How to Update Your Google Business Profile Main Photo

Explore the importance of updating your Google Business Profile main photo because it can lead to a 35% increase in clicks and 42% more driving direction requests, according to Google.

Your target consumers are visual beings, after all. People typically look at images before they get to your business text details.

With an up-to-date cover photo, it is easy for customers to find your listing online. It also preserves their interest, encouraging them to explore your business and learn what service or product you offer.

More importantly, it keeps you relevant and competitive – crucial assets to overcome your fiercest business rivals.

It’s good that updating your Google Business Profile main photo takes a few simple steps.

We will make it easier by walking you through the how-to process and giving you valuable tips on cover photo optimisation.

Importance of Updating Your Google Business Profile Main Photo

Before proceeding, let’s establish why you should update your business photo first. There are several reasons, but here are the most important:

• It attracts customers. According to Google, business profile owners with photos get 35% more clicks and 42% more driving direction requests, respectively. However, no one will look at listings with low-quality, outdated, or blurry pictures. Photos that look real, timely, and professional inspire trust in users. Remember, first impressions matter.
• It boosts SERP ranking and local positioning. Uploading a business photo makes you searchable. In addition, Google rewards listings that regularly publish or update their content. With an updated Google Business Profile main photo, you’ll likely appear on top of the local search results and Google Maps.
• It defines your business identity. Most search users do not have the time or attention span to read lengthy business details. An up-to-date image can make communication easier and faster. It lets you effortlessly relay your brand message, products or services, and more.
• It helps beat competitors. Your business is against thousands of listings or sites offering the same products or services. A great-looking main photo can grab customer attention and outperform your strongest rivals.

Steps to Update Your Google Business Profile Main Photo

We’ve established that a cover photo update can significantly enhance your online presence, traffic, competitiveness, and conversion rate.

The next step is to learn how to do it. Here’s an easy-to-follow guide to refer to.

Accessing Your Google Business Profile

Assuming you already have an active Google Business Profile account, start with these steps:

1. Sign in to your Google Business Profile account through your desktop.
2. Select the business listing you wish to update if you have multiple locations.
3. On the left-hand menu, click Add Photo to bring out the photo options.
4. Select the Cover Photo option. If your profile has an existing cover photo, you will get a prompt to replace it and select a new one.

Choosing the Right Main Photo

Before we discuss the rest of the steps, we’d like to stress that uploading just about any image is not good.

If you upload a poorly taken or cropped image, customers may interpret this as thoughtlessness or negligence.

So, choose a picture that best reflects your business identity. Consider these features when you update your Google Business Profile main photo:

• Brand centric. Choose a business cover photo that showcases the uniqueness of your operations, products, and services. Proudly display your storefront or staff members to establish a more personal link with your potential customers.
• High quality. Feature a well-lit and visually attractive main photo that represents your business. Avoid uploading stock photos that lessen authenticity. You can also check out this Google guide on business-specific photos for ideas.
• Realistic. Excessive edits, filters, and other photo manipulation techniques lessen credibility. Google discourages these as they can mislead customers, too. So, go for other means of enhancements instead, like natural lighting, good photo angles, or quality cameras. Hire a professional photographer if your budget allows it.

Here are some specific cover image examples for different industries based on the image features listed above:

• Service-based business: display an image of your team at work, successful projects, or satisfied customers.
• Healthcare sector: feature your bright and inviting reception area or treatment rooms with your team of professionals. Showcase your facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, too.
• Law firms: choose a cover image showcasing the specific type of law your firm practices. You can also feature a photo of your staff to display your expertise in providing legal assistance.
• Home services: upload a recent photo of one of the properties your company worked on. Pick one that displays your interior design, renovation, or repair skills. A before-and-after photo is worth considering, too.

Uploading a New Main Photo

After signing in to your account, continue on with these steps to upload:

1. Choose the Cover Photo to bring out the Add Cover Photo window. Click on Select Photo to open your computer’s file explorer.
2. Before selecting, make sure to use the proper image editor to comply with Google’s guidelines for photos:

          Format: JPG or PNG

          Size: between 10 KB and 5 MB

          Recommended resolution: 720 px tall and 720 px wide

          Minimum resolution: 250 px tall and 250 px wide

3. When done, choose the image and upload it by clicking Open. This photo will now be at the By Owner section.
4. Locate the newly uploaded image thumbnail and click on the three vertical dots at the top-right corner. Select “Set cover photo” from the menu.

Previewing and Publishing the Updated Main Photo

1. Check the preview that will appear after selecting your new cover image. It will show how it will look in the search results and listing page.
2. If the photo looks good, click Save, then Done to finish updating your Google Business Profile main photo. Remember, it may take up to 24 hours before your photo updates take effect.
3. When Google publishes your updated main photo, review it on Google Search and Maps. Check your cropping job and ensure the image looks good. Test how the photo displays on desktop and mobile devices, too.

Remember that people often search for businesses and services through smartphones and tablets. So, your cover photo should not affect customer experience regardless of the device type.

Tips on Optimising Your Google Business Profile Main Photo

Here are a few more best practices you can apply to enhance the impact of your cover picture:

• Periodically update your Google Business Profile main photo. Consider featuring seasonal changes or offers, new products and services, recent workplace improvements, and other similar developments. This habit keeps your business relevant and customers engaged.
• Make the most vital part of your photo front and centre. Google will present your cover photo in square or landscape form according to screen type. Keeping the focal point of your image in the middle ensures your image looks good anywhere.
• Do not put too many text overlays on your cover photo. Superimposed text can only obstruct parts of your image and may not look great on smaller screens. Focus on essential photo elements (e.g., your product, logo, tagline) and their strategic positioning.
• Take advantage of user-generated content. Use social media posts or reviews from happy customers as your cover photo for added realistic, positive appeal. Make sure to ask permission from the original owners before using their material.
• Prepare several possible main photos and let others evaluate them. Ask your staff or people you trust to pick their favourite photo sample and get a consensus. The winning picture will likely appeal to your customers as well.

Conclusion

Updating your Google Business Profile main photo is a crucial competitive edge for your service-based business. It attracts potential customers, ensures their best experience, and keeps them engaged.

An up-to-date cover photo also helps boost your rankings and beat your competition.

Thankfully, the steps to update it are straightforward.

However, uploading any photo is not good enough. It has to be high quality, brand-centric, and realistic to attract search users. Make sure it follows Google’s photo guidelines as well.

Lastly, apply best practices to enhance the impact of your business profile cover photo.

It’s a doable strategy with immediate returns. So, don’t disregard this valuable step. Constantly create a visually appealing cover photo to make your business stand out.