Keep It Moving Podcast By Alison Bell Melissa Arlena cover art

Keep It Moving

Keep It Moving

By: Alison Bell Melissa Arlena
Listen for free

Between the two of us, we have combined 27 years in photography,10 years in IT and have lived through 9 business relocations. 4 moves ago I was frustrated watching my peers grow their businesses in one place while I was starting from scratch again. I knew I couldn’t be the only one relocating and wanting more financial stability. Despite my Googling, all I could find were vague blog posts, moderately interesting podcasts but not one truly helpful resource on how to relaunch my business in a new city. Since then, I’ve streamlined a process to relocate and restart my business faster - booking clients within a month of arriving in my new location. It is possible to have clients waiting for you on the other side! I can help get you there. I’ve pivoted after 10 years as a wedding photographer to lifestyle newborns and then moved my business twice in 2 years. Each time I used SEO to get found on Google and grow my business. As a former IT nerd, I have a knack for taking technical things and making them simple and relatable. I’m using that superpower for good and helping photographers tackle their website SEO and get booked by their ideal clients!2023 Art Economics
Episodes
  • Summer Bonus : The SEO Strategy That Saved My Photography Business

    Summer Bonus : The SEO Strategy That Saved My Photography Business
    Jul 28 2025

    Hey there! While Alison and I are soaking up those summer vibes until September, I'm not leaving you hanging. I'm sharing some of my favorite guest appearances from this past year – the ones that had you frantically taking notes and diving into implementation mode.

    This week, I'm bringing you my conversation with Colie James from the Business First Creatives podcast. We dive deep into something that literally transformed my photography business from struggling to fully booked: SEO. And before you roll your eyes and think "SEO is too complicated" or "my Instagram is doing just fine, thank you very much," hear me out.

    I came from a corporate IT background, so when I started my photography business fifteen years ago, I knew I needed more than just a pretty portfolio. I needed people to actually find me. Fast forward to today, and SEO has been the backbone of every successful move I've made – from wedding photography to newborns and families, through multiple relocations as a military spouse.

    What you'll learn in this episode:

    • Why most photographers are making the same SEO mistakes that are actually hurting their rankings
    • The simple keyword strategy that transformed my business from crickets to constant inquiries
    • How to research blog post topics that your ideal clients are actually searching for (hint: it's not just "what to wear")
    • The truth about SEO timelines – and why 18 months isn't as scary as it sounds
    • How to leverage your local business connections to boost your Google rankings
    • The AI tools I'm using to streamline content creation without losing my authentic voice
    • Why image naming and alt text are make-or-break for photographer SEO

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Google Search Console (free SEO tracking tool)
    • Keywords Everywhere tool for keyword research
    • Melissa's Keyword Research 101 Course: https://pictureperfectrankings.com
    • The Blogging Club membership: https://thebloggingclub.com
    • ChatGPT for content brainstorming and meta descriptions

    Your Next Steps:

    -Work with Melissa: https://pictureperfectrankings.com

    -SEO Self Audit Checklist: https://pictureperfectrankings.myflodesk.com/self-seo-audit

    -35+ Blog Post Topics for Photographers: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/35-blog-post-ideas

    -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/pictureperfectrankings

    -Work with Alison: https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business

    -Free Moving Checklist: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/checklist

    -Marketing Funnel Basics: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/funnel

    -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/alisonbellphotog
    Show more Show less
    42 mins
  • Summer Replay : Blog Better Than A Bot, How to Stand Out in an AI World

    Summer Replay : Blog Better Than A Bot, How to Stand Out in an AI World
    Jul 21 2025
    AI-generated content is everywhere, flooding the internet with bland, forgettable posts that all sound exactly the same. So how do we make our blog content stand out to both Google and our dream clients in 2025? Here's the thing - we're not anti-AI. Both Alison and I use it regularly in our businesses, and we think you should too. But we're seeing a huge problem with how photographers are using it for their blogs. They're letting AI completely replace their voice, their stories, and their personality - the exact things that make content memorable and convert readers into clients. The result? Blog posts that cover all the right information but fall completely flat. They're thorough, they hit all the SEO marks, but there's nothing that makes you remember the photographer who wrote them. And in a world where we're all competing for the same keywords and topics, memorable is everything. What You'll Learn: How to use AI as your work bestie (not your replacement) to save time on content creationWhy Google's E-A-T guidelines favor human-driven content with personal stories and expertiseThe biggest mistake photographers make when outsourcing or using AI for blog contentHow to inject personality and stories into your posts even if you "hate storytelling"Why "what to wear" posts don't have to be boring (and how Alison owns her hatred of them)The difference between using AI to create original content vs. repurposing your existing voiceHow to make your blog posts more memorable than your competitors who are all covering the same topicsWhy human connection will always win, even in our AI-dominated world Key Takeaways: "I want you guys to use AI to repurpose your content, especially when you write your blog post and repurpose it out. But the biggest thing is I want you to use AI to save you time, but not replace you entirely.""There's no replacement for human understanding, connection, and voice.""You're not producing memorable content. Like, it's just kind of falling flat... There's no stories anymore. There's no personal stories.""If there's nothing that's telling a story... and they all spit out the same information, and there's nothing memorable about it... They're all using AI saying the same thing.""Google may start prioritizing content that with human signals and expertise... success and SEO will come from blending AI with authentic human driven content, offering valuable personal stories and expert opinions." Resources Mentioned: ChatGPT for content assistance and brainstormingShannon McKinstry's Instagram expertise and storytelling approachJen Olmstead from Tonic Site Shop (Friday emails)Creative Moms Focus podcastGoogle's E-A-T guidelines (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)The Blogging Club membership with 50% off first month (code: KEEPITMOVING) Your Next Steps: -Work with Melissa: https://pictureperfectrankings.com -SEO Self Audit Checklist: https://pictureperfectrankings.myflodesk.com/self-seo-audit -35+ Blog Post Topics for Photographers: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/35-blog-post-ideas -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/pictureperfectrankings -Work with Alison: https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business -Free Moving Checklist: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/checklist -Marketing Funnel Basics: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/funnel -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/alisonbellphotog
    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Summer Replay : Time Blocking, Calm the Calendar Chaos

    Summer Replay : Time Blocking, Calm the Calendar Chaos
    Jul 14 2025
    Feeling like a ping pong ball bouncing between tasks all day? Constantly switching from editing to emails to client calls and ending up mentally exhausted with nothing meaningful accomplished? We've been there. That scattered, overwhelmed feeling where you're busy all day but can't point to what you actually got done. The research backs it up too - every time we switch from task to task, we waste time and mental energy. As military spouses who've moved our photography businesses multiple times, we've learned that protecting our mental energy isn't just nice to have - it's essential for survival. Between client work, family life, and the chaos of military moves, we had to figure out systems that actually work. What You'll Learn: Why task-switching is draining your brain and costing you precious timeHow to batch similar tasks together for maximum efficiency (like recording 5-6 videos in the same sweater!)The exact scheduling boundaries we use - including "No Meeting Mondays" and "Free Fridays"How limiting client calls to specific days actually improved our client serviceWhy blocking your kids' school days off immediately is non-negotiableThe $39 one-time purchase tool that beats Calendly's monthly subscriptionMilitary spouse pro tip: How to block an entire year's worth of holidays using your spouse's Liberty scheduleThe mindset shift that helped us earn full-time income while working part-time hours Key Takeaways: "There's plenty of research to show that we waste a lot of time when we switch from task to task. So if you can time block and do batch create content or batch edit, then you're saving yourself a lot of time and again, mental fatigue.""I only do client calls Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between twelve and two... I was doing them every single day, and I just was like, I cannot waste more time.""Friday and Monday are completely blocked off on my calendar. So I only do meetings Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.""I am making a very good amount of money for what I am doing - part time work but it is a full time income.""The first thing I do when I get the school calendar is I immediately go into my work calendar and I block off any days the kids are off school. Every single one of them." Resources Mentioned: Calendly (free version available)TidyCal ($39 one-time purchase)Tave scheduling featureHoneyBookGoogle CalendarGoogle Calendar tasks for recurring reminders Your Next Steps: -Work with Melissa: https://pictureperfectrankings.com -SEO Self Audit Checklist: https://pictureperfectrankings.myflodesk.com/self-seo-audit -35+ Blog Post Topics for Photographers: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/35-blog-post-ideas -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/pictureperfectrankings -Work with Alison: https://alisonbellphotographer.com/how-to-move-your-business -Free Moving Checklist: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/checklist -Marketing Funnel Basics: https://alisonbell.myflodesk.com/funnel -Connect on Social: https://www.instagram.com/alisonbellphotog
    Show more Show less
    28 mins
No reviews yet