The Photographer's Guide to Google My Business Image Size Requirements

As a photographer - whether for work or pleasure - everyone knows the job isn’t finished immediately after a shoot.

Between processing, edits, delivery, etc., a list of tasks must be made before a project is finished. And one of those tasks often is embedding said photos in a Google My Business listing.

Thanks to Google’s constantly evolving algorithm, it’s necessary for all business types to optimize their listings, which means adjusting photo and video requirements to match Google’s needs.

Below is a comprehensive infographic illustrating 2020’s image size requirements, according to Google.

The non-negotiables

As we mentioned, there’s vital information every business must provide on their listing to achieve any sort of visibility.

This includes,

• A profile photo
• Industry
• Operation hours
• Phone number
• Address
• Website URL
• Visual Content

Since Google has the last word on search content, and 2019’s number 9 most valuable Google ranking factor was optimized images, all listing photos must follow this algorithm.

That said, here’s our guide to Google My Business image size requirements for 2020 for a listing that stands out.

What types of photos do I need?

Regarding the types of photos that have shown to be most valuable on a listing, the most important - if not essential - images to be of quality and clarity are the cover and profile photos since they’re the first ones seen.

A good thing to remember is that the cover photo should be the preferred photo for your listing. Often businesses think a profile photo represents a company. Still, although the cover photo doesn’t always register as the first one users see, it’s labeled as the preferred one by Google.

Aside from those two, a good rule is always to have variety.

People gauge whether or not a website/business is worthy of visiting based on the company’s listing, so a collection of photos or videos that showcase a good portion of your brand and products can be informative and trustworthy.

Google Business Profile listing image size requirements

Because Google listings are fair game for user-generated content, individuals can - and will - post photos of your business online.

The problem is, often, these are low-quality photos that don’t always show your business and community in the best light. And unfortunately, Google doesn’t prioritize this content, so professional photography is typically necessary.

With that being said, here are Google’s requirements for images to effectively optimize business listings:

• Size requirements: Between 10KB and 5MB
• Minimum resolution: 720 x 720 pixels (see guide for variations)
• Quality: The most compelling photography reflects the actual space and is focused and well-lit.
• Format: JPG or PNG

And for those who value video content as much as we do, here are Google’s guidelines:

• Duration: Up to 30 seconds long
• File size: Up to 100MB
• Resolution: 720 pixels or higher