In the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization (SEO), businesses and marketers constantly seek new ways to boost online visibility and improve local search rankings. One effective yet often underutilized strategy is geotagging.
This technique helps businesses strengthen their presence in location-based searches, attract relevant local traffic, and enhance visibility on platforms like Google Maps and image search results.
No need to be confused—GetFound is here to explain what geotagging is, how it works, and why it plays a crucial role in helping businesses connect with local customers.
Understanding What is Geotagging in SEO
To fully grasp what is geotagging in SEO, it is important to break it down into its core components.
Geotagging is the process of embedding geographical location data—such as latitude and longitude—into digital content, including images, videos, and metadata on a website.
In SEO, geotagging is particularly useful for:
- Optimizing images and videos with location-based metadata.
- Improving local search rankings by providing search engines with precise location details.
- Enhancing Google My Business (GMB) listings with geographically relevant content.
- Boosting visibility in location-based search queries, such as “best coffee shop near me.”
Essentially, what is geotagging in SEO? It is a technique that helps search engines associate content with a specific geographic location, making it easier for businesses to appear in relevant local search results.
How Geotagging Works in SEO
Now that we understand what is geotagging in SEO, let’s explore how it works. Geotagging is primarily used in images, videos, metadata, and structured data to provide search engines with geographic signals.
1. Geotagging Images for SEO
One of the most common uses of geotagging is embedding location data into images before uploading them to a website or Google My Business.
How to geotag images for SEO:
- Use tools like GeoImgr or ExifTool to add location metadata to images.
- Include relevant location keywords in the image file name and alt text (e.g., “best-coffee-shop-in-Los-Angeles.jpg”).
- Upload geotagged images to Google My Business, blog posts, and local landing pages to strengthen local search signals.
When Google detects geotagged images on a website, it associates them with specific locations, improving the business’s visibility in local search results and Google Maps.
2. Geotagging Metadata and Structured Data
Another important aspect of what is geotagging in SEO is using structured data markup to provide search engines with geographical information.
Ways to geotag website metadata:
- Add geo-coordinates (latitude & longitude) to the website’s HTML metadata.
- Use Schema.org markup to provide structured location data.
- Include NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across all business listings.
This structured data helps Google understand the precise location of the business, improving its ranking in local searches.
3. Geotagging Videos for SEO
Just like images, videos can also be geotagged to improve search rankings in Google Video Search and YouTube.
How to geotag videos:
- Upload videos to YouTube and add a specific location in the “Video Details” section.
- Use location-based keywords in the video title, description, and tags.
- Embed geotagged videos on local landing pages or Google My Business posts.
By incorporating video geotagging, businesses can increase their chances of appearing in local search results, especially for video-driven queries.
Also Read: How to Implement Mobile SEO for SEO Benefit: 8 Essential Steps
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Geotagging
While geotagging is an effective SEO strategy, businesses must ensure that it is done correctly to avoid penalties or poor search performance.
1. Overusing Keywords in Geotags
Avoid stuffing location-based keywords unnaturally into metadata, image names, or content. Instead, use natural language that aligns with user intent.
2. Inconsistent Location Data
Ensure that NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) details are consistent across all platforms (Google My Business, website, social media, and directories).
3. Ignoring Image and Video Optimization
Simply adding a geotag is not enough. Optimize image sizes, file names, alt text, and video descriptions to improve SEO performance.
Don’t Forget to Follow GetFound’s Instagram!
Understanding what is geotagging in SEO is essential for businesses looking to enhance their local search presence, improve engagement, and rank higher in Google’s local search results.
By geotagging images, videos, and metadata, businesses can: Strengthen local search rankings and visibility. Improve user experience by delivering relevant, location-based content.
Increase engagement on Google My Business, Maps, and search results. Incorporating geotagging into an SEO strategy is a simple yet powerful way to gain a competitive edge in local search, ensuring that businesses are easily discoverable by customers searching for products and services in their geographic area.
Feel free to visit GetFound’s Instagram and give us a follow! We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been cooking!
