Why naming your business after yourself is good for SEO.
There are many advantages to using your own name in your business name, but have you ever thought about how this can affect your search ranking efforts? As photographers, many of us have chosen to use our own names when naming our business for several, very important reasons such as artist recognition, longevity, and personalization of the business.
However, most SEO experts would suggest using one (or more) of your keywords in your business name for maximum impact.
I am here to tell you that using your name rather than an industry keyword can actually work out quite well for SEO when used properly. How is that? Well, when your business name includes your real name, your name actually becomes one of your keywords.
Sure, most people searching for your name will find you fairly easily. But what if you are like me and several other businesses/professionals use their name for their business name as well? I want to let Google know that when someone searches for me they are looking for a photographer (despite what those other Bethany Gilberts say).
The easiest way to do this is to comment on other photographer’s blogs.
Seem counter-intuitive?
Here’s how it works. When you comment on another photographer’s blog you (usually) are asked to enter your name, an email address and your website address before adding your comment.
After you click submit, the blog will then turn your name into a link to your site when displaying your comment.
This is called “link text”. Google LOVES link text. Google (and the other search engines) basically looks at the link text and associates whatever site is linked with those words.
So, when you comment on another photographer’s blog using your name as the link text, Google sees two things.
- Your site is linked from another photographer’s site, so you must have something to do with photography.
- Your link text is your name, so your name must have something to do with photography.
The moral of the story? If your business is named after yourself, comment like there is no tomorrow, and always (always) include your link.
P.S. Please remember to only post comments that are relevant, thoughtful and add something to the blog post. Comment about a particular image you liked for instance. Happy commenting!
P.S.S. Posting comments here will have the same effect since we are optimized for photography keywords. ; )
I haven't use my name for my business as it looks like random vowels and consonants drawn from the scrabble bag. Any tips for 'unpronounceables' like me?
Thanks for the helpful tip Bethany. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog posts. I'm glad I decided early on to name my photography business after my self, for this reason.
You're very welcome!
Hi. Greetings from Denmark. I'm a newbee in the photography business and what strikes me is that not many photogs are willing to share information. I am vacuuming the internet to learn from the pros. I somehow stumbled across your fantastic site and thank you for sharing this valuable info. I will definitely be coming back here on a regular basis.
I love all of your tips on your site. Thanks for sharing. I have integrated many of them in to my site and things have really taken off. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Nick! I'm so glad the site has helped you. Which tip do you think has brought you the most success?
- Bethany
I just came across your (this) page and so glad I did.
I have absolutely nothing to do with photography, but just wanted to let you know what great information this is for any industry. I will definitely be applying this method in the future.
Thanks
Thanks Susie! As a photographer, I tend to write articles that are geared toward other photographers but you are right! This info is relevant to just about any industry. Glad to help!
So glad I named my photography business after my name! Love this article, it makes sense and helps me out a lot!
Glad to help, Cecilia!
Hi Bethany, Some great advice here, it's good to find marketing advice aimed specifically at photographers.
Thanks again.
Shay Curran
Thanks Shay!
Great information :)
really enjoy reading this article !
So true Bethany, I loved your post and enjoy reading all of them! Thank you!!
thank you so much for sharing! i normally use my flickr name (*rowe*) for commenting which is probably not such a good idea... i will start using my name from now on!
Glad to help!
I've been thinking of starting a photog. business but I always get hung up on the name so this is great to hear. i think i will just use my name now. (i think deep down i was always going to anyway but this is the push I needed) thanks for the inspiration.
jill
Jill, that is great to hear! Naming your business can definitely be one of the hardest first steps. Its nice to be in an industry where naming after yourself is actually a very smart move, isn't it?
Wow, never thought of that!
I like to comment because of course who doesn't love getting a comment, but I never knew it was actually helping me :)
Thanks, awesome info!!!
Yep! Now you can feel even better about it! ; )
Great idea, will keep checking out your great tips, thanks
Awesome!
Thanks! This blog post rocked my world! Keep sharing, you're so dang smart!
Thanks April! I really appreciate that!
Great tip! And the bonus is that it's good for your karma as well :-)
Thanks Nicola! You are exactly right. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thanks for your comment!
You are so right! This was one thing I learned from the start. I wanted to named my photo business some cute, witty name, but my husband suggested that I just call it by my name. Now, wherever I go in my local area, people recognize my name.
Thanks Wendy! For many businesses it is important to use a name that identifies their product, but when you are selling using your own reputation it is definitely important that people recognize you by name. It is also easier to change photographic specialties later on down the road if you wanted to. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Awesome insight Bethany. Thanks for this newsletter you have created. I enjoy your creative ideas and suggestions. Being new to the photography business world, it is nice to know that there are people out there like yourself that are willing to give advice. I ,for one ,thank you. I enjoy your reading the newsletter.
Angela
Thanks Angela! I really enjoy sharing this info with you guys and knowing that it will help people move forward with their businesses. There are only so many business insights my husband can stand to listen to so I have to get it out somewhere! ; ) Thanks for reading!
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