It seems like everyday something changes related to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which makes ranking on search engines (Google, Yahoo!, Bing (yes, they’re still around)) a never ending battle. Knowing how to increase SEO so potential clients can find you is tricky because there are a lot of different things that go into it. But, if you have a good Website Management Company, most of what helps your rankings happens behind the scenes.
Since there is so much information, not everything can be discussed in one measly little blog post. Today, we’re just going to focus on how to increase SEO with geotagging.
What is Geotagging?
Simply put, geotagging is putting your location data into your website and into images that appear on the website. If you want a more technical answer, geotagging is adding precise global positioning data (latitude and longitude) to the website and images. Data and/or metadata is embedded into the website and photos.
Typically, the user will never see this information. However, the search engines send their army of bots in to crawl your site, they will pick up on that data. This will be part of what they use to determine the purpose of your website and whether it is a fit for users who input a search term.
What does geotagging do for SEO?
It helps you get ranked. Period. Again, it is not the only way, but it is a small piece to the complex puzzle that is SEO. Let us show you some examples.
1. Indicating your location with SEO keywords.
In this case, you are not necessarily embedding global positioning data. Rather, you are using geotagged keywords to increase your SEO.
Let’s say a person needs an expungement lawyer. And, that person lives in Skokie, Illinois. Search engines want to be able to provide them the best search results they can, which would be for an expungement lawyer in Skokie. If you only rely on the key words “expungement lawyer,” it will be unlikely that you will get found. However, if you geotag your keywords and add “Skokie,” you will have a higher chance of being in the search results.
This is what the search results would look for without geotagging the keywords.
When we got location specific with our clients website, he was able to rank at the top of the search results.
It is important to note that here, we had to type “expungement lawyer skokie” into the google search bar. We live in Costa Rica and our VPN doesn’t have a Skokie option. However, search engines are increasingly creepy and know where your computer is. So, if someone actually lives in Skokie (or wherever) and simply types in “expungement lawyer,” those websites that have done geotagging properly will rank higher.
2. Embedding data into images
Most modern cameras and the camera technology on phones automatically embeds location data into images. However, there are numerous tools out there (like https://tool.geoimgr.com/) that can embed data into images that are devoid of the location specifics needed to help search engines find you. When they find properly tagged images that are utilized on your website, it increases your overall SEO.
Here’s an example of what the search results look like when we go to Images.
| This is what the Image search results look like for the key words “expungement lawyer.” They are all over the place. From Gloucester County (wherever that is), to Oklahoma, to Illinois. |
| Here is what the Image search results look like for “expungement lawyer skokie.” Six of these top results are images we’ve geotagged for our client at xpungechicago.com. |
Deviant Marketing knows how to increase SEO with geotagging and incorporates this as part of an overall SEO strategy
Search engines want to optimize the experience they provide for their users. One way they do that is by providing location specific results to people when they do their search.
You want people to find your business, but not just anyone. If you are licensed to practice in Illinois, you probably don’t care if someone in Idaho finds your website. You want potential clients from Illinois (and likely an even more specific location than that). You can make that happen by properly geotagging your keywords and images. When you do this, you will increase your ranking.
If you are like most attorneys, who have way too much on their plate to worry about increasing your SEO and geotagging, contact us, at Deviant Marketing.