I think that folks underestimate the value of SmugMug and giving high search results, and that if you had your own META (not that I'm saying it's even possible), you'd have lower rankings
Andy,
Depends on what you are searching for, but that's not what I'm referring to here.
I'm referring to the actual results shown by Google. If you look at the screenshot I posted from Google, you will see that Google has listed www.primedigitalphotography.com as "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing..." and then lists the description of SmugMug, not the description of Prime Digital Photography.
Depends on what you are searching for, but that's not what I'm referring to here.
I'm referring to the actual results shown by Google. If you look at the screenshot I posted from Google, you will see that Google has listed www.primedigitalphotography.com as "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing..." and then lists the description of SmugMug, not the description of Prime Digital Photography.
I am also interested in knowing how to have my website name appear in the title line of the search engine results listing. As BeachBill notes, the results listings shows, "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing...." As a pro level subscriber I should be able to market my website name...not SmugMug's.
Andy - I see that you are able to include your website name in google results.
Perhaps you could share with us how you were able to accomplish this. Also, how can I include a description of my website in the search results list rather than promoting SmugMug?
I am also interested in knowing how to have my website name appear in the title line of the search engine results listing. As BeachBill notes, the results listings shows, "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing...." As a pro level subscriber I should be able to market my website name...not SmugMug's.
Andy - I see that you are able to include your website name in google results.
Perhaps you could share with us how you were able to accomplish this. Also, how can I include a description of my website in the search results list rather than promoting SmugMug?
Thanks for the help.
The title is in the "title tag" and the description is in the "description tag"
The title is in the "title tag" and the description is in the "description tag"
go figure...
Those are the ones you need to change
The title/description you are referring to are for individual galleries.
For the home page, you can set the title that Google displays in search results via the Control Panel / Customization Settings / Page Title but you cannot change the description. The description is hardcoded to:
"The ultimate in photo sharing. Easily create online photo albums. Share, store, organize and print."
An experiment i just tried a moment ago. I googled 'comet mcnaught photo brisbane' as i had put those key words in against one photo last night. Up it came on google instantly here.
So i had another photo of the comet thus i went back & copied those key words from the first to the second photo i had & hit refresh on google & 'wham' my second shot was there instantly.
I have a very herd time believing what you just said. It goes against everything I know about Google. I don't know you at all, so I'm assuming that you are telling the truth.
Even though it is a rather obscure search, I have NEVER seen Google pick up a listing that fast. Usually it takes days or weeks or even months, never seconds. You either got REALLY lucky, or there is some other bizarre explanation. I’d be curious to learn more.
Having said all that… There is a big difference between having a relatively non-competitive phrase like “comet mcnaught photo Brisbane” and rate well and having a more competitive phrase like “(your city)(what you do)”. Unless your page has a good “title tag”, you will never rank very highly. You guys need to work on getting that to happen.
I have a very herd time believing what you just said. It goes against everything I know about Google. I don't know you at all, so I'm assuming that you are telling the truth.
I have a lot better things to do than to bullshit. That photo appeared withing ..a guess ...5 seconds. take it or leave it, i saw it happen.
I know this will come as a surprise to you ..but my day wont change a whole lot if you think im making it up or not. You appear to want to say im lying yet then hedging your bets that i may not be.
Anyone can try this exercise...it isnt rocket science as some talk on & on & on about whining like a jet engine.
I have spent almos a year trying to get my site recognized by the search engines. I am have a lot of trouble. If you do a search for Dean malaxos you will find me. However, if you do a search for Lakeland Florida wedding Photographer, you will never find me in a million years. What am I doing wrong, what did you do...Dean
I've spent the day after Christmas reading everything I could on dgrin about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I also have started doing many of the fixes that have been suggested.
I think the most important thing I did was revive my photography blog and cross link it back here to SmugMug. I'm not looking for more techniques, although I will certainly listen to them and try most of them. I am going to sit back, look at Google Analytics for the next month and see if things get better. I'm betting they do.
I think the most important thing I did was revive my photography blog and cross link it back here to SmugMug. I'm not looking for more techniques, although I will certainly listen to them and try most of them.
The few photos that you currently have in your blog are linked to bloggers photo store, not to your smugmug account. I'd recommend using your own <a href= and <img src= statements when you embed photos in your blog; don't use blogger's image button.
The sidebar image titled IMAGES ON SMUGMUG - clicking on the photo opens the smugmug gallery in Firefox, but it doesn't work in IE8. Also - I recommend not opening a separate browser window for that click. Since you have an entry in your smug navbar to jump to your blog there is no reason to open a separate window/browser tab. Once sites start doing that I generally close them and don't go back - the control over the number of windows opened should be up to the viewer.
The few photos that you currently have in your blog are linked to bloggers photo store, not to your smugmug account. I'd recommend using your own <a href= and <img src= statements when you embed photos in your blog; don't use blogger's image button.
--- Denise
Thanks Denise. I saw some of those threads earlier, but didn't quite understand them. I will now go back and use your suggestions. Let's see if I can get it right.
The few photos that you currently have in your blog are linked to bloggers photo store, not to your smugmug account. I'd recommend using your own <a href= and <img src= statements when you embed photos in your blog; don't use blogger's image button.
The sidebar image titled IMAGES ON SMUGMUG - clicking on the photo opens the smugmug gallery in Firefox, but it doesn't work in IE8. Also - I recommend not opening a separate browser window for that click. Since you have an entry in your smug navbar to jump to your blog there is no reason to open a separate window/browser tab. Once sites start doing that I generally close them and don't go back - the control over the number of windows opened should be up to the viewer.
--- Denise
Thanks again Denise. I changed the two pictures to your suggestion. I didn't use the custom sizes, but it seems to work out OK. I placed a disclaimer on the SmugMug badge (right corner). Not exactly what you suggested, but I really want the rotating badge in that position. Maybe the readers won't click on it.
The other pictures on the page are special clips used for illustrating my subject.
On the suggestion to match the two, I'm not that comfortable with HTML to take that on just yet.
Overall, what did you think about the blog? Is it something that you would look at for some tips? I have some mini-tutorials and product reviews scheduled to post over the next two weeks.
I've spent the day after Christmas reading everything I could on dgrin about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I also have started doing many of the fixes that have been suggested.
I think the most important thing I did was revive my photography blog and cross link it back here to SmugMug. I'm not looking for more techniques, although I will certainly listen to them and try most of them. I am going to sit back, look at Google Analytics for the next month and see if things get better. I'm betting they do.
Yes, I know the URL's are too long, but now I've got everything attached to them.
If you want to be found in search engines, the title tag 'Randy Jackson Images' needs improvement. When was the last time somebody searched for your name to find one of your nature photos?
I've spent the day after Christmas reading everything I could on dgrin about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I also have started doing many of the fixes that have been suggested.
Keyword and Seo Setup
I have added keywords to all of my galleries and still am not showing up in Google. I have followed all the tutorials. What am I missing?
Make sure you use keywords in your photos as well. I use the same ones for each photo as well as what I put in the galleries. The more photos you have with those keywords, the larger the relevance to google and other search engines.
I have added keywords to all of my galleries and still am not showing up in Google. I have followed all the tutorials. What am I missing?
Did you add keywords to your photos or to your galleries? Or both?
When I look at your photo keywords at http://www.onemomentoneshot.com/keyword/, I really don't see anything that is going to be of much help to you. I doubt that anyone is going to search using words like "photographerssavannah" or "photographersatlanta". Maybe someone will look for something like wedding photographer in atlanta - but that isn't going to match anything on your site.
Did you add keywords to your photos or to your galleries? Or both?
When I look at your photo keywords at http://www.onemomentoneshot.com/keyword/, I really don't see anything that is going to be of much help to you. I doubt that anyone is going to search using words like "photographerssavannah" or "photographersatlanta". Maybe someone will look for something like wedding photographer in atlanta - but that isn't going to match anything on your site.
--- Denise
Exactly. You have to list the phrases as spelled or all you are doing is handling folks that can't find the space bar when typing. Think of how you search for the things you find on the net. Same with finding your site, you have to build those word lists as those words and phrases are the basic blocks to your front door.
Not sure what all you shoot but, wedding, weddings, savannah, photos, photo, photgraphy, atlanta, pics will do you much better than weddingsavannah, weddingssavannah, photographyatlanta etc..
It just doesn't work that way.
..but to answer your original question, "Has anyone been able to get a good rating in the search engines?" Yes.. absolutely. According to statcounter many of the searches used to find my pics, I am rated #1 - 5.
Did you add keywords to your photos or to your galleries? Or both?
When I look at your photo keywords at http://www.onemomentoneshot.com/keyword/, I really don't see anything that is going to be of much help to you. I doubt that anyone is going to search using words like "photographerssavannah" or "photographersatlanta". Maybe someone will look for something like wedding photographer in atlanta - but that isn't going to match anything on your site.
Exactly. You have to list the phrases as spelled or all you are doing is handling folks that can't find the space bar when typing. Think of how you search for the things you find on the net. Same with finding your site, you have to build those word lists as those words and phrases are the basic blocks to your front door.
Not sure what all you shoot but, wedding, weddings, savannah, photos, photo, photgraphy, atlanta, pics will do you much better than weddingsavannah, weddingssavannah, photographyatlanta etc..
It just doesn't work that way.
..but to answer your original question, "Has anyone been able to get a good rating in the search engines?" Yes.. absolutely. According to statcounter many of the searches used to find my pics, I am rated #1 - 5.
First, I have a gallery ('new' journal style - my blog) which presently contains nearly 1,300 images. There are a handful of gallery keywords for generic terms such as "blog', 'diary', 'journal', etc. However all individual images are heavily keyworded.
So I am very confused that high proportion of my blog visitors who have arrived as the result of Google searches matching individual image keywords are not directed to the relevant image, but are delivered to the front of the gallery. There they see 10 images of which, generally, none are the image of interest, and they go away - probably highly confused!
Another frequent frustration I have is that a visitor may have arrived at my site as the result of a Google search for, say, "Tom Brown". However s/he is presented with a keyword search result page for, say, "Harry Black", with Tom Brown being included in only one or two of the images - even though "Tom Brown" is an image keyword on my site and there are many more images on my site with that keyword!
What's going on, and what can I do about these annoying idiosyncrasies, if anything? Or is this problem in some way related to either the way SmugMug might be feeding or providing keyword data for Google, or part of the mystery of Google's methods and algorithms?
I'm not talking about SEO ranking, but about the accuracy at SmugMug of Google search results.
Comments
Andy,
Depends on what you are searching for, but that's not what I'm referring to here.
I'm referring to the actual results shown by Google. If you look at the screenshot I posted from Google, you will see that Google has listed www.primedigitalphotography.com as "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing..." and then lists the description of SmugMug, not the description of Prime Digital Photography.
The problem is that www.primedigitalphotography.com is not SmugMug, it's Prime Digital Photography.
I am also interested in knowing how to have my website name appear in the title line of the search engine results listing. As BeachBill notes, the results listings shows, "SmugMug - The ultimate in photo sharing...." As a pro level subscriber I should be able to market my website name...not SmugMug's.
Andy - I see that you are able to include your website name in google results.
Moon River Photography -- Andy Williams - powered by smugmug[SIZE=-1]The ultimate in photo sharing. Easily create online photo albums. Share, store, organize and print.
williams.smugmug.com/ - 28k - Cached - Similar pages[/SIZE]
Perhaps you could share with us how you were able to accomplish this. Also, how can I include a description of my website in the search results list rather than promoting SmugMug?
Thanks for the help.
The title is in the "title tag" and the description is in the "description tag"
go figure...
Those are the ones you need to change
Food Photography How-to site
http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog
Self-Proclaimed Photography SEO Guru
http://www.foodportfolio.com/seo
Commercial Photography How-to site
http://www.professionalphotography101.com
For the home page, you can set the title that Google displays in search results via the Control Panel / Customization Settings / Page Title but you cannot change the description. The description is hardcoded to:
"The ultimate in photo sharing. Easily create online photo albums. Share, store, organize and print."
Food Photography How-to site
http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog
Self-Proclaimed Photography SEO Guru
http://www.foodportfolio.com/seo
Commercial Photography How-to site
http://www.professionalphotography101.com
two days ago i was #5 in google. today i don't appear at all. why? www.kariemitchell.com
---
Atlanta, GA
So i had another photo of the comet thus i went back & copied those key words from the first to the second photo i had & hit refresh on google & 'wham' my second shot was there instantly.
Pretty cool SmugMug ..thanks
I have a very herd time believing what you just said. It goes against everything I know about Google. I don't know you at all, so I'm assuming that you are telling the truth.
Even though it is a rather obscure search, I have NEVER seen Google pick up a listing that fast. Usually it takes days or weeks or even months, never seconds. You either got REALLY lucky, or there is some other bizarre explanation. I’d be curious to learn more.
Having said all that… There is a big difference between having a relatively non-competitive phrase like “comet mcnaught photo Brisbane” and rate well and having a more competitive phrase like “(your city)(what you do)”. Unless your page has a good “title tag”, you will never rank very highly. You guys need to work on getting that to happen.
Food Photography How-to site
http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog
Self-Proclaimed Photography SEO Guru
http://www.foodportfolio.com/seo
Commercial Photography How-to site
http://www.professionalphotography101.com
I have a lot better things to do than to bullshit. That photo appeared withing ..a guess ...5 seconds. take it or leave it, i saw it happen.
I know this will come as a surprise to you ..but my day wont change a whole lot if you think im making it up or not. You appear to want to say im lying yet then hedging your bets that i may not be.
Anyone can try this exercise...it isnt rocket science as some talk on & on & on about whining like a jet engine.
Do it again (when you get a chance) and see if it works like last time. Use some really weird keywords to see if that matters...
Thanks
MR
Food Photography How-to site
http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog
Self-Proclaimed Photography SEO Guru
http://www.foodportfolio.com/seo
Commercial Photography How-to site
http://www.professionalphotography101.com
I think the most important thing I did was revive my photography blog and cross link it back here to SmugMug. I'm not looking for more techniques, although I will certainly listen to them and try most of them. I am going to sit back, look at Google Analytics for the next month and see if things get better. I'm betting they do.
My blog is at: http://randyonphotography.blogspot.com
and my SmugMug site is www.randyjacksonimages.com
Yes, I know the URL's are too long, but now I've got everything attached to them.
SmugMug: www.randyjacksonimages.com
Email: randyjacksonimages@cox.net
Photography Blog: http://randyonphotography.com
The html you need for these can be seen in the post Adding photos to your blog.
If you'd like to match the look of your blog to your smugmug site, see HOW TO match your blog to your smug site (blogger-specific).
The sidebar image titled IMAGES ON SMUGMUG - clicking on the photo opens the smugmug gallery in Firefox, but it doesn't work in IE8. Also - I recommend not opening a separate browser window for that click. Since you have an entry in your smug navbar to jump to your blog there is no reason to open a separate window/browser tab. Once sites start doing that I generally close them and don't go back - the control over the number of windows opened should be up to the viewer.
--- Denise
Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
SmugMug: www.randyjacksonimages.com
Email: randyjacksonimages@cox.net
Photography Blog: http://randyonphotography.com
The other pictures on the page are special clips used for illustrating my subject.
On the suggestion to match the two, I'm not that comfortable with HTML to take that on just yet.
Overall, what did you think about the blog? Is it something that you would look at for some tips? I have some mini-tutorials and product reviews scheduled to post over the next two weeks.
SmugMug: www.randyjacksonimages.com
Email: randyjacksonimages@cox.net
Photography Blog: http://randyonphotography.com
If you want to be found in search engines, the title tag 'Randy Jackson Images' needs improvement. When was the last time somebody searched for your name to find one of your nature photos?
Images in the Backcountry
My SmugMug Customizations | Adding CSS to Your Site | SEO for the Photographer | Locate Your Page/Widget Number | SmugMug Help Desk
http://www.smugmug.com/help/search-engines
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
I have added keywords to all of my galleries and still am not showing up in Google. I have followed all the tutorials. What am I missing?
http://www.onemomentoneshot.com
1st Personal Page: http://www.rodneykgary.com
Our Magazine: http://www.lens2lifestyle.com
Make sure you use keywords in your photos as well. I use the same ones for each photo as well as what I put in the galleries. The more photos you have with those keywords, the larger the relevance to google and other search engines.
What words/phrases are you typing into Google to try to find you?
Images in the Backcountry
My SmugMug Customizations | Adding CSS to Your Site | SEO for the Photographer | Locate Your Page/Widget Number | SmugMug Help Desk
When I look at your photo keywords at http://www.onemomentoneshot.com/keyword/, I really don't see anything that is going to be of much help to you. I doubt that anyone is going to search using words like "photographerssavannah" or "photographersatlanta". Maybe someone will look for something like wedding photographer in atlanta - but that isn't going to match anything on your site.
--- Denise
Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
Exactly. You have to list the phrases as spelled or all you are doing is handling folks that can't find the space bar when typing. Think of how you search for the things you find on the net. Same with finding your site, you have to build those word lists as those words and phrases are the basic blocks to your front door.
Not sure what all you shoot but, wedding, weddings, savannah, photos, photo, photgraphy, atlanta, pics will do you much better than weddingsavannah, weddingssavannah, photographyatlanta etc..
It just doesn't work that way.
..but to answer your original question, "Has anyone been able to get a good rating in the search engines?" Yes.. absolutely. According to statcounter many of the searches used to find my pics, I am rated #1 - 5.
1st Personal Page: http://www.rodneykgary.com
Our Magazine: http://www.lens2lifestyle.com
Thanks
1st Personal Page: http://www.rodneykgary.com
Our Magazine: http://www.lens2lifestyle.com
MD Website
MD Store Site
Mark + Lindsay Facebook
I love animoto
First, I have a gallery ('new' journal style - my blog) which presently contains nearly 1,300 images. There are a handful of gallery keywords for generic terms such as "blog', 'diary', 'journal', etc. However all individual images are heavily keyworded.
So I am very confused that high proportion of my blog visitors who have arrived as the result of Google searches matching individual image keywords are not directed to the relevant image, but are delivered to the front of the gallery. There they see 10 images of which, generally, none are the image of interest, and they go away - probably highly confused!
Another frequent frustration I have is that a visitor may have arrived at my site as the result of a Google search for, say, "Tom Brown". However s/he is presented with a keyword search result page for, say, "Harry Black", with Tom Brown being included in only one or two of the images - even though "Tom Brown" is an image keyword on my site and there are many more images on my site with that keyword!
What's going on, and what can I do about these annoying idiosyncrasies, if anything? Or is this problem in some way related to either the way SmugMug might be feeding or providing keyword data for Google, or part of the mystery of Google's methods and algorithms?
I'm not talking about SEO ranking, but about the accuracy at SmugMug of Google search results.
http://www.nolaphotography.net
No, public stuff only.
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Thanks. I don't have to spend time keywording all of my private galleries.
http://www.nolaphotography.net
I am now ranked 2,212,973 in Alexa Ranking and 177,558 in the United States...
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/onemomentoneshot.com#
1st Personal Page: http://www.rodneykgary.com
Our Magazine: http://www.lens2lifestyle.com