Fine feathers make fine birds, don’t’ they? Yes, they do. Painfully so. When we rate a place, a company or other users we all pay attention to photos and images published online.
Did you know that people can recall up to 80% of what they have seen, but less than 20% of what they have read?
If a business hopes to manage their Google My Business listing properly, their profile must contain high quality photos and graphics.
It’s not as easy as it seems. In this tutorial we will share some advice and guidelines on choosing, editing and publishing photos on your business listing.
Types of images and photos used on Google My Business listings
There is a range of photos and images which could be uploaded onto your listing. Also, Google has set strict guidelines regarding graphics and photo parameters. Keep that in mind as photos which fail to comply with the policies will often be automatically cropped.
Before you begin your work on the visuals for your business listing, familiarise yourself with the following restrictions. This will help you prepare photos, images and other graphics in accordance with the terms set by Google My Business.
Logo as your profile photo — a true keystone
It may seem obvious, but a listing which doesn’t display a profile photo is by far less attractive and, worse yet, less credible. We trust you know this and your company logo will be the first image to enrich your business profile.
It will help your business to stand out in the comments section, and will add to your recognisability among users. This will be your first step in building a coherent visual identity on GMB.
Add a cover photo
This photo will be visible at the top of your profile. The photo is of immense importance as your profile photo is the preferred image to appear with search results.
For this reason, it should be a photo that faithfully represents the nature of your business or brand. Be aware that your cover photo is the first thing any customer will see – so no pressure there.
360 images
Spherical panorama images, or 360 degree images, are becoming more and more popular. It’s an interesting tool, which many users find exceedingly attractive. Also, you could use 360 photos to create a virtual tour. It might be a valuable resource if you are planning to show your customers the insides of your business location.
Product photos
If possible, feature products in your GMB listings’ visuals. Product photos will help you showcase your offer. Naturally, this does not involve taking pictures of every single item you have in stock. Cherry pick a few products and promote those online. Google recommends you select a minimum of three products. Consider hiring a professional photographer as the photos simply must be outstanding.
Interior photos
According to Google, 62% of users favour listings which display photos of a company’s interiors. That’s a significant majority; accordingly, it’s essential to prepare an array of such photos. Google My Business is a platform users turn to in search of information about your business; make sure you provide them with plenty.
Storefront photos
Insides covered, let’s look outside. Contrary to popular belief, exterior photos are very much a desired feature of Google My Business listings. Such images provide reference to customers looking for your location and may well help them reach the place should they have problems finding you.
Photo dimensions for GMB listing or mind the size
Photo size does matter. Google recommends to upload photos between 10kb to 5MB in size. This gives you a wide enough margin not to cause any troubleshooting. However, if you decide to use a larger photo or image for your GMB listing, you can always use a variety of software or online services to compress the file free of charge.
For example, you could use a web service called I love IMG. It’s an easy way to quickly compress photos and more. Functionalities there are numerous.
Resolution guidelines for GMB
Photo dimensions are equally important. Optimal photo resolutions are:
250 × 250 pixels for your profile photo,
1080 × 608 pixels for a cover photo,
720 × 720 pixels for standard photos.
Make sure photos are in focus and well lit. Additionally, avoid applying multiple filters as Google tends to take note of it. In other words, the images should be true and faithful.
How to choose your photo format
Google endorses certain formats, too. We can choose between two formats: JPG or PNG. It’s advisable to adhere to the recommendation, so if you have files in a different format, please convert them. You can use the online service mentioned above, I love IMG, to do that.
Photos published with Google My Business posts
To manage your listing well and make it stand out online, so that it entices potential customers, you will need to publish posts regularly. What is more, such posts should contain images.
An ideal photo should be sized 1200 × 900 pixels and fit a 4:3 image ratio.
The effort you put into editing your visuals to fulfil the requirements set by GMB properly will pay off later. The images and photos factor in ranking, but most of all they help you build an active, interesting profile.
Customers are bound to appreciate your efforts, so quit stalling, go grab a camera and get to work!
