Does Google use EXIF data from pictures as a ranking factor?



Does Google use EXIF data from pictures as a ranking factor?
Christian Oliveira, Madrid

Blog post about images:
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2012/04/1000-words-about-images.html

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23 thoughts on “Does Google use EXIF data from pictures as a ranking factor?”

  1. It is doubtful there could be a penalty for the absence of any EXIF data as every website CMS I'm aware of fails to include any of it whatsoever in all copies made of the original uploaded file. In other words, you may upload an image at 800 pixels in the longest dimension but most CMS systems (say, WordPress) automatically make smaller versions for medium and thumbnail views. Sadly, those are the copies of the file most often shown to visitors, real and digital, so they are mute on their EXIF origins.

    It is a shame because images could be a rich source of real definitive (and sadly spammy) data about what they are about, where they where shot, etc.

  2. Talk about a non-answer. Why don't answer the true questions – does Google, and if so, use any of the meta data to rank or understand a picture? Let people know so that we can get more relevant pictures when we search and make the Internet a better place.

  3. Does Google use EXIF image data as a ranking factor?

    "We reserve the right to. We can parse the data and we have displayed it at one time or another in search results", says Matt Cutts.

    You should use it if it is available, but don't go out of your way to add it retrospectively.

    We might use it. We might not.

    A simple yes or no would be quite nice, Matt 😉

    #SEO #SEOtips

  4. Obviously, and not discussed in the video, location is the most important EXIF data in the photo. This is clearly, the most important part of the question… and remains unanswered.

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