Definition
Photos associated with a Google Business Profile play a crucial role in local SEO and conversions. According to Google, listings with photos receive 42% more direction requests and 35% more website clicks. Several photo types are available: logo, cover photo, interior, exterior, team, product, and food photos (for restaurants). Best practices include: publishing at least 10 quality photos, updating regularly (at least one new photo per week), using high-resolution images (minimum 720x720 pixels), adding geolocations in EXIF metadata, naming files with relevant keywords before upload, and responding to customer-added photos. Google can also automatically generate a cover photo from available photos. Photos contribute to the prominence factor and strengthen user trust.
Key Points
- Listings with photos receive 42% more direction requests
- Publish at minimum 10 quality photos, updated regularly
- Geotagged EXIF metadata and relevant filenames strengthen SEO
Practical Examples
Photo strategy for a restaurant
A restaurant publishes new photos of its dishes, ambiance, and team every week. In 3 months, its listing goes from 5 to 45 photos, and direction requests increase by 50%.
360 photo and virtual tour
A hotel invests in a Google Street View virtual tour of its rooms and common areas. The 360 photos are visible directly in the listing and generate longer interaction time, reinforcing the listing's prominence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Google recommends a minimum of 3 photos per category (interior, exterior, team, products). In practice, the best-ranked listings often have 25-50+ photos. Consistency is more important than initial volume.
You cannot directly delete customer photos, but you can flag inappropriate ones. The best strategy is to publish enough quality photos so your visuals dominate the gallery.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07