GOOGLE MY BUSINESS OPTIMIZATION 101
GMB 101: Why Update Google Business Photos?
If you’re looking to enhance your local search presence, one of the best things you can do is improve your Google business profile. And a great way to do that is by adding high-quality photos to your profile.
The importance of quality photos to your Google Business Profile is that they are no longer just a nice addition. They are becoming an imperative. For local businesses, higher quality photos on their Google Business Profile leads to increased customer actions which results in higher placement and rankings on Google local searches.
Here are some reasons why you should make sure your Google Business Profile has high quality photos:
3 Pack Display Changes
If you’re a business owner who is concerned about your company’s online presence, you undoubtedly are familiar with the coveted 3 Pack Ranking on Google Searches.
The 3 Pack Display – which is the display of three businesses that are most relevant to search terms typed into Google – has been updated to include more space for photos and less for text. This is good news for local businesses who want to ensure they are represented in the 3 Pack Display by regularly updating their profiles with many high quality photos and helps local businesses communicate their brand with potential customers.
However, many local business owners aren’t taking advantage of this free marketing opportunity by updating the photos on their Google Business Page.
Google makes it easy for business owners to upload images to their Business Profiles, and even has several photo categories that they use to show your customers the most relevant photos of your business.
Google Photo Categories
Exterior Photos
Photos of the exterior of your business make it easier for your customers to find you when they are visiting your physical location.
You can make it even easier for your customers to locate your business by uploading a variety of photos of the exterior, from different angles and even times of day.
Interior Photos
Potential customers will likely want to see the inside of your business before they decide to visit, so it is important that you have high quality photos on your Google Business Profile.
If you’re taking pictures of the interior of your business, make sure to take some time and clean up the space before you start snapping away. You don’t have to go overboard, but a little sprucing up can make an incredible difference in your picture’s quality and professionalism.
Product Photos
Help your customers get an idea of the types of products that you offer at your business by uploading a variety of product photos! That way if a customer is looking for a specific item, they can confirm that you have it at your business which can result in increased sales!
Photos At Work
Showing photos of you and your team at work helps make it easier for customers to understand exactly what your business provides and how they can benefit from it.
Food & Drink Photos
Similarly to product photos, Having a wide selection of photos of the various foods and beverages that your establishment provides can help make it easier for potential customers to decide to come try a bite. These photos are extremely important to restaurants as having the right photos of your delicious meals can convince a hungry customer to stop by.
Team Photos
Include plenty of photos of your team onto your Google Business Profile to help personalize your business and foster a welcoming environment that will have customers more comfortable visiting for the first time.
Tips for Higher Quality Business Photos
When you’re taking photos for your business, it’s a good idea to follow a few simple guidelines in order to avoid making mistakes. Here are some tips for taking higher quality photos.
Use The Right Camera
For many people, it can be tempting to simply use their smartphone camera when they need to take a business photo. However, if possible, you should invest in a professional camera instead so that you can ensure that your photos are as high quality as possible.
When taking pictures for your business, use high quality equipment such as professional cameras and lighting equipment. This ensures that your pictures are clear and professional looking. A DSLR camera will provide you with much better quality than a camera phone or point and shoot camera. A DSLR camera will cost more than other types of cameras, but it is well worth the investment because you will get higher quality images.
Make Sure You Get Enough Light
In addition to making sure the background is plain and in focus, try to make sure that there’s enough light in the room when you’re taking photos. If you’re taking photos at night or in a dark room, it’s likely that you won’t be able to get an image that’s very high quality because there won’t be enough light coming into the camera while you’re taking the photo
One of the easiest ways to improve your business photography is to use natural lighting. Natural light gives you a few advantages. First, it’s free! So if you’re just getting started and don’t have a big budget, it’s a great option for you. Just open up your windows so that light can permeate your space and brighten up your photos.
One more thing: Remember that natural light comes in many different shades. You’ll need to adjust your white balance when shooting in sunlight compared with fluorescent light.
Mind Your Background
It’s not just about the subject of your photo, but also about the background of your photo. If you’re taking a photo of your product or any other subject, try to take it against a plain background. This will help the focus of the image go to what you’re trying to show off.
Make sure there is nothing in the background of your picture that is distracting from what you are trying to show in the photo. It’s best to avoid busy patterns and colors, as they can distract from the subject of your photo.
If you are taking a picture outdoors, try to use a plain background such as a fence or building that will not detract from your image. If you want to take the picture indoors, try using a solid colored wall, or even an off-white wall with no texture.
Better Photos Mean MORE Customer Actions
More than ever, people are relying on the internet to help them find the business they need. Great photos can catch a potential customer’s attention and make them want to click through to your website or to request directions to your business.
The worst thing that could possibly happen to your business is to rank highly in the 3 pack but still miss out on customers due to the quality of the photos. You may have a great product/service, but if your photos do not reflect that, you’re not getting any sales.
Whether you decide to hire a professional photographer to assist you with creating content for your business, or you would prefer to handle the photographer yourself, regularly uploading high quality, relevant photos can make a massive difference in your Google rankings!
Conclusion
Gone are the days where you can simply show up on Google and expect people to come to your website. In today’s world, you’re going to need more help getting in front of local customers.
Trying to rank well in search engines like Google is a long and hard process, but it’s an essential part of the digital marketing strategy for any business. If you want your business to be found by your ideal customers, you must have a strong presence in search engines — particularly Google. But you’re not alone in this quest for visibility — many other businesses are competing for attention from your potential customers.
Many companies will use local SEO services as part of their digital strategy because they want to gain that competitive edge over their competition. They know that having an established presence on Google is extremely important, and entrust a team of professionals to make that happen.
Map Ranks understands the importance of relevant photos and makes it easy for our customers to regularly update their Business Profile images. We also use EXIF tagging on all uploading photos to increase your listing’s relevance in prominent keywords.
With Map Ranks’ local SEO services you don’t have to worry about keeping up with new features or updates from Google, we’ll make sure that your business is always at the top of the search engines, increasing your number of leads and revenue. Whether you’re just starting out and need help getting started on Google or you’re already established and want to stay at the top of the search engines, Map Ranks will get you where you want to be.
Leave the Work to Us!
Map Ranks is an all-in-one Google Profile management service that keeps your business profile up-to-date, optimized, and ranking higher on Google Maps. Leave the small details to us:
- Perform keyword research for your industry
- Setup products/services/descriptions with the proper keywords
- Manage your customer reviews
- Create weekly posts for your listing
- Setup the integrated GMB website builder
- Create and manage citations/directory listings
- Send weekly performance reports
Businesses large and small are finding success with Mapranks. Call us today and learn more about how we can help you grow your business.
Read Our Google Reviews
Real reviews from our actual clients on Google
- Adam Alobaidy1/25/2023
We came to Map Ranks after our SEO and internet marketing took a tank and we couldn’t bring it back to life. Map Ranks and their team turned it around in two weeks. Two weeks we starting getting new patients from google ads and good searches and just our website. Website traffic increased dramatically. Social media exposure as well. Extremely... read moreWe came to Map Ranks after our SEO and internet marketing took a tank and we couldn’t bring it back to life. Map Ranks and their team turned it around in two weeks. Two weeks we starting getting new patients from google ads and good searches and just our website. Website traffic increased dramatically. Social media exposure as well. Extremely impressed with their knowledge and skill. Thank you Map Ranks. read less
Dr. Cameron Hall1/24/2023 -
The MapRanks team is nothing short of amazing. Their expertise is something I have ever seen. Plus the customer service is top notch. I am proud to be working with them
Tyler Carlson1/12/2023We went through several companies to try to help us improve our Google presence and to generate an overall interest and activity in our company. Map Ranks helped us understand what was needed to succeed in the google arena. The service transformed our company where other companies couldn’t adequately guide us in the right direction. This company did not only... read moreWe went through several companies to try to help us improve our Google presence and to generate an overall interest and activity in our company. Map Ranks helped us understand what was needed to succeed in the google arena. The service transformed our company where other companies couldn’t adequately guide us in the right direction. This company did not only turn the light switch on by getting our company up in front of clients, it literally saved our company. Thank you Map Ranks! read less
321 Cutz1/02/2023 -
Map Ranks has unbelievable service, great pricing and are always ready to help. I've gone through numerous companies to help take our business to the next level and failed. I've been with Map Ranks for about a month now and I'm already seeing improvements!! Highly Recommend!!
jivan mansour12/13/2022 -
We are happy we chose Map Ranks for help marketing for our nail salon. Since we’ve been working with them we are ranked #1 on Google Maps for our top keyword ‘nail salon in Corpus Christie’. They are very fast in making updates and are always available for when we need them. If you are considering using them for... read moreWe are happy we chose Map Ranks for help marketing for our nail salon. Since we’ve been working with them we are ranked #1 on Google Maps for our top keyword ‘nail salon in Corpus Christie’. They are very fast in making updates and are always available for when we need them. If you are considering using them for your business, do not think twice. They are the real deal! read less
Leslie Nails11/27/2022 -
Very Knowledgeable and creative individuals at map ranks. They are the best and highest ranking marketing service we have utilized. I would highly recommend their services for map ranking and Internet marketing.
Ben Mousavi11/16/2022 -
Wow! There's so much I can say! I'll start by saying the staff are amazing, they actually care! I will recommend Map Ranks to whomever needs marketing for there business. It's random that you find people who actually cares about you and your business, they don't just want your money they want your business to be successful and profitable.... read moreWow! There's so much I can say! I'll start by saying the staff are amazing, they actually care! I will recommend Map Ranks to whomever needs marketing for there business. It's random that you find people who actually cares about you and your business, they don't just want your money they want your business to be successful and profitable. They also do random calls checking up on you to see how things are going for you and your business, they're very helpful 🙂 and stay on top of things in the back ground im very thankful and grateful to have them in my life, I didn't only purchase a plan but I also gained friends. Thanks for being a blessing to me and my business, Map Ranks Rock your the the best hands down. I 1000% recommend Map Ranks💖 read less
Tamara Mosby10/19/2022If you need a company to help you rank higher in google maps, look no further. Map Ranks is an awesome company they have helped my business grow in a very short amount of time. Anytime you have questions they get back to you in a matter of minutes. I highly recommend using Map Ranks if you’re looking for more... read moreIf you need a company to help you rank higher in google maps, look no further. Map Ranks is an awesome company they have helped my business grow in a very short amount of time. Anytime you have questions they get back to you in a matter of minutes. I highly recommend using Map Ranks if you’re looking for more traffic! I will not use any other company. Thanks guys for all your help. We have seen a massive amount of growth! read less
jeffrey Shaw10/13/2022 -
The people at Map Ranks have done an incredible job for my business. They complete the work in a timely manner and always respond quickly to questions I have. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a big boost to your Google My Business account.
Derek Oliverson9/07/2022I have only been using map ranks for about four months now .I had numerous other companies try to rank me up never could get us above 12th on the Maps Listings . Map ranks has me number one could not be happier with their results for my company. I would highly recommend them and I’m going to recommend... read moreI have only been using map ranks for about four months now .I had numerous other companies try to rank me up never could get us above 12th on the Maps Listings . Map ranks has me number one could not be happier with their results for my company. I would highly recommend them and I’m going to recommend some of my friends that own other companies as well . I almost gave up on trying to deal with companies calling me 4 to 5 times a day promising me they could get me ranked up higher, so glad I found these guys !!! read less
Marcus Bellino9/03/2022It's my pleasure to leave Shaun at MapRanks a very positive review. He's personal fixing a 8 year mess my current company has left my company in. He has always returned my calls and or texts in a timely manner. Very professional..an I look forward to a long lasting business relationship with his company.
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RADIO AMMANEZER8/08/2022The customer service has been excellent. I had some issues with my business ranking since we moved locations. Map ranks knew exactly what to do to get the issue resolved. I now am looking forward to the business ranking in three pack for Google maps again. Thanks Map Ranks!
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Shaun has made navigating the world of google business so easy! He was quick to respond and resolve my concerns. Highly recommend!
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