Why it’s important to upload quality photos on Yelp

When thinking about your brand online, whether it’s for a review site or social media, 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 are a differentiating factor.

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

Here are our 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 community service initiatives you support, there is more to your business than meets the eye. Photos can help highlight all aspects of your business and paint a full picture for customers.

That means doing away with stock images and photos of 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 you hear 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 is 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… what if it was worth $1,000? Photos are visually and emotionally enticing to potential customers.

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

People searching on Yelp spend almost triple the amount of time on a business page with photos, as opposed to one without. The longer they spend on your page, the more likely they are to spend money with your business.

Yelp data shows that on average, businesses with more than 10 photos on their page get 12 times more customer connections per month. That means more directions to your business, more calls, and more people clicking 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

You want the professionalism of your business to shine through in your pictures, so be sure that you 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’ are looking at. Good lighting is important, too. Natural light is the most ideal, but if your work environment is tucked away inside, use interior lights or even set up a flood light. 

The pictures should also be well composed. Center the subject of your image and be sure it’ is easy to recognize. Align the picture’s frame with the subject or structures in the room— like a wall, floor, or fence. Pictures that are crooked or off center look rushed and careless.

Beyond the quality of the images themselves, be sure you’re choosing the right type of photos to market your business—from showing an array of project sizes or dishes 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 picture. 

How to add photos to your Yelp page

Yelp for Business site on desktop or mobile browser

1. Visit Yelp for Business (Photos & Videos tab) and click Upload Photos.
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.