ranking my local business help

I don't have time to point out specific issues but you're on-page needs overhauled.

• Google cache

No, I'm saying make the number big and put it where people can see it.

No, people don't buy your photography services because your work, they buy because they trust and like you and your work. And you can make them trust and like you with words.

I promise you your fingers will not fall off if you introduce each photo, video.

This is a photo I took at a wedding in x neighborhood of Portland. Notice xyz about it... The couple loved it because of that.

Ditto for having a headline that says something like:

Wedding Photographer in Portland, Or.
a subtitle that starts with:

Portland Wedding Photographer's Photos

Google onpage optimization and read a few of the articles that pop up. (Here's what I got doing that: https://www.google.com/search?q=onpa...utf-8&oe=utf-8).

Why would anybody hire you to take photos of their wedding?

I mean it's not like it's rocket science or anything complicated... Like SEO in a tough market.

They can just take their own wedding pictures, or even have a family member take them. Heck they can even get a free obama phone with a camera. They don't nead a real one, gosh they cost money.

Would you like your money back?

"Just cause people have cars doesn't make someone a race car driver just like with photography."

So what do you mean? That if I want to win a race I should pay a professional driver to win it for me? Actually that's very good advice.

"Plus do you really want your friend to be busy taking photos all day that he doesn't even feel like part of the wedding. Photography is just as complicated as seo."

Do you really want people to give you good advice when they won't be profiting from your business's higher placements in the SERPS? Photography isn't even in the same league as SEO when it comes to the amount of knowledge and work it takes to be successful.

"You obviously have no clue."

That's not going to keep me from sharing a few with you though

Clue #1) Why don't you look around for a PAID SEO course put together by a professional. You can learn all you need to know. Free advice on forums is worth exactly what you pay for it.

Clue #2) Then BUY a real hosting account for you website? Site speed is a ranking factor.

Clue #3) Then PAY A PROFESSIONAL to build you a real site for your photography business. If a real pro builds it, you can rank high with the small extras that they will incorporate into it.

BTW, your profile picture. Horrible lighting . just saying"

Yeah I know. I went to a photography forum and got free advice on what to do for my picture there.

And here is your last clue......

Clue #4) This link right here http://www.openlensportland.com actually goes to your website... Unlike the one in your signature that's mispelled.

LOL

You're welcome!

Blaine has a point, which you're missing.

Let's assume people can find your site. Why would they hire you over another photographer? Why would they hire a photographer at all? Why not use cousin Mike's teenage boy who's got an expensive camera for his birthday last year?

Your site needs to answer such questions.

You're not a photographer right now, you're a marketer. Stop thinking like an artist and think like a marketer.

PS You're not selling your photography to artist, you're selling them to old, fat dudes who want to know how many photos and how many prints of each photo they get for the money they pay you.

Who want you to make their butt-ugly daughter look beautiful on her great day.

Who want you to make their pretty daughter look like she's not marrying the dumbass she's marrying, etc., etc.

What's the conversation going on in the minds of whoever hires you?

Who hires you, by the way, usually? The bride? The groom? The bride's mother? The groom's? The bride's father? The grooms?

They have different conversations going on in their heads, and you have to get in there and make that stop so they can think about buying your services.

PPS You have not positioned yourself differently than any other schmuck with a camera. Change that.

Put up a horrible photo. Something that has all of the attributes of a photo taken by 90 year old Uncle Joe. Add the following description:

"If you are a bride to be and planning your own wedding, just keep in mind that there are no do over's for taking photos of your big day. We guarantee they are done correctly."

That's just off the cuff -- really you need a good copywriter that has experience in the niche and knows what converts.

The standard is not: sounds like an infomarcial. The standard is: do they hire you often enough?

Do you have happy clients? Ask them why they chose you. Ask them what they expected and why they're happy?

You have unhappy clients? Ask them what they expected and why they're unhappy.

Write copy based on that.

Use ugly photo vs beautiful photo, like James suggested.

You could do it without text, but it's harder.

You can rank from incoming links only. Get to work and have wedding planners and churches and caterers link to your site. Some must use the words City + wedding photographer, at least 'wedding photographer' as anchor text.

But it's harder.

You can convince people only with your images only. But you'll convince more if there are attempts at persuasion with words.

Also, just because the other photographers do it, doesn't mean you have to.

Didn't your grandma tell you something along the lines of
If Mikey jumps of a bridge, are you going to jump too?

And did you not say, No to that?

Plus, do you know for a fact that their sites are getting them a lot of business? Maybe the business they get is despite their sites.