Google Business Profile (GBP) listings speak a thousand words. They humanize your business and make it relatable, which builds trust and drives engagement. Consequently, profiles with photos get 42% more direction requests.
But getting GBP images right can be tricky. In this article, we will guide you through sizes, tips, and fixes for Google My Business Photos. This article covers photo specifications, uploading, and troubleshooting.
It also covers best practices like how to geotag photos on Google My Business and how to delete photos from Google My Business. It also answers the question “Why are my Google Business photos not approved?”
What Are Google My Business Photos and Why They Matter
Google Business Profile photos are images you upload to your listing and appear in Google Search, Maps, and the local pack. The GBP images include profile, cover, and post photos.
The photos appear when customers perform a local search like “mechanic shop near me” or “florist in [city].” It also appears when someone searches for your business name.
Why Images are Important
- Images can boost engagement. Profiles with 10+ photos get more clicks.
- Clear, professional images build customer trust and improve ranking.
- Active profiles with photos signal relevance to both Google and customers. This improves Google My Business listings’ visibility and engagement.
For example, a bakery with vibrant photos of cakes will get more engagement than one with no images.
Google My Business Photo Size and Format Guidelines
Correct sizes and formats reduce concerns about photos not showing on Google My Business and prevent questions like “Why are my Google Business photos rejected?”
Let’s break down Google’s image requirements.
Photo Types to Post
Here are the different types of photos you can post on your Google Business Profile:
- Cover Photos: The cover photo shown in your profile.
- Logo: Your brand logo.
- Exterior Photos: photos of office or storefront, parking lot, etc.
- Interior Photos: Photos of the inside space of your business or store.
- Product photos: Photos of your products.
- Photos at Work: Work photos like production lines, tools and machines, projects, job sites, etc.
- Food & Drink Photos: Eateries and restaurants can post images of their menus and dishes.
- Common areas: Photos of common areas, like cafes, can attract customers.
- Rooms: Hotels can post room interiors, like the rooms and bathrooms, etc.
- Team photos: photos of your team at work.
- Google My Business 360 photos.
Photo Specs
- Profile photo: 250 x 250 pixels, JPG or PNG, 10KB to 5MB. Shows as your business’s icon.
- Cover photo: 1080 x 608 pixels, JPG or PNG, 10KB to 5MB. Displays prominently on your profile.
- Post photos: 400 x 300 pixels, JPG or PNG, 10KB to 5MB. Used for promotions or updates.
- Google My Business 360 photos: Use a certified photographer or the Google Street View app for panoramic views.
Videos: Google also allows you to upload videos of office tours, product videos, etc. Basically, you can make a video of any of the photo types.
Format Tips
- Use JPG for smaller files and PNG for transparency if needed.
- Avoid blurry or low-resolution images to prevent business photo rejection.
Struggling with setup? Our Google My Business Optimization Service can address issues like “Why does Google keep rejecting my business photos?” and improve visibility.
How to Add and Update Google My Business Photos
Uploading Google My Business photos takes minutes and boosts your profile’s appeal. I will walk you through the steps.
Steps to Upload on Desktop
Step 1. Log in to your GBP dashboard, navigate to the Location Page, and click on the camera icon.
Alternatively, you can click on “See your profile” and then Photos.
Step 2: Click “Select images and video,” or you can drag and drop the images or video.
Step 3: Wait for approval: Once you upload a photo, it will show as pending. Google’s automated system, and sometimes human reviewers, will review it before making it public.
You can follow the same process to upload a logo and a cover letter.
Updating Photos
Replace outdated images by uploading new ones in the same category. For example, swap a seasonal cover photo monthly.
Upload 5–10 photos initially to maximize the impact of how to add photos to my Google Business page. Regular updates answer common questions like “Why are photos not showing on Google My Business?” and keep your profile fresh.
Why Are My Google My Business Photos Rejected?
People always ask questions like “Why are my photos being rejected on Google Business?” or “Why does Google keep rejecting my business photos?”
The rejections boil down to certain factors: either size, format, quality, or Google’s policy violation.
- Size and Format: Google can reject your images if they are the wrong size or format. Images should be JPEG or PNG. Also, the size should be 250px by 250px with a maximum size of 5MB.
- Quality: Blurry and low-quality images do not meet Google’s standards.
- Policy Violation: Google has policies on the type of images to post. Inappropriate images and images with logos or overlays are often not allowed.
- Technical Glitches: Sometimes your upload may not go through due to network issues.
How to Fix Photos Not Showing on Google My Business
Size and Format: Resize the image to the appropriate size or only use images that match the size requirements. You can use a tool like Canvas to create images that match these size requirements and format.
Quality: Only use high-quality images. You can use an online image scaler to improve the quality of your image.
Violations: Check and ensure to follow Google’s Image guidelines.
Troubleshooting GBP Photos
Here are the common challenges you will likely experience when trying to upload, delete, or replace images on Google Maps:
Delayed Updates: If you upload, delete, or update an image, your changes may take some time to reflect due to server and network issues. Wait a few minutes before you try again, or ask why photos are not showing on Google My Business.
Inability to Delete Images: You can only delete photos from Google My Business that you uploaded. To delete images uploaded by a customer, you will need to flag them for Google to remove them. Note, you can only have inappropriate customer-uploaded photos removed.
Unable to Post Image: Ensure your account is verified and active. To post images, you may need to verify your account first. This is one of the common responses we give to the question, “Why can’t I add photos to my Google Business Profile?”
Best Practices for Google My Business Photos
Use High-Quality and Relevant Images
Use high-resolution images that meet the quality standards (at least 720px). The image should show your business’s unique features.
For example, if you run a barber shop, photos of the various haircuts you offer can boost Google Business Profile photo engagement.
Keep Photos Updated Regularly
Posting new photos signals to Google that your profile is active, which also improves your ranking on Google My Business Images. Post 2 to 4 images each month and replace seasonal photos or old product or service photos.
Add Geotagged Photos for Local SEO
Geotagged photos tell Google the exact location of your business, which helps improve trust and local relevance.
Use a smartphone to take photos with your location turned on, so Google can pick up the location metadata.
Showcase Behind-the-Scenes and Team Photos
Posting photos of staff, your equipment, or workspaces humanizes your business and builds trust from Google and customers. For example, if you run a restaurant, you can post images of your kitchen with the chef and staff.
Follow Photos and Videos Upload Best Practices
- Upload only JPG or PNG photos.
- Ensure the photos are between 10 KB and 5mb.
- Choose a high-quality image with a 16:9 aspect ratio for your cover photo.
- The photos should be well-lit, in focus, and accurately represent your business.
- Upload videos that are up to 30 seconds long.
- The videos should be less than 100MB in size.
- The videos should have a resolution of 720p or higher and preferably a landscape view.
Google My Business Photos and Local SEO
Google My Business images do not directly impact ranking. But they indirectly boost local SEO by increasing engagement signals that Google uses for local ranking.
Photos improve your click-through rate when your listing appears in the Google Map pack and local search results. This signals to Google that your business is active and relevant. Similarly, the images are indexed on Google, which adds extra entry points to your GBP and website.
For example, let’s say a salon posts 10 photos from various activities. Those photos are indexed to Google Search and Google Images, and they improve SEO. This is why you should name the images properly (best if you use local keywords). If people make related local searches for the best salon in the city, those images would appear in search results.
How to Remove or Replace Photos on Google My Business
Outdated or customer-uploaded images (e.g., blurry shots) can hurt your Google My Business photo’s appeal. This raises the question of how to remove photos from Google My Business.
Steps to Remove
Log in to your GBP dashboard, go to “Photos,” and select the image.
Click “Delete” for photos you uploaded or “Report” for inappropriate customer images.
Use Google’s “Report a problem” tool for images you can’t delete (e.g., offensive uploads).
Upload a new photo in the same category (e.g., Cover) to overwrite the old one. For example, you can replace a winter cover with a summer one.
Final Thoughts
Photos can improve the performance of your Google business profile, but you have to do it right. Using the right sizes, format, geotagging, and authentic and relatable photos can improve engagement and prevent issues.
For more tips, subscribe to our NPoint blog or explore our professional Google Local Business Listing services.
FAQs
Why are my Google My Business Photos Being Rejected?
Google rejects photos on Google My Business because of incorrect sizes, format, low quality, or policy violations. The image should be JPG or PNG and under 5MB. It should also have high resolution and follow Google’s guidelines.
What is the Best Size for Google My Business Photos?
The best size depends on what you want to use it for. Use 250 by 250 pixels for profile photos, 1080 by 608 for cover photos, and 400 by 300 for photo posts.
How do I Add Photos to my Google My Business Page?
Log in to your GPB dashboard and click the photo icon, then choose the type of image you want to upload: profile photo, cover photo, or profile image. Click upload and upload the file. Google may have to approve your images before they become public.
How do you Remove Photos from Google My Business?
Log in to your GBP account and go to photos. Select the photos you want to remove and click “Delete.” If the photo was uploaded by a customer, you can’t delete it yourself. You will have to report it for Google to delete it. Select the photo and click “Report”.
Why are my Google My Business photos not showing in Search Results?
Your Google My Business photos not showing up may be because you are unverified, experiencing processing delays, or the photo is of low quality. Check to ensure you are verified and wait for up to 24 hours in case there is a processing delay.
