Which Photos Should You Upload to Your Google Business Profile?
Businesses with photos get 42% more route requests on Google Maps. But which photos should you upload? We share the exact categories, tips and common mistakes.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Google says it themselves: businesses with photos on their Business Profile get 42% more route requests and 35% more website clicks. Yet many business owners neglect this. They upload one logo and think they're done. In this article we share exactly which photos to upload, in which categories, and which mistakes to avoid.
Why photos influence your ranking
Photos are more than visual decoration. Google uses photos as an activity signal. A profile that regularly uploads new photos is considered more active and relevant. Moreover, photos influence user click behaviour. A profile with attractive photos gets more clicks, and more clicks are a positive ranking signal for Google.
The photos every business must have
These are the categories Google explicitly recommends and that you should have as a baseline:
- Cover photo: the first photo visitors see. Choose a professional photo of your facade, shop or team. Minimum 1080x608 pixels
- Logo: your business logo in high quality. Square format, minimum 250x250 pixels
- Exterior: at least 3 photos of your facade and immediate surroundings. Customers should recognise you when they arrive
- Interior: at least 3 photos of your interior. Show the atmosphere, cleanliness, decor
- Team: photos of your employees at work. This builds trust and makes your business human
- Products or services: photos of what you offer. For a restaurant: dishes. For a hairdresser: results. For a garage: workshop
Advanced photo tips for more visibility
Beyond the basic photos, there are techniques that can give you an extra boost.
- Geotagging: take photos on location with GPS on. Google reads the location data and links it to your profile
- Seasonal photos: regularly upload photos that match the season. Christmas decorations in December, terrace in summer. This shows your profile is active
- Video: Google Business Profiles support short videos (max 30 seconds). A tour of your shop or a customer testimonial works excellently
- Encourage customer photos: encourage customers to add photos to their review. Reviews with photos appear more prominently
- Consistent quality: don't use stock photos, heavily edited images or photos with watermarks. Google detects this
Common mistakes with profile photos
We see these mistakes in half of all local businesses.
- Only uploading a logo and nothing else. Google needs visual diversity
- Low-resolution photos. Blurry photos scare customers away and are valued lower by Google
- Using stock photos. Google detects stock photos increasingly well and they create distrust
- Never adding new photos. Google rewards profiles that are regularly updated
- Uploading irrelevant photos (e.g. a holiday photo or meme). This can lead to a guidelines violation
How often should you upload new photos?
At least once a month is a good minimum. For businesses in competitive sectors (hospitality, beauty, retail) we recommend weekly. It doesn't have to be a professional photoshoot. A good smartphone photo with sufficient light and a sharp subject is fine. Make it a habit: every Monday a new photo of your team, product or location.
Use the free checklist
Want to check if your profile is complete? Use our free Google Business Profile Check. It checks not only your photos but also your categories, opening hours, description and more. After completing it you get a personal score and concrete improvement points.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about photos on your Google Business Profile.
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