This is an interview with Manthan Gajjar of PEWDOC.
Hey, Manthan. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Hello, I’m Manthan Gajjar, a full-time developer and a passionate part-time photographer.
During the weekdays, I immerse myself in my development work, while weekends are reserved for my love of photography, where I spend time exploring and capturing moments with my camera.
What has your experience with photography and online business been before starting the blog?
I began my blogging journey in 2016, but my passion for creativity started back in my college days.
One day, I picked up my Nokia Lumia 520 and started taking pictures. Nokia offered impressive cameras at the time, and I became particularly drawn to macro photography.
As my interest grew, I upgraded to an iPhone and later a Canon DSLR, which fueled my desire to capture more. I started attending photo walks, exploring the streets of Ahmedabad through my lens, and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
When and why did you start your blog?
In August 2016, I began my blogging journey. It didn’t take long for me to realize that planning is key. I mapped out the next three months of content, making sure I was prepared. I also knew the importance of SEO and identified the essential elements needed to optimize my blog platform from the start.
In those early stages, I began planning for servers, domains, content strategy, and more, three months ahead of launching. Once I had everything in place, I purchased my domain.
The reason I chose blogging is that I’ve always understood how the internet works, and I didn’t want to be tied down to the typical 9-to-5 routine. I recognized the potential of passive income early on.
Initially, I explored YouTube, but being camera-shy, I found it challenging to speak on video. That’s when I turned to blogging as a platform to express my learnings.
Additionally, my passion for photography played a huge role. Through blogging, I can share my work with the world while getting paid for doing what I love. That’s how Pewdoc was born.
What content management system (CMS) did you go with, and why?
I started with WordPress, and I continue to use it to this day. The main reason I chose WordPress is its user-friendly interface, making it easy to manage and update content.
Additionally, the customer support has been excellent, which solidified my decision to stick with it.
How did you decide on the name and pick a niche?
I spent nearly a week searching for the perfect domain name, but unfortunately, most of my preferred options were already taken. Ultimately, I settled on photographywith.com.
While many people refer to my site simply as Photographywith, the shortened name I use is Pewdoc. The “Pew” is inspired by the famous YouTuber PewDiePie, while “doc” represents the “dot com” in Photographywith.com.
I chose photographywith.com because it embodies the idea of learning and engaging with photography through the Internet. Essentially, it’s photography with the internet—hence photographywith.com.
How long did it take you to make your first money blogging?
I knew from the start that earning money from blogging would take time, but I was willing to be patient.
After about a year and a half, I received my first brand deal to write a promotional post for their platform. At that moment, I realized that blogging could indeed be a source of income in this way! 😀
How did your first year as a blogger go in terms of traffic, income, and site growth?
As I mentioned, I had everything prepped before purchasing my domain, which allowed me to publish more than 40-50 articles in that first year.
All of my articles were keyword-optimized—though I selected the keywords myself, so they weren’t always as precise as they could have been. Despite this, I managed to rank a couple of articles in Google’s top 10 search results.
Within the first six months, I received approval for Google AdSense, which provided my first stream of income. During that initial year, I also secured 3-4 brand deals and completed a few photoshoots.
Over time, I gained insight into what my readers were seeking and identified the niche I wanted to focus on. This understanding allowed me to plan effectively and enhance my writing style and content accordingly.
How much traffic does your blog get now? What are your top traffic sources?
Currently, my site has been impacted by the latest Google algorithm update, which has affected its performance more than I anticipated.
Nevertheless, I’m still receiving 3-5K organic visitors per month, which accounts for approximately 40% of my total traffic, according to my latest Google Analytics report.
My top-performing blog posts focus on earning money as a photographer, particularly within the niche of “earn as a photographer.”
Topics include various ways to earn income through photography, such as food photography and other specialized areas. I’m sure you understand the concept!
What’s your current content strategy like?
Photographywith.com is the first blogging site I launched back in 2016. Subsequently, I created manthangajjar.in, which caters specifically to Indian readers.
Currently, I focus primarily on these two sites, with a recent addition of quotesforjoy, which I started a year ago, but that’s a different story. My top priority remains Pewdoc.
My content strategy centers on identifying the right keywords first. I adhere to the ECG Content strategy (Evergreen, Controversial, Growth) to guide my blogging efforts. I publish my work based on this approach, and if I notice a trending topic, I adjust my article priorities accordingly.
Typically, I post 1 to 2 articles per week. Recently, I’ve also begun reviewing my older, high-quality articles that are no longer up-to-date, and I’m in the process of refactoring them whenever I find some extra time.
What action do you want the reader to take after reading a blog post?
I want my readers to feel a sense of fulfillment, knowing they’ve found the information they were searching for online when they come across my articles.
I also publish a weekly newsletter, and my goal is to provide insights that my audience may not yet be aware of within the photography niche. There are countless ways to capture a single subject, and as a photographer, it’s essential to remain creative each time.
Ultimately, my mission is to share quality content with my audience that inspires and educates them.
When did you get into SEO? And do you optimize every blog post?
From the very beginning, I had the idea of starting a YouTube channel when I was 16. As I progressed, I gradually learned about SEO, including its importance and the benefits of both on-site and off-site optimization.
I understood the steps necessary to ensure that my articles are SEO-friendly before publishing. Nowadays, there are numerous WordPress plugins available that guide you on which aspects to cover for optimal SEO performance, helping the article reach a broader audience.
However, there are times when I prefer to make an article slightly less SEO-focused by not adhering strictly to a specific keyword count.
While this approach can enhance the article’s SEO effectiveness, it sometimes compromises its readability for human audiences. Therefore, I often review the article multiple times before hitting the submit button to strike the right balance.
What’s one SEO strategy that has worked best for you, and that you constantly rely on?
Writing quality content is essential. That’s all you need to ensure your articles perform well and rank in the top 5, provided you remain consistent.
From an SEO perspective, I believe that guest posting is one of the most effective strategies for acquiring backlinks. It’s a legitimate way to gain quick and authentic attention from the online community.
Do you use AI tools as a blogger in any way?
I use ChatGPT (free version) to generate clickbait titles for my blogs or to explore alternative options for the titles I’ve already chosen.
For editing, I rely on Luminar NEO, which offers some impressive AI features. One standout feature is AI Sky Replacement, which can transform an average sky into something stunning.
Additionally, if I’m looking for inspiration or planning an indoor shoot, I often turn to AI to gather creative ideas.
How have the recent Google core updates affected you?
As a creator, it can be disheartening to put in consistent hours of work only to find that your content isn’t reaching a broader audience, aside from your returning readers.
Currently, I’m experiencing this phase, but I understand that it won’t be permanent. I continue to work as hard as I did before.
I’ve noticed some dips in my earnings and overall website growth, but I’m confident that I will overcome this challenge. My primary motivation for starting this platform is to deliver quality content, and I remain committed to that goal, no matter the circumstances.
What do you do if you notice a significant drop in your blog’s traffic?
Currently, I’m experiencing a significant drop in traffic, but honestly, I’m not worried about it. As I mentioned, my primary focus is on providing better content.
I continue to publish articles whenever I have the time, working diligently on weekends to keep things moving forward.
I’ve been somewhat diverted lately since both of my blogs have been impacted by Google Core updates. After taking a short break from blogging, I’ve decided to start fresh again.
The key takeaway is to work as hard as you can; that significant drop is merely a number. Your main goal should always be to deliver quality content to the community and support one another.
What social media channel has worked well for you?
Initially, I started with Facebook, but after spending 5-6 years on that platform, I realized that Pinterest and Instagram are better suited for driving referral traffic.
If you’re publishing quality content with compelling images on Pinterest and attracting 50-70K monthly visitors, you’re well on your way to success.
On the other hand, Instagram is excellent for building an audience. As a photographer, I make it a point to capture footage during my shoots, which I can later convert into behind-the-scenes (BTS) content and share as reels on Instagram.
I believe this approach is a straightforward and authentic way to connect with my audience.
How much are you currently earning as a blogger?
I’m not earning as much as I had projected for this year, but my income remains steady between $3-4K a month.
Fifty percent of my earnings come from promotions and brand deals, while 30-35% is generated through affiliate marketing. The remainder comes from advertising.
The figures I mentioned are solely from my blogs. Additionally, I receive inquiries for photoshoots, and I schedule these based on my availability, which serves as a nice bonus to my income.
What ad network are you using?
I prefer using Google AdSense for my advertising needs. I’ve tried their platform and haven’t encountered any issues so far regarding reporting, money withdrawal, or anything else.
Since it’s a Google product, it’s easy to trust and rely on for my monetization efforts.
Do you accept sponsored posts on your blog?
The number of brand collaborations I accept depends on the brands interested in publishing their content on my platform.
Generally, I allow a maximum of two brands per month to promote their content, and any additional high-quality inquiries are deferred to the following month.
However, there are specific guidelines that each brand must meet before we finalize the deal. These guidelines include the niche of the product and the type of topics they plan to cover.
Are you actively building backlinks to your blog?
I started building backlinks from last year, primarily by sending cold emails to relevant and authentic bloggers after reviewing their work.
Before this approach, I earned backlinks naturally, which reinforced my belief in prioritizing quality over quantity.
When you publish quality content, it eventually attracts attention. The key is to provide the right content in the right context.
Is there anything you outsource in your business?
Recently, I hired a content writer who is also a friend of mine. She’s a passionate photographer and is currently studying for her LLB.
I’ve guided her on writing content for the new articles I plan to publish.
Aside from this, there’s nothing else I’m looking to outsource at the moment, but I will consider it in the future.
What was your greatest blogging mistake and what did you learn from that?
I’ve made many mistakes while building this platform, but the one I’ll remember for a lifetime is accepting sponsors just for the sake of making money.
That was the worst decision I ever made in pursuit of some extra dollars.
I later realized how negatively it impacted my overall site. The lesson I learned from that experience is to pursue only legitimate deals and to practice patience. Always review the deal multiple times before giving your approval.
What’s next for you and PhotographyWith.com?
I’m now more focused on outsourcing tasks and teaching others what I’ve learned over the last 4-5 years.
My goal is to concentrate on retraining my readers, either by creating a product or by providing quality content.
Recently, I started a YouTube channel to reach a broader audience within a similar niche.
In the next five years, I aim to expand my presence in the photography niche, delivering more content and building an audience to eventually sell my product or whatever I decide to offer (though that’s not finalized yet!).
Where can people find you?
