The number one website mistake made by creative entrepreneurs is….drumroll please…not listing your city/location on your website!
I love working with local businesses, but 90% of the people that reach out to me for branding and design work never mention their city or state anywhere in their website copy. I can never tell where they’re located, if they’re local (and available to meet in person), or even if it’s someone I’ve met before. This leads to a lot of confusion, misunderstanding, and even the possibility for a missed opportunity to work with clients that might be the perfect fit.
So, where is the best place to include this information? I recommend writing a 2-3 sentence introductory paragraph explaining who you are, what you do, and where you’re located. Place this on your home page, either on your header or just below it, so it’s the first thing viewers see before they scroll. Keep it short, sweet, and consise. Here’s a few examples that I’ve drafted with current clients:
“Visual storyteller capturing couples wildly in love. Lover of light, summertime, and all things adventure. Serving State College, Pennsylvania, and beyond.”
“Hey there! I’m a Northern Virginia wedding photographer fueled by caffeine, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, and biscuits and live by the motto: Brunch is life. I love photographing couples on one of the happiest and most treasured days of their lives and love relating to my brides they plan the wedding of their dreams!”
“Saskatchewan based photographer specializing in couples and intimate portraits. I document what makes people unique, and my camera is my medium for bringing their stories to life.”
“I’m Amy, a destination wedding and elopement photographer based in Vermont. Also serving New England and beyond. Let’s create something beautiful together.”
If this seems excessive, at the very least consider placing it on your contact page. Even better, place it in the footer. This way it’s visible on all pages.
Including your location in your website copy is SO important for SEO! If you never mention your location, Google won’t have anything to index, meaning that you’re much less likely to show up in searches for your area.
Bottom line, get that SEO juice, and stop confusing your potential clients. Start driving the right clients to your site, and watch those connections grow.
