Google Business ProfileModule 3: Trust and activityLesson 8 of 10
Course progress70%
17 min lesson · Updated August 2026
How should photos, updates, products and services be used?
Use current, truthful photos and supported posts, product or service features to help customers evaluate the real business, while following content, rights and category rules and accepting that feature availability varies.
What you will learn
By the end, you will understand:
Plan a useful truthful profile media set
Use posts and action buttons within current policies
Maintain product/service information without assuming universal feature access
Visual explainer
See the idea clearly.
★★★★★
Real exterior, interior, team, service and product evidence forms a current profile gallery; a dated update and accurate service information support customer decisions while restricted or misleading content is rejected.
Photos should answer visit and trust questions
Type
Job
Exterior/entrance
Help customers recognize and access the real location.
Interior
Set accurate expectations about the environment and accessibility.
Team at work
Show genuine people and process with consent and safety.
Product/service
Demonstrate what is actually available without misleading editing.
Result/evidence
Show truthful work where rights, privacy, claims and category rules permit.
Use real, current and rights-cleared media
Google’s photo/video and prohibited-content policies apply to owner uploads. The business is also responsible for applicable law. Secure photographer, subject, music and location rights as needed; do not expose customer data.
Heavy filters, unrelated stock images or AI-generated “location” photos can misrepresent the real business. If synthetic or staged imagery is used in an allowed context, do not present it as documentary evidence.
Owner and customer images coexist
Customers may add photos and photo updates. Monitor them for accuracy and policy issues, but do not assume every unflattering image is removable. Report specific violations through supported tools.
Keep owner images current so customers can recognize the real place, entrance, team and offering despite third-party contributions.
Posts communicate timely information
Where available, Business Profile posts can share updates, offers and events with text, media and supported action buttons. Google reviews posts against content policy, and visibility/status can change.
Google’s current policy does not allow phone numbers in post content; use the supported Call action tied to the verified profile number. Regulated-industry restrictions and hotel offer restrictions also apply.
A useful post brief
Customer-relevant update
Correct dates and availability
One clear visual
Supportable claim
Trusted destination link
Supported action button
No phone stuffing
Regulated-content check
Rights/consent checked
Removal/update date
Products and services describe actual availability
Supported product, service or in-store inventory features vary by category and region. Use accurate names, descriptions, prices and availability. Do not create deceptive product entries to target unrelated queries.
The website or commerce system should remain the authoritative source for complete terms, stock, delivery and policies. Check how profile information appears on mobile and desktop.
A monthly evidence refresh
01
Review customer questions
02
Capture current real evidence
03
Remove obsolete owner media where supported
04
Update services/products
05
Plan timely post
06
Check links/actions
07
Review customer media
08
Record rights and next review
Real-world example
Example: a café becomes easier to visit
Example
The café uploads a clear street entrance, menu area, accessible doorway and current seating photos. A holiday-hours post links to the official page. It does not use a generated luxury interior that does not exist or place a phone number repeatedly in post text.
Try this
Plan a six-image evidence set
Choose six real images that answer where the business is, what it looks like, who serves customers, what is offered and how access works. Record owner, consent, capture date and replacement date.
Common questions
Questions beginners ask.
What photos should a profile include?
Useful real evidence such as exterior, interior, team, product/service and access details appropriate to the business.
Can stock images be used?
They may be inappropriate when they imply a real location, team, product or result; prioritize truthful business-specific media.
Can customers upload photos?
Yes. User contributions can appear and should be monitored for policy violations or inaccuracies.
Can a phone number appear in a post?
Google’s current posts policy disallows phone numbers in post content; use the supported Call button with the verified number.
Do all businesses have posts, products and services?
No. Features vary by category, country, device, profile state and Google changes.
Can hotels post offers?
Google’s current guidance allows hotel updates but restricts hotel offer posts/deal content in this feature; check the live policy.
Should old posts be deleted?
Review expired or misleading posts and use supported management options; ensure permanent information lives in stable fields or the website.
Can AI-generated location photos be used?
Do not use synthetic imagery to misrepresent a real place; assess policy, rights and disclosure for any permitted conceptual use.
