate into lots more readers?

Don’t get me wrong, I guess I contrive my post titles a little. Ie: 4 logo designs for Band in the Buff (or whatever) but wouldn’t it be nicer to say “Harrison’s first baby shoot” or Lifestyle Shoot with Harrison and Family rather than Baby Lifestyle Shoot Surrey. But no, it’s not about your blog. Now please all of you stop asking whose blog it’s about ;-) This isn’t meant to be a witch hunt, I just spotted something that made me think and I thought I’d share it with you. I’m really not cut out for this controversial blogging thing am I?

]]> By: Vicki Knights http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1842 Vicki Knights Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:40:53 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1842 Oops! Hopefully this isn't about my blog as I've been guilty of this in the past. I noticed that many US photographers write their blog post titles like this and when I tried it out, like Kate, I discovered my search rankings hugely improved. Also as most of my posts are sneak peaks I was struggling with title ideas anyway....there are only so many times you can say 'gorgeous baby'! It's a really interesting point though and I'd never thought that readers could feel 'used' so I will vary it more in the future. Thanks again for the invaluable advice Fiona! Oops! Hopefully this isn’t about my blog as I’ve been guilty of this in the past. I noticed that many US photographers write their blog post titles like this and when I tried it out, like Kate, I discovered my search rankings hugely improved. Also as most of my posts are sneak peaks I was struggling with title ideas anyway….there are only so many times you can say ‘gorgeous baby’!

It’s a really interesting point though and I’d never thought that readers could feel ‘used’ so I will vary it more in the future. Thanks again for the invaluable advice Fiona!

]]> By: Kate Griffin http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1841 Kate Griffin Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:12:19 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1841 Slap may be harsh - how about nudge? Keep the marketing nudges coming - they are always helpful and I love to learn something new. I already pop those terms in tags and (following your advice) have added them to images to. It just seems that search engines seem to grip onto the titles more - every time I search the keywords, they are highlighted as found in the title, not the tag or anything else. I would love to streamline! Slap may be harsh – how about nudge? Keep the marketing nudges coming – they are always helpful and I love to learn something new.

I already pop those terms in tags and (following your advice) have added them to images to. It just seems that search engines seem to grip onto the titles more – every time I search the keywords, they are highlighted as found in the title, not the tag or anything else. I would love to streamline!

]]> By: Fiona Humberstone http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1840 Fiona Humberstone Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:59:46 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1840 Hi Kate, the blog I'm referring to didn't have the intros or specifics in the titles like yours does. Personally I wonder if details like "Surrey natural light photography" would work just as well in the tags, categories and image descriptions? That might be your answer as that way it doesn't feel contrived to the reader but you don't feel that you're missing out on hits either. I guess I'm not saying get rid of something that's working. But I don't think random search traffic is the most important consideration in your blog - building a relationship is ;-) No hand slapping - digitally or otherwise. Promise! Hi Kate, the blog I’m referring to didn’t have the intros or specifics in the titles like yours does. Personally I wonder if details like “Surrey natural light photography” would work just as well in the tags, categories and image descriptions? That might be your answer as that way it doesn’t feel contrived to the reader but you don’t feel that you’re missing out on hits either.

I guess I’m not saying get rid of something that’s working. But I don’t think random search traffic is the most important consideration in your blog – building a relationship is ;-)

No hand slapping – digitally or otherwise. Promise!

]]> By: Kate Griffin http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/why-you-need-to-blog-for-your-readers-first-and-search-engines-second/comment-page-1/#comment-1838 Kate Griffin Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:51:31 +0000 http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/?p=1411#comment-1838 Oh dear - have I had my digital hand slapped? I fear I do something similar but I thought I was making it relevant to the post itself. Also from traffic stats, it is helping people find me. Should it be totally dispensed with? Oh dear – have I had my digital hand slapped? I fear I do something similar but I thought I was making it relevant to the post itself. Also from traffic stats, it is helping people find me. Should it be totally dispensed with?

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