📸 Why Real Photos Make Your Google Business Profile Rank Higher

You know it when you see it.

When you're looking at a Google Business Profile and see a perfect stock photo of a smiling plumber with spotless overalls, you instantly know it's fake. Compare that to a profile with real photos - actual work trucks, real before-and-after shots, and photos of the actual crew getting their hands dirty. You can tell the difference immediately.

Your customers can too. And so can Google.

When customers search for home services in your area, does your business show up first? If not, the problem might be simpler than you think: your Google Business Profile needs better photos. Real ones.

Here's what most business owners don't know: Google looks at your photos to decide how high to rank your business. Real, authentic photos can boost your ranking and bring you more customers.

Why Photos Matter for Your Google Ranking

1. Customers Trust What They Can See

When people see real photos of your work, your team, and your location, they trust your business more. They're more likely to call you, ask for directions, or visit your website. Google notices this activity and ranks businesses higher when customers interact with them more.

2. More Photos = More Calls

Businesses with lots of good photos get hundreds of percent more phone calls than those without photos. When customers can see your work and your team, they feel confident calling you for help.

3. Fresh Photos Show You're Active

Adding new photos regularly tells Google your business is active and current. Google prefers to show businesses that are engaged and up-to-date over ones that haven't updated anything in months.

Three Quick Photo Tips You Can Use Today

1. Show Your Real Work (10 minutes)

Take photos of actual jobs you've completed. Before and after shots work great. Skip the stock photos - customers want to see your real work, not generic pictures.

2. Add Photos of Your Team (5 minutes)

Take pictures of yourself and your crew at work. Put faces to your business name. Customers like knowing who will show up at their door.

3. Update Monthly (ongoing)

Add 3-5 new photos every month. Take pictures of recent jobs, your truck, or your team. Fresh photos keep your profile active and ranking well.

What Photos Work Best

Take photos of:

• Your completed work (before/after shots)

• Your team in action

• Your vehicles and equipment

• Your business location

• Happy customers (with permission)

Avoid:

• Blurry or dark photos

• Stock photos from the internet

• Photos that don't show your actual business

The Bottom Line

Good photos on your Google Business Profile work like a 24/7 salesperson. They build trust, get more people to call, and help Google rank your business higher in search results.

Spend 20 minutes this week adding real photos to your Google Business Profile. Your phone will start ringing more often.

Looking to boost your website’s visibility? Click here to schedule a call and discover if our services are the right fit for your needs.

🖥️ Your Website Needs More Words (Here's Why Google Cares)

Picture this: You visit a home service website and see beautiful photos of completed jobs, but hardly any words explaining what they do or how they help customers. The site looks nice, but you have no idea if they handle your specific problem.

That's exactly how Google feels about your website.

Here's the problem: Too many home service websites try to sell with pictures alone. They skip the words that Google needs to understand what they do and when to show them in search results.

If Google can't read about your services, it can't match you with customers searching for help.

Why Local Words Matter Most

Here's something many business owners miss: Google needs to know WHERE you provide services, not just WHAT services you provide. If you don't mention your city and surrounding towns in your website copy, Google might not show you to local customers who need help.

Think about it: When someone searches "plumber near me" or "Springfield HVAC repair," Google looks for websites that mention Springfield or nearby areas. If your website talks about plumbing but never mentions your location, you're invisible to local searches.

Why Google Needs Your Words

1. Google Reads, Not Looks

Google is basically blind. It can't see your beautiful photos or understand what they mean. But it can read every word on your website. More words = more chances for Google to understand what you do and show you to the right customers.

2. Words Connect You to Searches

When someone searches "emergency plumber near me" or "HVAC repair," Google looks for websites with those exact words. If your site only has pictures and no text about emergency plumbing or HVAC repair, Google won't show you to those customers.

3. More Words = More Opportunities

Every word on your site is a chance to connect with a customer search. The more you write about your services, the more ways Google can find you and match you with people who need help.

Three Easy Ways to Add the Right Words

1. Describe Each Service in Detail (30 minutes)

Don't just say "plumbing services." Write about:

• Emergency pipe repairs

• Water heater installation

• Drain cleaning

• Bathroom remodeling

The more specific you are, the better Google can match you with customers.

2. Add Customer Problem Words (15 minutes)

Think about how customers describe their problems:

• "My toilet won't stop running"

• "Water heater making weird noises"

• "Basement flooding"

Use these exact phrases on your website so Google connects you with people searching for solutions.

3. Write About Your Service Area (10 minutes)

This is huge for local businesses. Google needs to know exactly where you work so it can show you to local customers. Include your city or town AND the surrounding areas you serve throughout your website:

• "Emergency plumbing in downtown Springfield"

• "Serving Oak Park, Riverside, and Forest Park"

• "HVAC repair for west side Chicago residents"

Don't just mention your location once - use it naturally throughout your content.

What to Write About

For each service page, include:

• What the service is

• Common problems it solves

• Why customers need it

• How you do it differently

• Your main city and surrounding areas you serve

• Emergency vs. scheduled service

Example: Instead of just "Drain Cleaning," write: "Emergency drain cleaning for clogged kitchen sinks, bathroom drains, and main sewer lines in Springfield, Oak Park, and Forest Park. Available 24/7 for urgent blockages that won't wait until morning."

Pro tip: Mention your service areas naturally throughout your content, not just on one "service area" page. Google notices when location names appear multiple times across your website. Don’t go overboard. A couple times per page is perfectly fine.

The Bottom Line

Pretty pictures get attention, but words get customers. Google needs to read about your services to show you in search results. Every word you add is another way for customers to find you when they need help.

Quick action: Pick one service page this week and add 200-300 words describing exactly what you do, what problems you solve, and where you serve. Your phone will thank you.

Looking to boost your website’s visibility? Click here to schedule a call and discover if our services are the right fit for your needs.