How to Optimise GBP Photos for Higher Rankings

Many small business owners in Malaysia are not aware that photos uploaded to their Google Business Profile (GBP) can have a significant impact on their local search rankings and customer trust. The truth is, photos are not merely decorative — they are a signal to Google that your business is active, relevant, and worthy of being shown to potential customers.

Based on the latest audit data from GBPAuditLab, 7.69% of businesses in Malaysia have fewer than 5 photos in their GBP profile — a weakness that can directly affect search rankings and click-through rate (CTR). This step-by-step guide will help you optimise your GBP photos correctly, from the basics all the way through to advanced techniques.

---

What You Will Need

Before getting started, make sure you have the following:

• A Google account that has been used to claim your GBP profile
• Access to Google Business Profile Manager at business.google.com
• High-quality photos of your business (minimum recommended resolution of 720 x 720 pixels)
• Basic photo editing software such as Canva, Adobe Lightroom, or a smartphone app
• Photo file names prepared with relevant keywords

---

Time Required & Difficulty Level

---

Why GBP Photos Matter So Much

Before diving into the technical steps, it is important to understand why GBP photos affect your ranking.

Google uses a variety of signals to determine which businesses should appear at the top of local search results (Google Maps and Google Search). Among these signals are profile completeness, recent activity, and user engagement. Regularly updated photos signal to Google that your business is active and relevant.

More importantly, from a customer's perspective, profiles with attractive and professional photos generate higher levels of trust. Imagine you are searching for a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur — between two options with the same rating, you would surely choose the one with clear and appealing food photos over one with no photos at all.

---

Step 1: Audit the Existing Photos in Your GBP Profile

Review and evaluate all photos already in your GBP profile before adding new ones.

1. Log in to business.google.com
2. Select your business
3. Click on the "Photos" menu on the left side
4. Go through each photo — take note of quality, relevance, and recency

[Image: Screenshot of the "Photos" page in Google Business Profile Manager, showing the left panel with photo category options such as "Exterior", "Interior", "Products", and "Team".]

Questions to ask yourself during the audit:

• Is this photo still relevant to your business today?
• Is this photo clear, bright, and not blurry?
• Are there any photos uploaded by customers that are inappropriate or misleading?
• When were the photos last updated?

Delete any photos that are low quality, irrelevant, or outdated. Poor photos do more harm than having no photos at all.

---

Step 2: Understand the Types of Photos GBP Requires

Categorise your photo needs according to the types supported by Google.

Google provides several photo categories in GBP. Each category plays a different role:

[Image: Infographic showing the Google Business Profile layout with arrows pointing to the positions of the logo, cover photo, and product photo gallery in the Google Maps search view.]

Important Note: Data from GBPAuditLab shows that 7.69% of Malaysian businesses have fewer than 5 photos. A good minimum target is at least 10 photos across all categories.

---

Step 3: Optimise Your Photos Before Uploading

Prepare each photo properly before uploading it to GBP.

Many business owners upload photos without any preparation — this is a common mistake that is easily avoidable.

3a: Ensure Photos Meet Technical Specifications

• Format: JPG or PNG (JPG is preferred for photographs)
• Minimum size: 720 x 720 pixels
• Maximum size: 5 MB
• Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square) for logo; 16:9 for cover photo

3b: Name Your Photo Files with Keywords

This is an optimisation technique that is often overlooked. Before uploading, rename your photo files with relevant keywords.

Examples of incorrect naming:

• IMG_20241015_093045.jpg
• photo1.jpg

Examples of correct naming:

• roti-bakar-shop-subang-jaya-exterior.jpg
• nasi-lemak-special-restaurant-ampang.jpg
• aircond-service-home-petaling-jaya.jpg

[Image: Screenshot of a file folder on a computer showing a comparison between unoptimised photo file names versus file names containing location and business keywords.]

3c: Adjust the Visual Quality of Your Photos

• Ensure photos are bright and not dark — use natural lighting where possible
• Avoid blurry photos — use Portrait mode or a tripod if necessary
• Make sure the main subject is clear and not cropped at important areas
• Use apps like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile for basic brightness and contrast adjustments

---

Step 4: Upload Photos to the Correct Categories

Upload your optimised photos to the appropriate categories in GBP.

1. In Google Business Profile Manager, click "Photos"
2. Click the "+" button or "Add photo"
3. Select the correct category (Exterior, Interior, Products, etc.)
4. Choose the photo file from your device
5. Wait until the photo has been successfully uploaded

[Image: Screenshot of the photo upload process in Google Business Profile, showing the category selection dialog with options for "Exterior", "Interior", "Team", and "Additional".]

Do this for each photo separately so that each one is placed in the most appropriate category. Do not upload all photos to the "Additional" category only.

Pro Tip: Upload photos in stages — do not upload 20 photos all at once. Upload 3 — 5 photos each week to demonstrate consistent activity to Google. This is more effective for improving rankings than uploading all photos at one go.

---

Step 5: Set the Correct Cover Photo and Logo

Choose the cover photo and logo that best represent your business identity.

The cover photo is the first image that potential customers see when they discover your GBP profile in search results. It should:

• Represent the business as a whole — not just a single product
• Be clean and professional — avoid photos that are too busy or cluttered
• Be sized at 1080 x 608 pixels (16:9 ratio) for optimum display

For the logo:

• Use your business's official logo
• Ensure it is clearly visible against a white background
• At minimum 250 x 250 pixels in size

[Image: Example of a Malaysian retail shop's Google Business Profile showing a professional cover photo with a bright exterior view of the shop and a clear business logo at the bottom left.]

---

Step 6: Monitor Photos Uploaded by Customers

Check and manage photos added by your customers on a regular basis.

Customers can also upload photos to your GBP profile — and this is a double-edged sword. Positive customer photos (photos of delicious food, quality products) can boost trust. However, inappropriate or misleading photos can damage your reputation.

How to monitor customer photos:

1. In GBP Manager, go to the "Photos" section
2. Click the "By customers" tab
3. Review each photo
4. If there is an inappropriate photo, click the three dots (⋮) on that photo and select "Report a problem"

[Image: Screenshot of the "By customers" tab in the Google Business Profile Photos section, showing a grid of photos uploaded by customers with the option to report inappropriate photos.]

---

Step 7: Monitor Photo Performance via Google Business Profile Insights

Analyse your photo performance data to understand which photos are most effective.

Google provides basic data on how many times your photos have been viewed by users. This data can help you understand what types of photos attract the most attention.

1. Log in to GBP Manager
2. Click "Statistics" or "Insights"
3. Scroll to the "Photos" section to see the number of views your photos receive compared to similar businesses

Use this information to add more photos similar to those receiving the highest number of views.

---

Step 8: Create a Consistent Photo Update Schedule

Plan a regular photo update schedule to keep your profile fresh.

Google prioritises active businesses. A profile that is consistently updated — including new photos — sends positive signals to Google's algorithm.

Suggested photo update schedule:

Remember: Consistency is more important than perfection. Photos taken with a smartphone but uploaded consistently are better than professional photos uploaded once a year.

---

Step 9: Run a Full GBP Audit with GBPAuditLab

Conduct a comprehensive audit to identify photo weaknesses and other GBP elements that need attention.

Optimising photos is just one part of an overall GBP strategy. Based on the latest audit data from GBPAuditLab:

• The average GBP audit score for Malaysian businesses is only 71.2/100
• 100% of businesses audited had no complete profile description
• 46.15% had no website link in their profile

This means that even if you have optimised your photos perfectly, there are still many other aspects that could be pulling your profile's ranking down.

GBPAuditLab helps you pinpoint exactly which elements of your GBP profile are weak — including insufficient photos, missing descriptions, outdated operating hours, and much more.

How to use GBPAuditLab:

1. Visit gbpauditlab.com
2. Enter your business name or GBP profile URL
3. Wait for the audit report to be generated (usually less than 2 minutes)
4. Review the "Photos" section of the report for specific recommendations
5. Follow the recommendations provided in order of score priority

[Image: Screenshot of the GBPAuditLab dashboard showing a GBP profile audit report with an overall score, photo checklist, and improvement recommendations arranged by priority.]

---

Summary: GBP Photo Optimisation Checklist

Use this checklist every time you update your GBP photos:

• [ ] Audit existing photos and delete irrelevant ones
• [ ] Ensure a minimum of 10 photos across all categories
• [ ] Name photo files with relevant keywords before uploading
• [ ] Photos meet technical specifications (size, format, resolution)
• [ ] Logo and cover photo are set correctly
• [ ] Customer photos are monitored and reported if inappropriate
• [ ] Photo update schedule is set and adhered to
• [ ] Comprehensive GBP audit conducted via GBPAuditLab

---

Conclusion

Optimising GBP photos is not merely a matter of aesthetics — it is a real and effective local SEO strategy. By ensuring your photos are high quality, relevant, correctly categorised, and consistently updated, you send a strong signal to Google that your business is active and deserves to be shown to potential customers in Malaysia.

Start by auditing your existing photos today, and do not forget to run a comprehensive GBP audit via GBPAuditLab to ensure no ranking opportunities are being missed.

To find out more about how to optimise your GBP profile comprehensively, do also read our articles on 10 Google Maps Ranking Factors in Malaysia You Need to Know, How to Write a GBP Business Description That's Optimised for Search, and Google Posts — How to Use Them and How Often You Should Post.