Being a photographer comes with a need to showcase your talent. You want to share your gift for the world to see. One of the ways photographers do that is by use of social media. Posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for your network to see your art.
However, if you want to reach a wider audience, you have to go beyond social media. Starting a blog is the best way to go. Why? It enables you to establish yourself as a proficient photographer. In addition, it enables you to network with other people of common interest online. The result is that through sharing, you learn from other photographers within and without your niche.
So you have probably come this far- deciding that you finally want to start a photo blog. Where do you start? Below are seven tips to help you get started on your photography blog.
How to Start Your Own Photography Blog
- Define your why
Most photographers make the mistake of starting a blog without defining reason behind it. Few months down the line, one loses focus. Know your interest. Why do you want to start the blog?
Is it to generate sales? To give yourself a name? perhaps for community work or to inspire people? Defining your why will help you decide on content, as well as strategy to accomplish your main goal. This also helps you to keep track of your blog and regularly review to see if your why is being accomplished.
- Choose Your Niche
Now that you are past the first stage, chose your niche. Photography has many branches. To be successful in your blog, narrow down to a specific niche in order to attract a wider audience. Focus on a niche, say wildlife or sports or nature-whichever you chose, narrow it down.
However, choosing a niche requires critical thinking.
Does this niche excite you? Do you have sufficient knowledge and skills in the niche? Truth is, you cannot expect people to treat you as an authority in the niche if you have no knowledge in it in the first place. Choose your area of expertise. If you can find what makes you special over your competitors, then choose it.
- Work Your Site
You have made it this far. It is now time to work on your blog site. WordPress.com and wordpress.org are recommended sites. WordPress.com is totally free, while wordpress.org is a paid site. The rule of thumb when choosing a site is-if you can afford it, then pay it, to give you more freedom over your content.
Choose a hosting company, such as Bluehost that works for you. Bluehost is better as it comes with a free domain name. When choosing a domain name, choose one that is catchy and reflects on your niche.
- Be Smart With Uploading Pictures
Setting up your blog is the beginning of your success. Uploading your photos is the next big step. However, what distinguishes an expert from an armature is in the how.
Refrain from uploading your originals to your blog. This will save you from losing them in case of internet malfunction. Always use a saved copy.
In addition, save the original file before editing. Uploading pictures in JPEG format is best for reviewing photos in the web.
- Promote Your Art
No one is going to visit your blog unless they know it exists. Increase your visibility through commenting on other photo blogs like your own. Keep the comments light, relevant. Getting noticed starts small then big. In addition, you can try and get listed in directories such as photoblos.org to enhance visibility.
You can even create social media pages where you can post updates whenever you add new content to your blog.
- The Rule of Consistency.
It is advisable that you post 5-10 photos on your first blog post. After that, post regularly. Keep updating your blog frequently. Whereas consistency depends on time, posting once per year for example, will make your blog vague.
The main reason you want to post frequently is to enable your audience to keep up with you. No one wants to see photos, love them then have to wait for a year for the next post. They lose touch. If you want to maintain and grow your audience, consistency is the rule.
- Audience engagement
Interacting with your audience creates loyalty. Give basic contact information on your blog to enable audience to reach to you. You can even offer a commentary sector. Adding sign up for email subscription is even better.
Why? Whenever you update your blog, your audience will be notified. Engaging with audience will help you grow as you get positive criticism. It will also help you build loyalty to them and vice versa.
This simple tips will propel you to starting your blog, as well as maintain it.
George Minton
Hi, I'm George. I have been a camera enthusiast from 2008. Cameraseals is my personal blog where I share most of my interests and experiences from using cameras. You will find helpful topics even if you're a beginner or long-time user.
