How To Use Your Blog To Grow Your Photography Business

This post is part of the series, The Ultimate Guide To Being A Wedding Photographer — advice for running a successful wedding photography biz. Click here to view a list of all the posts in this series.

In yesterday’s post I explained why blogging is so important for your photography business (or any creative biz!). Used properly it can be one of the most effective marketing tools for a creative entrepreneur.

So, today, I’m following up with my tips for blogging to successfully market your business!

Create Value For Your Ideal Client

The most common complaint I hear from photographers, when it comes to blogging, is that they “don’t have anything to blog.”

And the most common blogging mistake I see from photographers, is ONLY blogging their work (sessions, weddings, etc.).

The thing is, if you know your Ideal Client (<< go ahead and check out that post — I’ll tell you exactly how to figure out your Ideal Client!), and I mean reallllllly know your Ideal Client, you will always have something to blog!

Because you will know who they are and how to provide them value.

If you’re only posting your work (sessions, weddings, etc.), you won’t gain a loyal following… no matter how beautiful it is. Because clients don’t really care about your work. But they do care about how you can add value to their life.

So, back to your Ideal Client — let’s say she’s a bride. Now, I know you’ve already filled out this free Ideal Client Avatar worksheet I made for you… so, not only do you know she’s a bride, but you know really specific details about her. Like where she lives, her style, her age, her values, where she shops, etc. And you also know she’s getting married.

Bam.

There are so many ways you can add value to this woman’s life! She’s getting married — and you are a wedding expert.

Tell her what she wants to know! Write blog posts directly to her, answering the kinds of questions she’s desperately hoping to find answers for. You’re adding value, establishing yourself as an expert, and developing “know, like & trust” with her… so when she is ready to book, you’re the obvious choice!

Wondering if this works? Well, chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re MY Ideal Client.

I’m a visual branding designer and brand strategy expert for photographers and creative female entrepreneurs. I design logos, branding, websites and provide brand strategy mentorship for my ideal client.

Yes, I do post my work (new brand collections and new website designs)… but if that were ALL I posted, I’d probably lose your attention pretty quickly. And you probably wouldn’t return.

Instead, I mostly post valuable and in-depth branding, marketing and business education specifically for my Ideal Client. I give away a ton of free education.

It’s not easy, it’s actually really time consuming. BUT it’s worth it — because the next time you are looking for more tips for your biz and brand, you’ll probably come back here. And you might do it often.

Then, when you’re ready for a rebrand or a new custom website — chances are, you’ll think of me first (and I hope you do! In fact, fill out my contact form if you’d like more info!).

See how this is better than just posting portfolio pieces? Think of how you can add value with your blog, for your own Ideal Client.

Be Consistent

Another big blogging mistake that I see photographers make, is being super inconsistent.

If you want a successful business and brand, you have to show up for your audience. And you have to do it consistently.

If not, you’ll appear to be flaky and not trustworthy.

But if you are consistent, you can grow a loyal following around your blog and your brand!

One of the best things I’ve done to help with my own blog consistency, is to create a content calendar (also known as an editorial calendar).

Once a month, I sit down with my printed content calendar and a pencil, and write down every blog post I’ll create for the next month.

To really make an impact with your blog, you need to show up (post) at least once a week. If you can do more, great!

Pick one day of the week that will be your “blog post day” (for example, every Wednesday) and pick a time. I like my posts to publish in the morning, at 7am.

After I’ve figured out what I’m going to blog for the month, I sit down and write out every blog post at once. Then I create the graphics to go with them. I schedule the posts — and they publish automatically on my “blog day” at the right time.

Consistency!

Not gonna lie, when I decided to create this series (The Ultimate Guide To Being A Wedding Photographer) and post every. single. day. for a whole month… I really gave myself quite a challenge! But I’ve shown up for my readers with a new blog post, everyday… and I’ve started to get a really great response — I’ve had a bunch of people reach out to me personally to thank me for the series!

They genuinely appreciate the value I’m giving them, and that I’m doing it consistently.

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So, there you have it — my advice for blogging successfully for your photography business.

And if you STILL don’t think you have anything to blog about… well, first go and fill out my Ideal Client Avatar worksheet. Then come back here tomorrow — I’ll be sharing a list of blog post ideas for you!