Photo optimization for Local Search: Tips & best practices
Introduction
We often talk in local SEO circles about the importance of relevant, top-quality written content for your local marketing strategy. But there’s another integral element, and you could be missing out on a good deal of online visibility without it: local photos.
In our 2022 Local Search Consumer Behavior Study, we found that 83% of local consumers conduct online searches every day, and 74% frequently use Google Search/Maps to find information about businesses in their area. What do they see there when looking for products and services like yours?
When Google crawls through websites looking for content to index and rank, photos are part of that process. Not only do they appear in Google Images, but photos are often pulled into mixed media search results, too.
Your images can show up in multiple coveted spots for rankings, such as:
- Google Image Search
- Organic search at the top of the results, where Google prioritizes image results
- Featured Snippets alongside content from your website, with a link back to it
- Ads as an image extension
- Google Posts
- Reviews, either on third-party review websites or Google Reviews
And when you add photos of your products, services, and storefront, your Google Business Profile will provide a richer experience for your customers who want to know more about your brand.
In this guide, you’ll find tips and best practices to ensure search engines can understand the content in your images and that you’re sharing them in the most strategic places for local SEO. We’ll also show you how to source and optimize images, so they appeal to local consumers in your area and search engines alike. In our 2022 Local Search Consumer Behavior Study, we found that 83% of local consumers conduct online searches every day, and 74% frequently use Google Search/Maps to find information about businesses in their area. What do they see there when looking for products and services like yours?