What Google Sees in Your Photos
Exactly one year ago, one of my channel users asked me when I would be making a video about using photos to promote a point on the map. It took me a year to prepare it and that’s what this video is about.
Almost two years ago I published a video about how AI analyzes photos and influences the promotion of points. During this time, Google has significantly developed its AI. I suspect that VISION AI, which manages photos, is not related to Gemini: it is simpler and requires fewer resources. Each analysis uses electricity and water for cooling, so Google tries to reduce these costs.
To check a photo, you need to go to Google CLOUD, select the VISION AI tool and upload the photo in demo mode. You will be able to see exactly what the algorithm sees: what tags are associated with the photo, what text is recognized.
How Google uses this data
This data is used for profile promotion and verification. If your photo includes your name, address, phone number, and services, this creates a complete picture of your business in the eyes of the algorithm. This information is likely stored in the cloud and associated with your profile.
This is especially important when the algorithm chooses which business to show for a particular search query: image tags can play a decisive role.
Photos as a tool to modify your profile
In our practice, we often use photos to change profile data. For example, if you need to update your phone number, we delete old photos and upload new ones with the most recent information. The algorithm is more likely to confirm changes if the data is represented in a photo.
It is also worth synchronizing these changes on your website, social media and all platforms where your business is present. Google checks the data before making changes, but photos are an additional advantage.
Why Unique Photos Are More Important Than Stock Photos
A unique study was conducted by my colleague Joy. They removed an old, unique, but poor-quality photo from their website and replaced it with a beautiful image from a photo database. The result was a significant drop in traffic and job losses. After returning the old photo, everything was restored. Conclusion: Unique photos, even imperfect ones, carry more weight with Google.
The website influences the profile of the company, but in different proportions: ~70% – in Google search ~30% – in Google Maps results
So, choose what is more important to you.
Image quality requirements
Do not use stock photos.
- Se la foto è già presente su Internet, non sarai il primo a caricarla.
- Controlla le immagini prima di pubblicarle tramite VISION AI per assicurarti che siano pertinenti alla tua attività.
🖼 Photo quality:
- Minimum resolution: 250×250 pixels
- Recommended by Google: 720*720
- Geo Mappers recommends at least 4000 pixels wide
Horizontal or vertical photo?
↔️ Photo format: Horizontal photos are best. They are easier to crop and fit, and Google often uses horizontal images in the maps interface. Vertical photos are harder to resize.
Don’t use AI-generated photos: Google can recognize them by pixels and metadata, and this can lower your ranking. But vertical photos are also necessary, especially the ones your customers post in phone reviews.
How Customers Can Help Your Profile
💡 Tip: If you have a good relationship with a customer, ask them to leave a review with a photo. Ideally, the photo should show the service you provide (for example, a manicure), and once uploaded, the customer will add a tag to the image. Google now allows users to do the same when leaving a review. And this tag becomes your keyword to some extent.
How to choose a profile cover
🏞 Business Profile Cover FAQ: “Why isn’t the photo I selected as my cover photo showing first?” The answer is simple: Google doesn’t guarantee that this particular photo will show up first.
Reasons:
- The algorithm independently selects the most relevant image
- Perhaps your photo is not of good quality.
- It is better to use an image with a logo, name and phone number as a cover (for on-site services)
- If you work outdoors (store, beauty salon), the photo should show the facade, sign, opening hours, interior, all in good resolution.
It is also recommended to take a photo from a greater distance, where you can see nearby landmarks. This can help Google better confirm the reality of your business, especially in the event of complaints from competitors or for a re-verification of your profile.
When and How to Delete Photos
❌ Deleting Photos Every photo gains views and increases the profile’s authority. Deleting them reduces the weight. But if a photo really gets in the way:
- you can delete your photos via the control panel
- customer photos – only on complaint (confidentiality, non-involvement in the location, etc.)
Complaints should be filed carefully: do not overload the system with complaints from a single account.
What to do if the photo is not published
🕒 Photos are not published? The possible cause is a bug. After uploading, wait up to 48 hours without deleting the image. It often appears first on Google Maps and then on your profile.
New profiles may have limited functionality: photos, news and attributes are not published. Also, make sure you follow Google’s content guidelines.
✅ Mappers GEO Company: Business promotion on Google Maps. Contact us!
Hope this was helpful!
