How Can I Fix ‘Not Approved’ Google Business Photos?
If Google is rejecting your business photos, the issue isn’t always that pictures are misleading. Google can also flag images for quality, content, and copyright issues.
Problems With Image Quality
Low-quality images don’t do your business or customers any favors. Google doesn’t accept pictures that are:
- Blurry or out of focus
- Grainy or pixelated
- Too dark
- Too small
- Too far away
- Not oriented correctly (e.g., upside-down or sideways)
Don’t take outdoor photos with excessive contrast or shade. Turn on plenty of lights indoors and avoid pointing your camera toward windows; shoot “across” or away from them instead.
Size Issues
To meet Google Business Profile requirements, photos must always be at least 250 pixels by 250 pixels. Aim for at least 720 by 720 pixels. An image with 1000 by 1000 pixels is under 4 MB, so it would still fit Google guidelines. Anything larger is likely to be rejected.
The pixel resolution changes when you crop an image. Instead of cropping a zoomed-out picture, it’s better to snap a closer image.
The Wrong Format
Google Business Profile only supports JPG or PNG files. These are common formats for smartphones and internet applications.
If you use a digital camera to take pictures, however, you may run into RAW or DNG files. You must first convert these large image files to JPG with Photoshop or a similar application.
Speaking of Photoshop, another common mistake with image formats is editing pictures and saving them as a PSD (Adobe Photoshop) file. Instead, export the image as a JPG and upload it to your Google Business Profile.
Too Much Text
Aside from your logo picture, Google doesn’t want business profile pictures to have excessive text or promotional content. Aim for less than 10% text, and keep it near the bottom. There are plenty of better places on your Google Business Profile to describe your products and services.
Copied or Copyrighted Content
Google can reject your business photos for several types of copyright issues:
- Employees are wearing T-shirts with branding (e.g., REI or Nike)
- The photo is watermarked
- The image comes from another website
- There are large logos in the background
- You’re trying to use stock photography
Duplicate photos are another reason why Google may reject your business photos. If you’ve used the same image in other website content, don’t add it to your business profile.
Inappropriate Content
Google’s guidelines for user-generated content prohibit:
- Violence
- Hate speech
- Illegal, restricted, or dangerous items
- Nudity
Your photo can get rejected if any of these elements are present. Gun shops, fireworks vendors, bars, liquor stores, and similar businesses have to carefully choose store images.
Personal Information
Remove any images that capture personal information without consent because they are prohibited on your Google Business Profile. This includes full names (not employee name tags), financial information, and biometric details, such as faces.
Google encourages taking pictures of your employees for your profile, but the same doesn’t apply to store customers. Of course, if someone agrees to smile for the camera, that’s fine.
How Long Do I Have To Wait To Add Images to My Google Business Profile?
If you just claimed your business on Google Maps, you need to wait a few weeks before uploading images. This grace period gives Google time to verify your ownership and prevent deceptive content.
Find Out Why Your Google Business Profile Photos Are Getting Rejected
Images are a huge part of your brand identity. They showcase the friendly, down-to-earth team behind your company and help people trust you.
It’s worth taking the time to figure out why your photos are being rejected on your Google Business Profile. At BKA Content, we can help you discover what’s going on. We’re experts at local search optimization, including creating an attention-grabbing profile with stellar content, images, and keywords. Reach out for help today.
