Sourav Choudhary A 10-week study shows that geotagging photos boosts local search rankings for “near me” queries but may harm city-specific results.
A recent 10-week study has uncovered some intriguing insights into how geotagging—adding location data to photos—affects a business’s local ranking on Google. The results challenge conventional wisdom about the role of photo coordinates in search engine optimization (SEO) and shed light on how businesses can use this tool to refine their local SEO strategy.
The study found that geotagged images had a positive, statistically significant impact on rankings for “near me” queries. For example, when photos were tagged with coordinates for Salt Lake City, Utah, the query “[lawn care near me]” saw a notable rise in local rankings. This suggests that Google is using geotagging as a ranking signal, helping businesses appear higher in search results for users searching nearby.
However, the study also revealed a surprising downside: when the same images were used for city-specific queries, such as “[lawn care Salt Lake City Utah],” the ranking actually decreased. This suggests that while geotagging can improve visibility in hyper-local searches, it might be less effective—or even detrimental—when targeting broader, city-based queries.
The findings have sparked renewed debate among SEO professionals. For years, experts have questioned whether geotagging truly influences Google Business Profile (GBP) rankings. The study indicates that while geotagging can be a valuable tool for businesses targeting local audiences, it may require a more nuanced approach when attempting to optimize for larger geographic areas.
