Uploading good Google My Business Photos is a great way to get your business seen online.
Most internet users say that Google My Business listing with good images capture their attention and push them towards a decision – hopefully buying your stuff!
Your Google My Business listing is not just about reviews and getting a good position in local searches – people (your website visitors / customers) are visual creatures – having good photos will get their attention.
Images boost visibility, engagement and click through rates.
Your GMB listing allows you to upload images to your profile, it allows images to be attached to posts and allows you to upload short videos – make the most of these opportunities to get more business.
Customers can also upload their own photos and videos of your business to your GMB page.
What Google My Business Photos Should I Upload?
Google recommends the following: https://support.google.com/business/answer/6123536
Exterior photos – at least 3
Interior photos – at least 3
Product photos – at least 3
Photos at work – at least 3
Food and drink photos – at least 3 – restaurants etc
Common areas – at least 1
Rooms – at least 3 – hotels etc
Team Photos – at least 3 – if a sole trader 3 of your is fine!
Where Do I Start?
First up load a good cover photo – this photo will accompany your GMB listing.
Next upload a profile photo / logo photo – this should be different to your cover photo.
Then work through the list above – some might not be appropriate for your business – you might not have common areas or food and drink – but try to provide what Google suggest.
What Do I Have To Do On An Ongoing Basis?
Add more photos and change photos in the categories listed above to stop your GMB listing becoming stale.
Within your GMB listing you will be able to see ‘insights’ or analytics to your GMB listing, part of which is a section on photos, such as shown below:
You can look at these insight and see which photos are performing best over time for you for your particular business – maybe add more photos of the type that are doing well – and you can also see how your photos compare to similar businesses to your own – can you improve?
Which Google My Business Photos Show First?
Setting a cover photo does set it as your listings ‘preferred’ photo but Google sets the order that photos are set.
What Type Of Photos Should I Use?
The photos you use should reflect your business in a good light – they should be photos of what your customers would like to see – they need to be of a reasonable quality but they do not have to be polished professional photos or stock photos – these can put off-putting for your visitors.
What Is The Best Google My Business Photos Size?
Your photos look best on Google if they meet the following standards:
• Format: JPG or PNG.
• Size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB.
• Recommended resolution: 720 px tall, 720 px wide – ie 1:1 ratio
• Minimum resolution: 250 px tall, 250 px wide.
• Quality: The photo should be in focus and well lit, and have no significant alterations or excessive use of filters. In other words, the image should represent reality.
GMB post photos should be:
• Format: JPG or PNG.
• Size: Between 10 KB and 25 MB.
• Recommended resolution: 300 px tall, 400 px wide – ie 3:4 ratio
• Minimum resolution: 300 px tall, 400 px wide.
Maximum resolution: 10000 px tall, 100000 px high
• Quality: The photo should be in focus and well lit, and have no significant alterations or excessive use of filters. In other words, the image should represent reality.
GMB Video should be:
• Duration: Up to 30 seconds long
• File size: Up to 75 MB
• Resolution: 720p or higher
Other GMB photo considerations
Think about Geo Tagging your photos and using your SEO keywords in photo file names – there is debate about whether this helps or not in your GMB listing but do it anyway – it might help and does not take long to do.
Keep photos used unique and relevant to your business.
Keep an eye on photo insights – try to encourage good customer photos to be added. You can ask for bad customer photos to be removed by Google but they rarely do it.
You can get a Google Trusted Photographer to take photos or do a 360 degree view of your premises, which will help with your GMB listing and photo views.
Download and install the GMB App to your mobile phone to make updates on the go and to add photos taken at the location you are actually at (and add to Google maps as well!)
To Summarise
Keep in mind the need for some great photos for your GMB listing as you go about your business to highlight the products and services you offer, update your listing regularly with new photos, jobs you have finished etc
JSP Web Design can help with all aspects of optimizing your Google My Business listing to help you get more customers.
