livebooks blog

No matter how long you’ve worked in the wedding industry, having a strong presence online and ranking highly in search engines is now a top requirement in order to be successful.

In fact, around 83% of wedding planning in 2017 was done online — according to WeddingWire’s 2018 Newlywed Report, which collected information from nearly 18,000 newlyweds last year alone.

This means that if your wedding photography, catering, floral design, rentals, or other wedding vendor company isn’t playing the digital marketing game, you’re missing out . . . and big time.

If getting to the top page or two on Google is one of your biggest challenges, here are a few tips to help you improve your ranking starting today.

Register as Business

Chances are you’re already registered on websites like WeddingWire, but in order to really boost your SEO, you should also register as a business through a handful of others:

• Google My Business
• Yelp
• Bing Places
• Yahoo Small Business

Doing so will show search engines that you are local and/or service specific locations, and will also increase your ranking by having these trustworthy and highly used organizations link back to your own website (further driving more traffic over time).

Also, if there are other organizations, such as the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) or The American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP), be sure to sign up to be listed on their directories as well.

Build Your Blog

By far one of the most surefire ways of increasing your ranking is by generating more content online. Writing and publishing quality content on your website’s blog that potential couples will want to read does wonders for your SEO.

Not only does it tell Google that you are a leader and expert in this industry or field, but it also gives more information (think: keywords!) for the algorithm to scan through and rank you for.

Get Featured

Have dozens of weddings under your belt that you know other couples would love to see for inspiration? Submit them to publications!

If you’re the photographer, this is likely already something you’re used to. If you are a different wedding vendor, reach out to the photographer to discuss publications you think certain weddings may be a great fit for!

When other wedding inspiration websites feature your work, they provide a link back to your website to give you credit — which in turn boosts your credibility in Google’s eyes.

Start Pinning

Google isn’t the only search engine powerhouse these days! Although many users out there see Pinterest as yet another “social network”, it’s actually a search engine.

With over 175 million active monthly users and 93% of active pinners using Pinterest to plan for purchases, there is an abundance of potential customers to reach on the platform. And when you confirm (or “claim”) your website through the Pinterest app as a business, your pins can more easily link back to your website and boost your overall SEO on Google.

Start Designing Your Website Today!

liveBooks offers mobile-responsive, customizable website templates for creative professionals and businesses worldwide.

The best part? Our website designs are ready for search engines and look great on any mobile device!

We’ve also got a top-notch support team who’s here to help you every step of the way. Start for free here.

Search engine optimization (also known as SEO) is a long-term process that can help your website show up higher on search results. Ranking on the first page of Google never happens overnight, but it’s better to start trying sooner rather than later.

If you are just starting out and not sure which steps to take to begin optimizing your website, here are some simple steps you can take to begin the process:

Generate More Content

Having several pages that describe your services, products and company history is great. But in order to rank highly, you’ll need to start publishing more content on a regular basis.

Building an online blog is one of the easiest ways to boost your SEO. Why? Because it tells search engines like Google that you are actively engaging in the online conversation surrounding your industry. Blogging also provides additional content, keywords, images and more for search engine’s to search through.

Companies that publish relevant, informative content online will rank higher on search engines. If you aren’t one of them, you will lose out to those that do.

If you struggle with creating content on a regular basis, consider setting aside one day a month to schedule content out in advance. Or hire a freelancer to help you!

Add More Keywords to Your Website

Although you never want to make it sound like a computer wrote your website, you may want to review the current web pages you have to ensure you’re including the right keywords to begin with.

While you read the content you already have up, keep your eyes peeled for keywords you know your potential audience may use on search engines to find you.

If you already have a large following and great brand awareness, make sure you have your company name listed in an appropriate amount of places. If you are a fairly unknown company, but have specific services or products others may search for, it’s vital that you begin listing out those services in detail.

One great way to see what phrases people commonly use surrounding your business or industry is to begin typing in keywords on Google. As you type, you’ll see related phrases and common search queries come up underneath the search bar. You’ll also find an area of “related” search terms at the bottom of your results list. Use these keywords and phrases (also known as long-tail keywords) in your website copy when it sounds appropriate.

Drive More Traffic

Whether you are regularly engaged on social media, or you’ve started a great email list of contacts who want to stay in-the-know about your company, find ways to drive free traffic to your website.

The more traffic you bring to your website, the more that search engines will see you as a relevant source of information. When that happens, your ranking starts to increase over time. It’s a great way to connect all of your marketing efforts and easily begin boosting your SEO — for free!

Improve Your Web Design

liveBooks offers stunning, customizable website templates for wedding industry professionals and creatives.

Impress your potential clients with a visually stunning website that is ready for search engines and looks great on any mobile device!

We’ve also got a top-notch support team who’s here to help you every step of the way. Start for free today!