The Importance of Photos on Your Google Business Profile

Differentiating your business can be difficult, especially in today’s digital world. Managing your online presence and reputation is key to putting your best face forward for potential customers and keeping your business name high in online search rankings.

One of the most effective ways to promote your business online and help SEO is regularly updating your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) with relevant and engaging photos. Keeping a steady stream of pictures, videos, or other visual media moving through your profile can mean the difference between lackluster sales and breaking records, but what types of photos work best, and which tools can show you how those photos are performing in comparison to other images or other businesses? Read on to find out how easy it is to make your Google Business Profile stand out and bring in new business.

Humans are visual creatures. Our brains process visual information much faster than text, and we’re far more likely to view something with images attached to it than we are to view plain text. We’re also 65% more likely to retain information with a visual element as opposed to information contained in written form. One study found that social media posts containing images generate 94% more views than those without images, and tweets containing images are retweeted 150% more than those containing text only. When it comes to using social media to promote your business, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

So, what type of photos should you upload? According to Google, there are several different types of photos that can help your profile:

Interior photos should show the interior of the business. This can be your showroom, offices, meeting rooms, or service and maintenance bays. Use these photos to give customers an overall impression of being inside the business. What do you want them to notice first as they enter? Google recommends having at least three interior photos.

Exterior photos should show the exterior of the business. Try to get photos that show how your business appears from several directions to give customers a visual reference as they drive toward it. Large, wide-angle shots such as drone photos can be visually compelling, but may not actually give customers much necessary information. Again, at least three photos are recommended.

Product photos are a car dealership’s most important category for a profile. Here you can highlight new vehicle arrivals on the lot, promotions, new owners, or daily events. Be creative! This is where a potential customer can learn more about how you’ve helped others in the past and how you might help them in the future. Showcase at least three products that you’d most like customers to see.

Photos at work show what your business actually does day to day. Photos showing specialty services you offer and work in progress can help new customers understand how your business is different from your competitors.

Team photos highlight the people behind your business. Use these photos to introduce your team and their contributions to potential customers. Staff profiles, birthdays, office events, or anything not directly related to your daily operations fall into this category. These photos should be more personal and less professional to show the personality of your business.

Google also provides tools that can walk you through the process of uploading photos and videos, track the impact of photos on your profile, and show you which image formats and sizes are appropriate. There’s even a tool that allows businesses with multiple locations to upload bulk photos, and another that allows users to upload StreetView and 360 photos.

Some important tips to remember: stay away from overly-polished or staged photos as they may make your business seem untrustworthy. The goal with Google Business Profile photos isn’t to sell your business, but to give potential customers a realistic idea of what to expect when they arrive. Keeping your photos relatable and approachable can help with this.

Also, avoid stock photos. Google’s algorithm will detect any stock photos and remove them automatically as they don’t accurately reflect your unique business.

Make sure you have permission from anyone whose likeness appears in your photos or videos.

It is important to remember to upload regularly. Google values consistent attention through a steady stream of photo uploads from the business and customers.

Want to learn more about how to make Google and other platforms work harder for your business? Consider speaking to one of the social media experts at The Automotive Advertising Agency. We can help you drive sales, grow your business, and keep new leads coming in the door. Call us at 512-610-7300 or contact us at TheAutoAdAgency.com/contact/.