Hey y’all! I’m so excited to be here on Kristi’s blog today 
Photo SEO is something I didn’t learn until fairly recently, but wish I had picked up when I first began blogging. I read about it, but didn’t really understand what it was all about and why it was important to me, so I didn’t take note and put it to good use. When it sank in, I had a V8 moment!
Oh yes, I take a lot of photos!
Google cannot “see” your photos – it only recognizes words. When someone does an image search, Google uses the words that you name your photos to find what the user is looking for. Unless someone is searching for “IMG_9417″ then they will not find your photo of a white chair. And you want them to find you so that you’ll get more hits, right?
Renaming the photo means that Google now knows that this is a photo of a white chair. If I use this image in a post, and someone searches for a “white chair” then my image will pop up in the search – meaning that I will get traffic to my blog – yay!
Now here’s the big trick – figuring out the absolute best thing to name your photos to get the most hits. There’s a nifty part of Google that will tell you which key words are most frequently searched – which is an important thing to know if you’re trying to be found.
You put in what you “think” you should call it, then look at the hits for corresponding searches. I did a phrase check for “White Dining Room Chairs.” But, results show that “White Dining Chairs” is searched 12,100 times a week, versus “White Dining Room Chairs” being searched 1,300. If I just tweak my wording, I’m much more likely to be found.
Using more than one photo of those chairs? Then name them differently. “White Dining Chairs” is a good start – but “Dining Room Chairs” is searched 74,000 time a month – much, much better than the original “White Dining Room Chairs” 1300, huh? Now we’re talking!
And while we’re talking about photos, I wanna tune you into a great hint I learned from my buddy Donna at Funky Junk Interiors – DO NOT TOUCH YOUR ORIGINALS! If magazines or other websites ever ask to use your images, they want untouched originals in higher resolution. Publications will find you one day and want your images – whether it’s for a tutorial or a home tour – and if you do not have original images you will be sorry. I won’t go into detail, just go read Donna’s post about saving images. You’ll thank me
Saving your originals, naming them for best search results & changing up your words are all key ingredients to getting more hits on your blog through your photos. It is a little more work, but the long term results are well worth the effort. Really want to make a serious impact? Go back & do it on your older posts, too!
Thanks to Kristi for having me today – I’m honored to share a little bit I’ve learned about blogging with y’all!
Gina Luker – The Shabby Chic Cottage
So I knew about re-naming my photos but I never knew about the cool Google checker thing to see what I really should be naming them for the most hits! Woohoo!! I don’t think any publication will be knocking on my door anytime soon but I will refrain from touching my originals!!
Thanks so much Gina for sharing your knowledge-I hope y’all have something to take away and use today!!
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Gina, this is pure gold. Thank you so much!!! I have been totally loving the “bloggy love” series – Kristi, you just rock! Really, thank you for doing this!
Great Info, Gina! I knew about labeling my photos, but I didn’t know that about the Google key word thingy either! Thanks so much!
xoxo
Traci
Great post! I’m def learning a lot. I hope I can get my blog up and running this week. I can’t wait to put all that I’m learning to work.
Brilliant, I know you have been telling me this and I think today it has finally sunk in. You know I have to see it to understand it. I am learning so much from this series-Thanks for having it Kristi.
Cha Cha
Great information. I seldom even rename my pictures because I’m kind’a lazy and I didn’t fully understand the point! Thanks for opening my eyes.
Sandra
As a new blogger, I’ve learned a lot the hard way so I’m completely in love with this series! I totally didn’t even think to label my pictures, or to only edit copies! I’m your newest follower and plan on taking avid notes:)
I might be in love with this series. Thank you for the wonderful, honest advice. You make my day!!
Also, I LOVE Gina’s site… a regular on me reader!
Awww! Thanks, y’all! I’m glad it was helpful
Great tips!! Thanks for the great post
I should add that hubby runs a successful blog (http://www.jacketscannon.com/) and he didn’t know the tips you shared today, we both learned something!
YAY! That’s what this series is about! Sharing the info that not everyone knows
I had no clue either! 
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Great tips! I rename my images anyway (cos I’m kind of anal like that), but would never have thought to have done it to increase traffic. I can see a lot of fine tuning ahead lol.
I love this series!
Carin-thanks for visiting and commenting and I’m glad you are enjoying the series!
super awesome post!
i just learned about those google words thingys about 2 months ago & boy is she right. it makes all the difference! even when it comes to thinking of a name for your blog posts!
great series, kristi!
Gina! you are SO SMART! I think I owe you a check for how much I’ve learned from you! Thanks for sharing your smarts! My itty bitty baby blogging self appreciates it!
Kristi! So excited to be following you now on your blog (since you’re my new fave Twitter friend!) Looking forward to learning from you!
Allison, YAY! You found me
I hope I get to learn from you too! 
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Wow… I’m a newbie and this information is priceless! I really appreciate you sharing and ladies… what a fantastic series!! Soooo glad I took time to go back and read the posts I missed. AJ – queenofmynest(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! There is still a whole week & a half left of the series so I hope you will come back and read even more tips!