Why it’s important to upload quality photos on Yelp

When thinking about your brand online, like on a review site or social media, keep in mind that people make decisions based on what they see. Whether the search is for the best coffee shop, the most talented contractor, or the least scary dentist, photos can be a differentiating factor.

Choosing the right photos to market your business helps attract consumers and keep them engaged. They also help build trust with people trying to get to know you and what you offer.

Here are the top four reasons why great photos on your Yelp Page are so important for attracting customers.

1. Your potential customers want to know the real you

Your business has a lot of moving parts—all of which are unique reflections of you. Whether it’s the decor of your storefront, the team you surround yourself with, or sustainability initiatives you support, there’s more to your business than meets the eye. Photos can help highlight all aspects of your business and paint a fuller picture for customers.

That means doing away with stock images and photos of just your logo. Instead, opt for pictures that shine a light on why your business is such a great one. These photos don’t need to be professionally taken. Camera phones are like a mini photo studio in your pocket, so pictures you take with your phone will do the trick.

2. You can point customers to your specific services

One of the most common problems across industries is looking for the “right” customer. If you’re a contractor, maybe you only do commercial work, or as an exterminator you might specialize in bed bugs.

Posting photos that accurately depict your services allows consumers to make educated decisions when they need your help. By captioning your photos, you can specifically describe what you do by detailing what’s in the picture.

For example, if you’re a DJ that prefers wedding gigs rather than corporate parties, you can focus on wedding pictures and pair them with captions like, “Specializing in weddings large and small. Contact us today!” Captions can create an opportunity to encourage a consumer to choose you.

3. More photos = more revenue

A picture is worth 1,000 words, but what if it was worth $1,000? Photos are visually and emotionally enticing to potential customers, so their appeal can translate to sales.

Imagine you’re craving a milkshake. You go to Yelp, do a search, find a great local business with a mouthwatering photo of a milkshake. What happens next? Your wallet is out, and you’re ready to buy.

When photos are combined with accurate business information on your page, the results are clear. Businesses with a photo, website, phone number, and business hours listed on their Yelp Business Page averaged 7.6x more page views per month than businesses without that content. That means more engagement with your business, more calls, and more people clicking through to your website. Plus, as a business owner, there is no limit to the number of photos you can upload to your Yelp Page.

4. Images reflect the quality of your business

The professionalism of your business should shine through in your pictures, so be sure to upload images that match the quality of your work. Pictures should be large and clear—small or blurry images look unprofessional and make it difficult for customers to understand exactly what they’re looking at. Good lighting is important too. Natural light is ideal, but if your work environment is tucked away inside, use interior lights or even set up a flood light. 

Pictures should also be well composed. Center the subject of your image and be sure it’s easy to recognize. To avoid crooked or off-center photos that can give off the impression of carelessness, align the the subject with structures in the room, like a wall, floor, or fence.

Beyond the quality of the images themselves, be sure to choose the right type of photos to market your business—from displaying an array of project sizes, dishes, or products to including the right variety of angles and focuses. Lastly, avoid uploading logos or collages that make it difficult to see the subject of the photo. 

How to add photos to your Yelp Page

Yelp for Business site on desktop or mobile browser

1. Visit Yelp for Business (Photos and Videos tab).
2. You can either drag and drop or upload images from your computer.
3. Write a caption and click Upload.

Yelp for Business app

1. Log in to the app and tap More at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap on Photos & Videos.
3. Tap the camera icon that says Add Photo.
4. Either take a new photo by tapping Take Photo or select one from your library.
   Note: To upload from your library, Yelp will need access to your photos and videos.
5. View the preview and select Next.
6. Add a caption and tap Post.