The Ultimate Google Business Profile Image (and Size) Guide
Nothing is more important than a customer’s first impression of your business. Today, that first impression often comes from the images on your Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly known as Google My Business.
However, due to a lack of time or knowledge, many businesses don’t make the most out of that first interaction. Negative user-generated content, poor photo quality, and outdated images are all frequent problems that can turn off customers who are only one step away from giving your business a shot.
In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of what you as a business can do to make the most out of the different kinds of images on your GBP profile. This includes showing you how to remove photos from Google Business Profile and tips on how to select the best images for your business. This way, you can take back control of your GBP and ensure that customers who find your business decide to take that next step with you.
How to Pick the Right Google Business Profile Photos
On your GBP, not all images serve the same purpose. In fact, broadly speaking, there are three main image types you should know about when it comes to your GBP. In this section, we’ll go over these three image types plus best practices for picking the right ones for your business.
1. Logo
A high-quality image of your logo is essential for building brand awareness. For logo images, ensure the image is consistently used across all of your listings, not just Google.
When choosing a logo or profile image, make sure to follow these best practices:
- Accepted image formats: Choose either JPG or PNG for your logo image.
- Image Size: The recommended size is 720 x 720 pixels, with the minimum allowable being 250 x 250 pixels
- Maximum file size: Keep file sizes below 5MB.
- Aspect Ratio: A 1:1 (square) aspect ratio is ideal as Google will crop non-square images to fit the SERP.
- Image Quality: Choose images with a high resolution so these images are clear and not pixelated when viewed at full size.
- Background: A transparent background is preferred for PNG files. If you are using a background, ensure it contrasts well with the logo.
If you are a new business and designing your logo from scratch, keep in mind these principles:
- Keep it Simple: A clean, uncomplicated design works best in various sizes.
- Ensure Readability: Text in your logo should be legible even when the image is small.
- Use Brand Colors: Stick to your brand’s color palette for consistency across platforms.
- Consider Mobile Viewing: Test how your logo looks on mobile devices, where it may appear smaller.
- Maintain Consistency: Use the same logo across all your online profiles for brand recognition.
- Avoid Special Effects: Drop shadows, gradients, and other effects may not display well in all contexts.
How to Change Your Google Business Profile Logo
- Sign in to the Google Account associated with your Business Profile.
- Search for your business name on Google or go to business.google.com.
- Click on “Photos.”
- Click the “Change Logo” button overlaid on your current logo.
- Upload a new image from your computer.
- Adjust the cropping if necessary to fit the square format.
- Click “Save” to update your logo.
- Your new logo may take up to three business days to appear across all Google services.
2. Cover Photo
A cover photo is the first image people see when they search for your business online through Google Maps or Search.
Uploading a cover photo tells Google that you would like this photo to be your preferred image to display on your listing. It should be noted that Google sometimes ignores your choice of cover photo. However, if you pick a relevant and well-optimized photo, your preference should be accepted.
When selecting a cover photo, consider the following best practices:
- Image Dimensions: The recommended size for a cover photo is 1024 x 576 pixels. Google prefers landscape-oriented images for this placement.
- Image Format: Use either JPG or PNG files for your cover photo.
- File Size: Keep the file size under 5MB to ensure quick loading times across all devices.
- Image Quality: Choose a high-resolution image that doesn’t appear pixelated or blurry when viewed on desktop and mobile.
- Relevance: Make sure the photo represents your business accurately. Use a high-quality image of your storefront, interior, or key products/services to give potential customers a good sense of what you offer.
- Lighting and Composition: Ensure your cover photo is well-lit and composed, showcasing your business in its best light. Avoid photos with too much text or distracting elements.
How to Upload or Change Your Google Business Profile Cover Photo
- Sign in to your Google Account associated with your Business Profile.
- Search for your business name on Google or visit business.google.com.
- Click on “Photos” in the menu.
- Navigate to the “Cover” section.
- Click the “Change Cover Photo” button.
- Upload your new image from your computer.
- Adjust the cropping if necessary to fit the landscape format.
- Click “Save” to update your cover photo.
Your new cover photo may take a few days to appear across all of Google’s services. Be sure to check periodically to ensure it looks good on different devices, including mobile.
3. Additional Photos
Add additional photos to help showcase the different features of your business. Google recommends adding each of the following photo types, depending on your industry:
- Exterior Photos
- Interior Photos
- Product Photos
- Photos at Work
- Food and Drink Photos
- Photos of Common Areas
- Rooms
- Team Photos
For each of these additional photo types, Google suggests you should have at least three examples from each category except for common areas, where one should be sufficient.
How to Add Photos to Your Google Business Profile
Now that you know what types of photos you can have on your Google Business Profile, let’s go through how you actually add photos. To do this, you’ll need to have already claimed your listing from Google. If you’ve not done that yet, you can follow these instructions.
Once your Google listing is claimed and verified, you can add photos through Google Search by following these steps:
- Sign in to your Google Business Profile account.
- Find your listing by searching on Google Search.
- Select “Add photos” on the left-most photo in the panel beside the search.
- Browse your computer and select the photo or video you’d like to upload.
For Google Maps:
- Sign in to your Google Business Profile account.
- Find your listing by searching on Google Maps.
- Scroll to the “Photos & videos” section and click on “Add media.”
- Browse your computer and select the photo or video you’d like to upload.
To specifically add or change your logo or cover photos:
- Sign in to your Google Business Profile account.
- Find your listing on Search.
- Find the “Your business on Google” widget in the search results.
- Click on “Add photo” and then select “Logo” or “Cover photo.”
How to Remove Photos from Google Business Profile
Managing images on your Google Business Profile is essential for maintaining a polished and professional online presence. You can easily remove photos you or your team uploaded, but when it comes to customer-uploaded images, the process can be more restrictive.
Removing Photos You Uploaded
If you or your team have uploaded images that are outdated, irrelevant, or incorrect, removing them is straightforward. Here’s how:
- Log in to Your Google Business Profile: Sign in using the Gmail account associated with your Google Business Profile.
- Search for Your Business: In Google Search, type your business name to bring up your profile.
- Click on the Photos: Select the first image in the panel on the right-hand side of your profile to enter the photos section.
- Select the “By Owner” Tab: This will filter the images to show only those uploaded by you or your team.
- Choose the Photo to Remove: Click on the photo you want to delete.
- Click the Trash Can Icon: In the top-right corner, you’ll see a trash can icon. Click it to delete the image.
- Confirm Removal: Select “Remove” to finalize the deletion.
Removing Photos Uploaded by Customers
Unfortunately, customer-uploaded photos cannot be removed unless they violate Google’s guidelines. If a customer has uploaded an image that is offensive, violates copyright, or misrepresents your business (e.g., photos of a different location or a different business entirely), you can flag it for removal.
To flag an inappropriate photo:
- Go to Google Maps: Open Google Maps on your desktop and search for your business.
- Locate the Photo: Go to the “Photos” tab and find the image you want to report.
- Report it: In the top-right corner of the image, click the three-dot menu and choose “Report a Problem.”
- Select a Violation: Choose the reason for flagging the image (e.g., offensive content, incorrect establishment).
- Submit the Report: Google will review your request, but keep in mind that the process can take several days, and not all requests are approved.
If you prefer, this can also be done on mobile through the Google Maps App.
- Open Google Maps App: On your phone or tablet, search for your business in the app.
- Find the Photo: Navigate to the photo you want to report.
- Select “Report a Problem”: Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and select the reason for your report.
- Submit: After submitting, Google will review your request.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
When attempting to remove photos, you might encounter some challenges. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:
- Inability to Delete Certain Photos: Only photos uploaded by the account owner or manager can be removed directly. For customer-uploaded photos, flagging them is your only option. Photos that don’t violate Google’s policies cannot be removed.
- Delayed Updates: After removing or flagging a photo, it might take a few hours — or even days — for changes to reflect in your profile due to Google’s processing time.
- Account Verification Issues: Ensure your business profile is fully verified to avoid restrictions on editing and removing content.
By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you can effectively manage the photos on your Google Business Profile, keeping it clean and up-to-date.
How to Optimize Photos on Google Business Profile
If you want to get the most out of your GBP, you don’t just need to add more photos, you need to also add the right ones.
Here are some tips that’ll help you optimize your photos in your local listings.
Use the Correct Image Formats and Sizes
Using the correct image size and format for your Google Business Profile is one of the easiest ways to ensure your photos display properly and look professional.
For every photo you upload to your profile, Google recommends adhering to the following guidelines:
- Image Format: Use either JPG or PNG format for all images.
- File Size: Images should be between 10 KB and 5 MB in size.
- Ideal Image Resolution: Most photos should be 720 x 720 pixels for optimal display across different devices except for cover photos, which should be in a 16:9 aspect ratio (e.g., 1024 x 576 pixels).
- Minimum Resolution: Images should be no smaller than 250 x 250 pixels to avoid looking pixelated or blurry.
Google has optimized the user experience around these image sizes and formats. By following these guidelines, you help ensure your photos always look their best, whether viewed on a large desktop screen or mobile device.
Invest in high-quality photography
A well-optimized image isn’t very useful if the image itself isn’t very good. At the most basic level, all of your images should be clear, focused, and an actual representation of what you’re trying to show off.
For instance, if you are taking a photo of your storefront, cleaning it up to make it look its best is a great idea. However, using filters to make it something it’s not is not recommended.
Here are some tips for making sure all of your images look great:
- Take images in good lighting.
- Make sure the subject of the photo is centered and in focus.
- For product images, use simple backgrounds so people’s eyes are drawn to the product itself.
- Use a professional camera for better-quality images.
- Take a variety of photos, including those that focus on products, the building, your team, and happy customers.
- Choose images that showcase what makes your business stand out from the competition.
If photography is not your thing, consider hiring a professional. A one-time fee for professional photographs can be well worth the price in the long run.
Another option is to contact Google to take 360 images of your business.
Frequently update your images
Although the jury is still out about whether frequent image updates help your SEO, it’s still a good idea for businesses to keep their images updated.
Here are just a few reasons why:
- Relevance: Your business and products probably look different than they did a year or two ago. By keeping images updated, you ensure your GBP reflects who you are now.
- Showcasing Sales and Events: Regular updates allow you to highlight current promotions or events.
- Trust: Consistently updated images help you show potential customers that your business is open and engaged online.
- Insights: Experimenting with different images frequently can help you determine what works best for your listing.
To make sure your GBP doesn’t get too outdated, set up a regular schedule for updating photos. This could be as simple as setting a reminder every six months to review your GBP and make any changes that are needed.
Take Back Control of Your Business Images on Google
If you’re a multi-location brand or agency, it can be hard to keep up with all the photos added to your profile.
Having a local SEO management software like Chatmeter can help monitor and alert you of the content being added to your local business listings or tagged to your social media accounts. This gives you a chance to get ahead of the content being shared about your business.
If you need help monitoring your local listings, explore the benefits of Chatmeter through our interactive demo. You can also schedule a live demo with us, during which one of our experts will explain how Chatmeter can help your business thrive online and answer any questions