Module 3

Uploading Photos

Your photos are ready. Now let's upload them to your Google Business Profile correctly, setting appropriate categories and making sure your best photos are featured prominently.

Uploading Photos to Your Profile

What to do

Here's the step-by-step process for adding photos to your Google Business Profile.

Step by step

  1. Sign in to business.google.com and select your listing if you have multiple.
  2. Find the Photos section. Look for "Photos" in the left menu or within your profile editor. Click to open it.
  3. Click "Add photos" or the + icon. You'll see an option to upload new photos.
  4. Select the photo category (if prompted). Google may ask what type of photo this is — cover, logo, interior, exterior, etc. Choose the appropriate category.
  5. Select your photo files. Navigate to where you saved your prepared photos and select them. You can upload multiple photos at once.
  6. Wait for uploads to complete. Larger files take longer. You'll see a progress indicator.
  7. Repeat for remaining photos. Continue uploading until all your photos are added.

Understanding Photo Categories

What to do

Google organises photos into categories. Assigning photos to the right category helps them display in the right context.

Step by step

  1. Logo: Your business logo. This displays as a small icon next to your business name in some views.
  2. Cover photo: Your main banner image. Shows at the top of your profile. Choose your single best photo.
  3. Interior: Photos showing the inside of your business.
  4. Exterior: Photos showing the outside of your business, including signage and entrance.
  5. At work: Photos showing your team working, delivering services, or engaging with customers.
  6. Team: Photos of your staff and team members.
  7. Food and drink (for restaurants/cafés): Photos of menu items.
  8. Product: Photos of products you sell.
  9. Additional/other: Photos that don't fit other categories.

Setting Your Cover Photo and Logo

What to do

Your cover photo and logo are special — they need to be explicitly set, not just uploaded.

Step by step

  1. To set your logo: In the Photos section, look for "Logo" or "Identity". Click to add or change your logo image. Upload a square image of your logo — it will be cropped to a circle in some views.
  2. To set your cover photo: Look for "Cover photo" in the Photos section. Upload or select your best overall photo. It should be landscape (wider than tall) and represent your business well.
  3. Check how they display. After setting, search for your business on Google and see how the cover and logo appear. Adjust if they're cropped awkwardly.

Uploading Photos from Your Phone

What to do

You can upload photos directly from your phone using the Google Maps app. This is convenient for adding photos on the go.

Step by step

  1. Download the Google Maps app if you don't have it (available on iPhone and Android).
  2. Sign in with the same Google account that manages your Business Profile.
  3. Search for your own business in the app.
  4. Tap on your listing to open the full profile.
  5. Find the "Add photo" option. Tap it and you can either take a new photo or select from your camera roll.
  6. The photo will be associated with your listing. Since you're signed in as the owner, you'll have more control than photos submitted by random users.

After Upload: Processing and Review

What to do

Understand what happens after you upload photos and when they'll appear on your listing.

Step by step

  1. Photos may take time to appear. After uploading, photos are processed and reviewed. This can take from a few minutes to 24-48 hours.
  2. Google reviews photos for guideline compliance. They check photos don't violate policies (inappropriate content, excessive text, stock photos, etc.).
  3. Some photos may be rejected. If a photo doesn't appear after 48 hours, it may have been rejected. Check it meets all guidelines and try again.
  4. Check your listing to confirm. Search for your business on Google and view your profile. Are your new photos appearing?

Organising and Managing Your Photos

What to do

Once uploaded, you can manage your photo library within Google Business Profile.

Step by step

  1. View all your photos in the Photos section of business.google.com. You'll see both photos you've uploaded and photos customers have added.
  2. Delete photos if needed. For photos you've uploaded, you can delete them if you no longer want them shown. Click on the photo and look for a delete option.
  3. You can't delete customer photos, but you can report them if they're inappropriate or don't actually show your business. Look for a flag/report option.
  4. Monitor regularly. Check your photos monthly. Remove outdated photos (old staff members, discontinued products) and add fresh ones.

Understanding Customer-Uploaded Photos

What to do

Customers can also add photos to your listing. Understand how this works and how to manage it.

Step by step

  1. Anyone can upload photos. Customers who visit can add photos to your listing through Google Maps. You can't prevent this.
  2. Customer photos can be good. Genuine customer photos showing real experiences can boost trust and authenticity.
  3. Customer photos can also be bad. Someone might upload an unflattering photo, a photo from a bad day, or even a photo that isn't of your business.
  4. Review customer photos regularly. Check what customers have uploaded. If something is inappropriate or incorrect, report it to Google.
  5. To report an inappropriate photo: Find the photo in Google Maps, click on it, and look for the three-dot menu or flag icon to report it.
  6. Encourage happy customers to add photos. If a customer takes a great photo, ask them to share it on Google. Good customer photos help your listing.

Upload complete when: