What is geotagging? How to geotag images for SEO

For an article to reach the top of Google search results, you need an effective SEO strategy. Using Image SEO qua Geotag is one of the most effective ways. In practice, though, many people overlook geotags and only know image ALT tags, image titles and so on. So What is a geotag? how do you add SEO-friendly image geotags? Let's MONA Media find out in the article below.

What is a geotag?

Geotag is a term from geolocation (GPS) and digital photography. Specifically, a geotag attaches geographic location information to a file or piece of data, such as a photo, video, social media post or any other data that can be linked to a specific place. An online geotag also lets users pinpoint exactly where the item was created or shared.

Location information is usually stored as geographic coordinates, such as longitude and latitude. It can be embedded directly in the data or saved as metadata in the object's metadata file. When it is attached to data, location information tells others where that data was created or shared.

Where can a geotag be added?

A geotag can be attached in many formats and on many platforms. Let's go through them one by one.

Photos and videos

A geotag can be attached to image and video files. It records the geographic location where the photo or video was taken or created.

Social media posts

When you write a post or upload a photo, you can choose to attach a geographic location to it. Examples include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Foursquare.

Blogs and websites

If you have a blog or website, you can attach a geotag to articles, images or maps. This gives readers location information and improves your chances of appearing in local search results.

Location apps and services

Location apps and services such as Google Maps, Apple Maps and Foursquare let you attach a geotag to geographic data. Need to build trust in a location fast? Take a look at our Google Maps review service that MONA runs for shops, clinics and restaurants.

Benefits of geotagging images

Geotagging images brings many benefits to your website. The main ones are:

More website traffic

Geotagged images are more likely to appear in local search results. A geotag also links an image directly to a specific place, which can lead people to your website and raise traffic trang web.

Images with a specific location can also be more engaging and encourage people to share them on social media. And when someone searches for a specific place, a geotagged image gives them information about it and a better experience.

Stronger brand recognition

When you geotag images with places connected to your business, you tie your brand to those places. That creates a strong link between brand and location and builds recognition.

An image with location information gives viewers something distinctive to remember. If your brand is tied to a local place, people in that area feel closer to it and respond to it more positively.

Better SEO

When you geotag an image with geographic information, search engines can see that your content relates to a specific place. Geotagged images give local users useful location information. When people search for a place or a product by location, a geotagged image gives them helpful information and a picture of that place.

Geotagging photos can also stimulate local activity and social interaction. That increases engagement, builds a local community and makes your content more likely to spread.

Trying to get your website to the top of Google with your own SEO, but not getting results? MONA Media is here to help. We offer SEO services built for each individual website.

We are a Vietnamese agency with more than 10 years of experience in SEO and premium website design,, we having completed over 300 projects as well as and helped more than 12,000 clients in Vietnam and abroad reach the top of Google. grow revenue 300 times over. 

You can get the same results with SEO. Ask CONTACT US with MONA via Hotline 1900 636 648 and our SEO specialists us to quote SEO pricing and recommend the approach that fits your website and business best.

Better user experience

Geotagged images encourage users to interact and share. When an image relates to a specific place, people tend to click on it, look at the location information and share it with friends and family.

Geotagging images online also lets you tell a story around a place and your experience of it. When you attach location information to an image, you can tell a story about that place and bring back particular feelings and memories. That makes a stronger, more lasting impression on users.

Higher conversion rate

Geotagging images connects you with a specific target audience. When your content is tied to a place your target audience cares about, it builds a strong connection and improves your conversion rate.

In practice, online geotagging can inspire and guide users. They get curious to explore more of your content and may become customers or buyers. Finally, a geotagged image creates a strong link with a place and feels closer and more personal.

Effective image geotagging tools

Some popular tools you can use to geotag images online are:

• Adobe Photoshop: Use the “Place” function to pick a location on the map and attach the geotag to your image.
• Lightroom: Use the “Map” feature to choose a location on the map and attach the geotag to your image.
• Exif Pilot: Lets you attach geographic location information to image files, with other metadata editing functions.
• HoudahGeo: Lets you attach a location by picking it on the map or entering coordinates, with tools to preview and check the geotag in detail.
• GeoSetter: Lets you update all location details, your business name and the keywords you want to SEO rank for into the image, quickly and in full detail.

Step-by-step guide to adding geotags for image SEO

Step 1: Download and unzip, then install the software GeoSetter (Windows only, not supported on macOS). Or you can use Parallels to run a virtual Windows machine and install GeoSetter as usual.

Step 2: Open GeoSetter and select the photo you want to geotag (it must be a JPEG). Then right-click the image you want to geotag and choose “Edit Data“

Step 3: Enter all the details of your business, or of the website you want to SEO, into the image.

Latitude and longitude come from Google Maps, using your business's exact location. You need a business location to fill in longitude and latitude. If you don't know how to get them, you can Google “how to get coordinates on Google Maps“.

For the Location field, fill it in the same way as MONA does if you are in Ho Chi Minh City), otherwise enter your company's exact address.

In the Artist, Credit, Source, URL, Copyright section, enter your business details following MONA's example below.

Once you have filled in everything above, scroll down. In the Contact Citysection, enter your business's location and details (use an address that matches your website and your Google Maps listing). You can copy how MONA fills it in.

Step 4: When everything is filled in, click “Save as Template“

Step 5: Select all the details you entered. MONA's example below shows what this looks like.

Step 6: After selecting the checked boxes and the details above, click “OK”. Then just name the template you created in the “Name” field. It is best to use your business name so it is easy to manage and reuse later.

Step 7: Your image now carries all your business details and location. Click “OK“.

Step 8: After you click “OK”, the photo you want to geotag turns red and shows 5 red stars icon as shown below.

Step 9: Once the image turns red, press the key combination “Ctrl+S” to save the changes. After you press it, the image turns yellow. At this point you have geotagged the image successfully.

Step 10: Go back to the original folder and you will see 2 identical image files. One has the suffix “original”, the other does not. The file ending in original is the original file, without a geotag. When you upload images to your website, remember to choose the file without the “original” suffix , the new geotagged one, which is better for your website's SEO.

With GeoSetter, you only need to create a template once for your business, then reuse it for every image afterwards, which is fast and convenient. Geotagging an image is as simple as steps 1 and 2 above.

Effective ways to add geotags for image SEO

There are 2 basic ways to add a geotag Image SEO effectively that you can use:

Using a phone

To geotag an image on a mobile phone, you can use the apps and features already on your phone, such as:

• The camera.
• Mobile apps on the App Store or Google Play: GeoTag Photos Pro, Photo Map, etc.
• Within social apps: Instagram, Facebook, etc.
• The phone's built-in GPS location feature.

Using an image geotagging tool

To geotag images for SEO, there are many easy-to-use online geotagging tools you can choose from, such as:

• GeoImgr
• Exif Pilot
• Adobe Photoshop
• Photo Exif Editor
• GeoSetter

Tips to optimize images more effectively

To get the most from website geotagging, here are some important tips:

Image quality

Make sure your images are high resolution and good quality for a better user experience. Sharp, appealing images catch attention and improve conversion.

File size

Large files make images sharper and more professional, but they also make your page heavy and slow to load. Even a correct Google geotag can't rescue a slow page.

So check the file size before you upload an image. If it is too large, compress it first with online tools such as: imagecompressor, compressjpeg.com, iloveimg,… and then continue with the geotag.

Image file name

Using related keywords Use keywords related to the image content, and make sure the file name reflects what the image is and what it is for.

Choose the right file format

Pick the image format that fits the content and type of image. For example, use JPEG for images with rich colors and PNG for images that need transparency or precise color accuracy.

Alt text

Add alternative text to images with the alt tag's alt attribute. Describe the image in detail and include relevant keywords for SEO.

Image captions

A caption should describe the content of the image accurately when you geotag maps. Use clear wording, describe the image and its key elements in detail, and don't make the caption too long.

In this article, MONA MONA has shared the basics, from A to Z, of Geotag that businesses need to know and use when building their websites. Use image geotags to bring your content closer to your customers.

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