Hi Lloyd, you have a really beautiful site. I'm a webmaster for several sites that rank #1 for their keywords on Google. I have noticed recently that any change in page title or any behind the page changes (html) can throw off the ranking for a week. Page content changes are fine, but change a page title or meta description and a site is thrown back into the bin for re-ranking. From what I have seen you should never change a page title or behind the page item without also changing text on the visible portion of the page -- it can be viewed as nothing more than an SEO manipulation attempt and gets punished. Google does provide some credit for longevity but if you change a non-visible part of the page without a change in content, you're in harms way if you are well ranked.
One of the challenges with a photography site is designing it to both present well and rank well on search engines. Qtaran111’s comments are right on and are a good summary of how you should go about SEO for Google.
It is hard work and it is very text and content intensive to get a high ranking. The more competitive your keywords, the more work you’ll have to do. I don’t know if you do your own web site work, but if you do it is one of the least expensive marketing efforts you will undertake and it will grow in value as people increasingly rely on the web for searching local services.
A couple of suggestions: I assume that your primary focus is marketing your services in Edmonton and that your primary service is wedding photography. A couple of quick suggestions:
1. The title of your page (that appears in the blue bar on top):
It currently reads: Welcome to Night and Day Photography - Edmonton / Destination Wedding Photographer
Suggested change: Edmonton Photography | Wedding Photography in Edmonton and Calgary
(also do not hesitate to add additional services or related words to the title ie. wedding reception photography or other variations of wedding photography that someone might search) It is ok if all of the words do not appear when someone views your site. Note that whatever words you use in your title should also be used in the text of your website and in particular the page for which the title is used..
Why make this change? Google gives higher priority to words in the title from left to right. If someone is searching for 'night and day in Edmonton' you rank in position 3 and 4 with your current title, but only your friends and Cole Porter fans will search those terms. Use the terms that people search for that match your services
2.Page Banner (which states the name of your business)
Your page banner currently states the name of your business with a very small subheadline (premium wedding services) Consider a subheadline that is only a few font types smaller than your business name that includes Edmonton and Calgary (and whatever else you would like).
Why: the banner area of the page is prime space and the size of type can be larger than in the rest of the page while still appearing attractive. The size type you use for keywords as well as their location will help your with rankings. People are searching for geography and a specific service – match the keywords to their search terms
3. Text and keywords.
A quick look at your home page text seems to indicate you get the importance of using keywords and are trying to make it work for you. I realize it seems a bit crazy that it is the pictures on your site that will make the sale, but it is the words on your site that will get a search engine ranking for prospective clients to see your pictures. But that's just the way it is. You can use text on the bottom portion of the page, or between pictures and it shouldn't hurt your rankings and will still keep your photos front and center. Also, note that Google looks for "alt text," a description of each picture or graphic for those who are visiting a site but cannot see the image. Use your keyword in these but dont be 'abusive' in repeating the same terms for different pictures. Describe the picture and use the keywords.
4. Depth in your site
Google will search your site and count the instance of words. It is a major contributor to how your site is ranked. They will measure how closely certain words are spaced. For example, if you type "wedding photography" 300 times in a row, you'll be busted as a spam site. Be creative in how you use keywords and in how you can create depth in the site: create multiple pages that cover many different aspects of shooting a wedding and the type of shots that you take. Use text to describe the pictures and use keywords. Spread out the keywords but do it in a way that makes sense to a visitor and is interesting. Depth, the number of pages on a site will help with your ranking (and you don't have to link to all the pages from your home page).
5. Upflow
The text and keywords that you use in the many pages you create will accrue to your homepage ranking. Your site doesn't have to look like a list of keywords to rank well. Use the depth of your site and creativity to accumulate keywords. The result will be a highly ranked home page that looks great.
I hope this helps and isn't so long that it gets cut off.
Best,
Tim
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