For many small businesses, their Google Business Profile (GBP) is the first real impression a potential customer has. When someone searches “near me”, your profile often appears before your website, and that first glance can determine whether they call, visit, or move on.
In local search, your GBP frequently carries more weight than your homepage. If it looks outdated, incomplete, or poorly presented, customers make fast assumptions about the business behind it. A well-maintained profile, on the other hand, signals professionalism, reliability, and trust before a single click is made.
Summary: Google Business Profile Images
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing customers see when they search “near me”, so the images you use can directly influence calls, visits, and bookings.
This piece explains why photos matter for local visibility and trust, then breaks down the key image types to optimise: your logo/profile photo, your cover image, and a broader mix of real-world business photos (interior, exterior, products, team, and seasonal updates).
The post also covers how to use images in GBP posts (What’s New, Events, Offers), what sizes work best, and how to avoid common cropping issues that make thumbnails look messy.
The core message is simple: keep your visuals authentic, current, and consistent, because a well-maintained photo set makes your profile feel active and credible before someone ever clicks through to your website.
About Google Business Profile
Google Business Profiles provide essential details about your business: operating hours, address, contact details, reviews, and a direct link to your website. They also allow you to post updates, offers, and events directly on your profile, giving you an active space to engage with people searching nearby.
As local SEO expert Greg Gifford often says, you should treat your Google Business Profile as your new homepage and “optimise the hell out of it.”
It is easy to see why.
- Around 90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business.
- 72% of people say they are more likely to visit a business with a strong, complete Google profile.
- Businesses with complete and accurate profiles are 2.4 times more likely to appear in local search results.
Despite this, many small businesses still underuse their Google Business Profile. Incomplete details, low-quality photos, and unanswered reviews send the wrong message. Customers make quick judgements online, and a neglected profile can create doubt before any direct interaction takes place.
Your profile does not need to be perfect. It just needs to look real, cared for, and current. One of the simplest ways to achieve that is through images.
There are so many aspects to creating and managing a GBP that a small blog post like this won’t suffice (instead, I suggest you look into my Local SEO section to learn more about specific areas that you, as a business, can focus on and enhance).
Instead, today I’ll be going over how businesses can optimise the various image types and formats on their GBP to really “optimise the hell out of it“.
Why Imagery Matters On Your Google Business Profile
Photos play a bigger role than most business owners realise. They are the visual shorthand for your reputation. When a potential customer lands on your profile, they do not just read, they scan. Images give them instant reassurance about quality, atmosphere, and professionalism.
A great image can communicate more than a paragraph ever could. A poor one can cost you clicks.
That is why Google encourages businesses to upload a variety of high-quality, authentic images. These help customers visualise your space, products, and team before they step through the door. They also help Google understand what your business actually offers, which can influence how often you appear in map and search results.
Types Of Google Business Profile Photos
1. Profile Photos/ Logo Photos
Your profile photo, usually your logo, is the anchor of your business identity. It should be instantly recognisable and consistent across your website, social media, and listings.
Avoid dark or cluttered designs. A clear, centred logo on a neutral or transparent background works best.
Recommended Size: 720 x 720 pixels
Minimum Size: 250 x 250 pixels
Top Tip
“Keep the logo centred and use a transparent background so it displays neatly on any device or background colour. Consistency here strengthens your brand recognition.”
2. Cover Photos
Your cover photo sets the tone for your business. It is the large, main image that appears at the top of your profile, and often the first visual customers notice.
Choose a photo that reflects your brand’s personality the best, for example, the exterior of your shop, your workspace, or your most popular product or service.
Take the photo in good natural light, ensure it is sharp, and avoid filters that distort reality.
Recommended Size: 1024 x 576 pixels
Top Tip
“If your cover photo does not appear correctly, it is usually an issue of size or resolution. Resize or re-upload a high-quality version before assuming there is a technical problem.”
3. Additional Business Photos
Beyond the profile and cover photos, businesses can add a variety of additional images, these could include product shots, interior and exterior views, or team photos, all of which can influence customers’ buying decisions.
As a side note for each of these additional image types, Google suggests businesses should have at least three examples from each category except for common areas, where one should be sufficient.
Think of this section as your visual storytelling space. Include shots of your interior, your exterior, your products, your team, and even your customers (with permission).
Recommended Size: 720 x 720 pixels or larger
Top Tip
“Avoid stock images. Customers can recognise staged visuals instantly. Authentic, slightly imperfect shots feel genuine and perform better.
Photos taken by customers as part of their reviews — known as user-generated content (UGC) — are particularly valuable because they show your business as people really experience it.”
Ideas For Additional Business Photos
Strong visuals make a big difference in how a business is perceived online. High-quality, well-thought-out images can help build trust, showcase what makes a business unique, and make a Google Business Profile (GBP) stand out. Here are the key types of photos to focus on:
Interior And Exterior Photos
Take these during the day when lighting is best. Keep the space tidy and well-presented. The goal is to make the business feel easy to visit and comfortable to enter.
Product Shots
Show your bestsellers or signature work. Keep backgrounds simple and let the product take centre stage. Consistency in lighting and framing creates a polished impression.
Top Tip
“If you’re featuring multiple products, maintain consistency in lighting, background and style.”
Team Photos
Showcasing the team gives a human touch to the business, helping to build trust with potential customers. A photo of the team in action or even individual headshots can offer a personal connection.
Event Or Seasonal Photos
If businesses are hosting a special event, or is there a holiday sale coming up?
Use GBP post images to announce these. They’re a great way to stay relevant and keep your profile fresh (see below for the different types of post images businesses can utilise on GBP).
Google Business Posts And Image Use
As mentioned above, Google Business Profile posts are short updates designed to highlight offers, events, or timely business information. While they do not directly improve rankings, they increase engagement and can encourage actions such as calls, bookings, or website visits.
There are three main post types available to businesses. Each serves a different purpose and works best when paired with correctly sized images.
Adding high-quality photos or videos to the posts can make them stand out and increase the chance of appearing in local search results. To maximise the potential for these posts, Google has introduced call-to-action buttons like “Sign Up,” “Call Now,” or “Get Offer” to encourage customer engagement.
It’s important to note that GBP posts don’t boost search rankings; however, they do help to increase engagement and thus drive visitors to a website. These posts can also appear in Google’s local 3-pack and, as such, enhance visibility for the business in local searches.
Different Types Of GBP Posts & Image Sizes
Google also offers businesses the chance to create posts to promote products, share important information, or announce events. These posts stay live for 7 days and can help drive traffic to their website or get customers to take action, like booking a service or learning more about the business.
Adding high-quality photos or videos to the posts can make them stand out and increase the chance of appearing in local search results. To maximise the potential for these posts, Google has introduced call-to-action buttons like “Sign Up,” “Call Now,” or “Get Offer” to encourage customer engagement.
It’s important to note that GBP posts don’t boost search rankings; however, they do help to increase engagement and thus drive visitors to a website. These posts can also appear in Google’s local 3-pack and, as such, enhance visibility for the business in local searches.
As mentioned above, there are three various types of GBP posts available to business owners: ‘What’s New’ Posts, Event Posts and Offer Posts; read on to find out more about each post and the ideal image size.
‘What’s New’ Posts
These are great for sharing updates about the business, like a new product or service. Businesses can include up to 1,500 characters, along with images, GIFs, or videos.
Image Size:
Default: 720 x 540 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
Minimum: 480 x 270 pixels
Maximum: 2120 x 1192 pixels
Recommended: 1200 x 900 pixels
Video Size:
Resolution: 720p (1280 x 720 pixels)
Max File Size: 100 MB
Duration: Up to 30 seconds
Event Posts
Event posts stay live until the event’s end date, so they don’t expire after 7 days like other posts. Use these to promote upcoming events.
Image Size: 480 x 270 pixels
Aspect ratio: 16:9 for a clear display
Offer Posts
These are perfect for sharing discounts or promotions. You can add details like an expiry date and a coupon code.
Image Size:
Default: 1200 x 900 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
Minimum: 400 x 300 pixels
Maximum: 5000 x 3750 pixels
NB
It’s important to note that the images used for these posts will be displayed as thumbnails in different views, and unfortunately, a common complaint is that the images chosen for the post are poorly cropped in the thumbnail view, which may detract from user engagement!
The GBP Image Template
Creating effective visuals can feel daunting, especially without design experience. To make it easier, use my free Canva template (based of an original I saw Greg Gifford present at BrightonSEO), for optimising your Google Business Profile images. The layout and workflow have been adapted into my own practical template to suit day-to-day use by small businesses.
Canva is a free online tool, so you do not need any special software. The template includes four simple slides that guide you through choosing, positioning, and checking your images before uploading them to Google.
The goal is to help you design GBP visuals that stay sharp, correctly cropped, and consistently branded.
Free CANVA GBP Image Template
GBP IMAGE TEMPLATE
How To Use GBP Image Template
Creating engaging and professional post images can be a challenge. However, my GBP Image Template, makes it easy for you!
Click the image above to download a free Canva template that’s perfectly optimised for GBP post images to ensure you create eye-catching visuals for your profile, even when cropped for thumbnails.
When you open up the CANVA document, you will see four slides;
Slide 1: Visualisation
Slide 2: Example
Slide 3: Overlay
Slide 4: Add Your Own Image
Slide 1: Visualisation
The first one, as shown above, demonstrates the importance of getting the image proportions just right. Due to the way the thumbnail gets cropped, business owners run the risk of having an image look great on their profile but cropped and skewed within the thumbnail.
Slide 2: Example
The example shows how a full image is cropped when it’s placed into the template, so you can see exactly what gets trimmed in the thumbnail preview.
Slide 3: Overlay
On slide 3 you’ve got the image tool ready to go, the proportions are already set. Click anywhere on the slide, then Select All (Ctrl + A) and Copy (Ctrl + C).
Now go to slide 4 where you can add your own photo.
Slide 4: Add Your Own Image
Slide 4 is the photo frame. Add your photo into the frame first, then paste the overlay template from slide 3 on top. That lets you see what the thumbnail will show, and what parts of the image will be cropped out.
Once you’re happy, delete the overlay tool from the image and go to the top left and click Share, and then Download and download your business profile picture (Slide 3).
The Bottom Line
Your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful free marketing tools available. For many customers, it will be the first and sometimes the only place they see your business before deciding to visit or call.
High-quality, authentic images can make that moment count. They communicate professionalism, personality, and trust before a single word is read.
Treat your Google Business Profile as a living part of your business. Keep it current, keep it human, and keep it real. A complete, well-maintained profile will do more for your visibility than almost any other piece of online content you create. Remember, high-quality, relevant images can make a powerful first impression!
