(And what to fix if you’re not showing up yet)

So you’ve launched your website, chosen a Showit template you love, and updated your homepage headline three times… but your Google traffic? Still flat.

Here’s the truth: Google isn’t ghosting you—it just doesn’t understand you yet.

If you want to rank higher and get found by dream clients searching “wedding photographer near me,” you need to know what Google is actually looking at behind the scenes.

Let’s break it down in plain English—no tech degree required.

---

1. Your Site Structure (a.k.a. How Everything Is Organized)

Google crawls your site like a map—and if your pages and menus aren’t clearly connected, it’s like handing someone directions written in crayon.

What Google wants:

• A clean site hierarchy (Home → About → Services → Blog → Contact)
• Internal links that connect related content (like this blog post)
• A mobile-friendly design that’s easy to navigate

Not sure if your internal links are helping or hurting? We wrote about the magic of internal linking here.

---

2. Your Keywords (and Where You Put Them)

Google doesn’t “see” your photos—it reads your text.

That means your homepage, blog posts, and service pages need to include specific, intentional keywords based on what people are actually searching.

What Google wants:

• Keywords like “Charleston wedding photographer” in your H1 headlines
• Keyword-rich page titles and meta descriptions
• Alt text on every image (not just “IMG_0923”)
• Blog posts optimized for longtail phrases (ex: “film wedding photographer Savannah”)

Need help with keyword strategy? This guide for beginners breaks it all down.

---

3. Your Content (Yes, Google Reads Your Blog)

Fresh, relevant content is one of Google’s love languages. If your site hasn’t been updated in months—or if you’re not blogging regularly—you’re missing a major opportunity to show up in search.

What Google wants:

• Blog posts that answer common questions or showcase locations
• Internal links to other blog posts + service pages
• Posts that are at least 500–1,000 words with clear formatting
• Consistent publishing (monthly is great, weekly is better)

This post breaks down why blogging still matters—even in the age of TikTok.

---

4. Your Site Speed (Especially on Mobile)

If your site takes forever to load, Google takes note—and ranks you lower.

What Google wants:

• Optimized image sizes (less than 500KB per image)
• A fast mobile experience
• No pop-ups that block the screen on mobile
• Limited use of scripts that slow your site down

If you’re a photographer uploading 8MB image files, try tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel. And yes—those small tweaks can seriously improve your rankings.

---

5. Your Authority + Trust Signals

Google doesn’t just want to know what you do—it wants to know if it can trust you.

What Google wants:

• Clear contact info and About page
• Social proof (testimonials, press features, client reviews)
• Links from other websites (called “backlinks”)
• A sitemap submitted through Google Search Console

Think of it like a referral network: the more signs you’re a real, active business, the more Google is willing to vouch for you.

You can learn more about setting up Google Search Console and tracking your rankings in this post.

---

Final Thoughts: SEO Isn’t Magic—It’s a System

There’s no single “trick” that makes Google fall in love with your website. It’s a combination of strategy, clarity, and consistency.

But once your site is aligned with what Google actually wants? The bookings start coming in—without posting every day or chasing trends.

So whether you’re just getting started or you’re ready to outsource, we’re here to help you get found by the clients you actually want.

Explore our SEO services here and let’s make Google your best assistant yet.