Photos in Google My Business: everything you need to know

What kind of photos to upload to a business profile? How to remove a photo from your Google My Business profile? Who can add images to a listing?  

You will find all the answers to your questions in this guide about photos on Google listings. 

Why is it important to add photos to a Google My Business profile? 

As a business owner of a GMB listing, you should not neglect the visual aspect of your listing. Adding photos is not only recommended, but it is also a necessary step to optimise your small business profile and online presence to show up on Google. Here are some reasons why it is important to upload images: 

• Attract users’ attention and inspire trust

As a direct result of the attraction of quality images, the engagement of potential customers increases. Google experts estimate that listings with photos receive 35% more clicks and 42% more itinerary requests. Also, with images, you make your business more “real” and inspire more confidence in users.

• Improve your position in search engine results

Adding images to your Google listing profile allows you to increase your local positioning, i.e. your online visibility. Google rewards local business listings that continuously publish new content. By regularly adding new photos, you are more likely to appear among the top search results on Google and Google Maps.

• Build your company’s brand image

Through photos, you will be able to define the identity and image you want to give your company. You can tell users who you are, what your products are, introduce your team, and even show your work environment or store. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words!

What kind of photos to upload to your Google business profile? 

There are three different types of images you can add to your Google My Business listing:

• Business Logo

This is the photo that will appear when you respond to a notification, such as reviews. 

• Cover photo

This is the picture that will appear at the top of your profile and will be displayed when the business name is typed into Google or Google Maps. In other words, this is the picture that will represent your business visually. So choose a photo that reflects the personality of your business.

• Business photos

These are the photos added by the owner of the business profile. In this space, you can take advantage and expand the information about your business. For example, you can add photos of your products or services, of the interior or exterior of your facilities, of your team, etc. In particular, this type of additional photo will allow you to highlight the best aspects of your business.

What kind of photos to upload to Google My Business?

Remember that the uploaded photos must comply with Google’s guidelines in terms of quality, format and size. Images must be in JPG or PNG format, between 10 kB and 5MB in size, and must be of high quality, with a minimum resolution of 250 px x 250 px.

Who can publish photos on your Google listing? 

Please note that the Google My Business profile owner and administrators are not the only people who can upload photos to your business profile. All users who have visited your business can add a photo to your business listing.

In fact, images uploaded by your customers are considered more reliable and truthful by users and, in addition, they make your profile look more complete and updated.  

Can you remove photos from your Google My Business listing? 

It is possible to delete photos even after you have posted them. So if you have changed your mind about a photo you have uploaded, you will be able to delete it without any problems.

However, it will be difficult to delete images posted by other users. In fact, Google does not allow you to delete photos uploaded by your customers unless they violate Google’s photo and video policy. 

Did you know that… 

Google’s guidelines require a full representation of reality in photos. This means that images that have been over-edited with filters will not be approved and will not be published on the company’s profile.