PhotoShelter has introduced a single configurable Web site theme for its free and basic accounts, which cost under $10 per month. This means that users are no longer restricted to PhotoShelter-branded image galleries. The New York-based company has also added features to support search-engine optimization.
Specifically, PhotoShelter now automatically submits users’ Web page and image sitemaps to Google Webmaster, which facilitates indexing and improves ranking—driving new unsolicited traffic. This augments the existing SEO grading tool that evaluates a PhotoShelter user’s Web site and recommends improvements across a 30 user-controlled factors. According to the company, it is tools like these that make up a complete business solution for serious photographers and distinguish PhotoShelter among other photography Web site providers.
Beyond basic portfolio hosting, PhotoShelter offers an unparalleled set of SEO tools, social sharing capabilities, e-commerce platform that supports both print sales and image licensing. PhotoShelter also offers its client base plenty of guidance, in the form of often-published free downloadable e-books on subjects ranging from photo blogs to best SEO practices for photographers.
In addition to new Web site options, the company has worked to simplify the setup, customization and gallery-management processes for users without coding skills. There is a new HTML editor that eases site updates, and the URLs have been made shorter and cleaner.
PhotoShelter CEO Allen Murabayashi said the upgrades are the result of user feedback and the company’s desire to support a growing market of emerging shooters who demand high-quality Web sites with features that support doing business online. Murabayashi promises additional product upgrades throughout the rest of the year.