Everything You Need to Know to Start Search Engine Optimizing Your Wedding Website  

Hey friends! Welcome to the blog – the best free resource for branding, design, and website SEO for wedding photographers, florists, planners, and beyond! 

My name is Kelly. I’m a brand and website designer exclusively for wedding vendors. I’m also a mom of two rambunctious boys, a huge fan of white wine, and an absolute SEO nerd. That’s good news for you – because it means I can optimize the heck out of your website and help you get found on Google! 

In fact, that’s what this whole blog is about! But before we jump into that, you’re probably wondering “What is SEO? And does it matter for wedding businesses?”

Oh, I am so glad you asked. Prepare for full geek mode. 

What is SEO & Does it Matter for My Wedding Business?

SEO (aka Search Engine Optimization)

Honestly, SEO is too big of a topic to cover in a single blog post, but I’ll give you the gist of it. 

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process and strategy to help a website rank higher on search engine result pages (SERPs). 

It includes keyword research, backlinks, alt-text, meta descriptions, and load speeds. 

Essentially, it’s a blanket term for the things that help you get found by your ideal client online. The whole goal is to increase your “natural” or “organic” traffic to your website (which means not paying for ads). 

Okay, so why does this matter for wedding businesses?

How SEO Impacts Your Wedding Business

Think about it. How far down the search results do you look when you Google something? Not very far, right? 

That is why SEO matters so much for wedding businesses like yours. 

When people search for wedding vendors, they don’t look past the first page of Google. This means that if your website doesn’t rank on the first page, your ideal client may never even know you exist. 

If you don’t want to pay for ads (and who does?) and you don’t want to spend all your free time promoting yourself on social media… SEO is your path forward. 

By utilizing SEO on your website, you’re allowing your website to rank higher and higher as time goes on. It’s a long-term strategy that brings long-term results. 

There’s a ton more that goes into it, but that’s the basic idea! And hopefully, that shows you why I am so dedicated to crafting search engine optimized websites for my clients. 

But SEO doesn’t end with design! There are so many things you can do to improve your websites SEO and continue driving traffic. 

5 Ways To Improve The SEO On Your Wedding Website

1. Do Your Keyword Research

I know, I know. I wish SEO was easy and common sense, but it’s just not. 

Just because a keyword fits what you do doesn’t mean it’s right for your business. Some keywords might describe your business perfectly – but they’re so common that it’s almost impossible to rank for. (By “rank,” I mean show up in search results when someone searches that term). 

For example, think of the term “wedding photographer.” You might be a wedding photographer – and you might be a darn good one! 

But every wedding photographer in the world is using that keyword. This means that you’re competing with millions of other wedding photographers to show up in that search. 

So I recommend getting really, really specific. 

If you’re a wedding photographer, where are you located? What kind of weddings do you shoot? Do you shoot in film, digital, or both? When you answer those questions, you’re left with a very specific keyword that will help you show up in the correct searches! 

2. Focus on On-Page SEO First

On-page SEO is the same thing as front-end SEO. Both terms refer to the stuff that appears on your actual website, like your website copy (the words on your website), headings, alt-text, and meta descriptions. 

Google actually reads your website to figure out which searches you belong in. So when you write your website with Google in mind, you’re helping yourself show up in the correct search results! 

IMPORTANT NOTE: While it is important to write with Google in mind, do not sacrifice your client! Your website exists to show potential clients who you are and what you do. You must communicate with them first! Showing up in search results is pointless if you don’t connect with your clients once they land on your page. 

3. Spread Your Keywords Out 

Pick a different keyword for each page of your website. This may seem counterintuitive, but if you use the same keyword on every page of your website, you’re “keyword cannibalizing.” This means that your pages are fighting against each other to rank for that keyword. 

Instead, pick a few closely related but different keywords for each page. This helps you show up in more searches! 

4. Be Consistent

Google cares more about consistency than posting tons of content. The most accessible type of content you can post on your website is blogs (like this one!) but you can also create downloadable documents and online courses. But for the sake of simplicity, I’m going to talk about blogs. 

Commit to writing at least one blog per month instead of dumping ten blogs out in a week and then never touching it again. By posting consistently, you’re showing Google that your website is active! 

There are tons of abandoned websites on the internet. By posting at least once a month, you’re showing Google that you’re alive and well, which means you won’t get lost in the website graveyard. 

It also means that when potential clients land on your website, they have content to read! Blogs show clients that you know what you’re talking about. You appear more knowledgeable and authoritative in your field, which helps people trust you. 

BONUS TIP: Once you post a blog, submit those posts in Google Search Console so they get found faster!

5. Request Reviews on Your Google Business Page 

Listen – as a wedding vendor, I know how important The Knot and The Wedding Wire are for your business. But ultimately, the goal should be to attract clients to your website without relying on an intermediary. 

By all means, keep your reviews on The Knot and Wedding Wire! But if you have a chance, try to collect as many reviews as you can directly on your Google Business Profile. 

The more reviews you have on your Google Business Profile, the more legitimate you appear. People who find you on Google are more likely to trust you. And – here’s the biggest reason – the more reviews you have, the easier it is to find you. 

Want to Learn More About Website SEO for Wedding Vendors? 

Like I said, SEO is too big of a topic to understand in just one blog post. But that’s why I have my entire SEO Website Service!

With this package, you receive my uber-in-depth keyword research, 6 search engine optimized website pages, Google Business Profile, analytics, and search console set up, and a whole SEO blogging strategy. 

In short, you get everything you need to create a long-lasting, search engine optimized website that rakes in leads. 

Honestly, I’m pretty stoked about it. I’ve seen this package literally change the game for my clients. They’ve gone from a trickle of inquiries from ill-fitting clients to connecting with their dream clients. It doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen. 

And it can happen for you! 

If you’re interested in learning more about SEO and how it can change your wedding business from the inside out, click here! I would love to chat with you and learn about your goals for your business. 

I am so ready to nerd out with you. 

XO, Kelly 

P.S. Are you thinking that this sounds too good to be true? Oh, you are in for a treat! Click here to view my previous client projects and read about their results.