Google Business Profile (GBP) Location Data FAQs

Find out the answer to some of the frequently asked questions about Google location data

Last updated on August 23rd, 2022

What are Google's guidelines for business name and address format?

Google has strict rules in regards to the name of your business as well as how to enter the address. 

You are advised to use your business' real-world name and insert the exact address of your business. A PO box will not be accepted.  

You can provide more details of your business via other fields directly in our platform which will reflect in Google Business Profile.

Click here for details on business name and address rules



When does Google use the short and long descriptions?

Google prefers the long description and limits the characters to 750. 

Our platform supports long descriptions of up to 1000 characters. If the long description of a location exceeds the 750 character limit, Google will automatically take the short description instead of the long one.



How many photos can I upload to my Google Business Profile (GBP) account through the platform?

A maximum of 100 photos can be uploaded to a Google Business Profile entry through our API.

Please note: Photos which have already been uploaded in Google Business Profile are added to the photos that our platform will upload.



Can I impact the order of the displayed photos for my Google listings?

No, it isn't possible to have a direct impact on the order of the photos for each Google listing.

Google uses an automated system to determine the order of the photos and the most relevant photo is shown first (this is decided by Google and is potentially based on user clicks).

Google generally prefers landscape photos and high-quality photos - with high resolution and no transformation by filters or photoshop.

You may also take a look at Google's photo guidelines for bulk locations.



What happens to my logo and cover in Google Business Profile if I add different photos on the platform?

If you already have a photo marked as logo or cover picture in Google Business Profile this will be overwritten with the logo or landscape picture uploaded in the app. Any other pictures you uploaded as photos in the tool will be added to the existing photos.

 

Will the photos on the Google Business Profile (GBP) location be deleted if connect to the platform?

This article explains what happens to your photos once connected to the platform

Connecting to the platform will not delete the existing photos on the Google location.

We can only delete photos on Google Business Profile that were uploaded via the platform. All photos that are uploaded via the Google Business Profile UI directly cannot be deleted via our platform. 


Have a look at some example scenarios in which we update or delete photos from Google Business Profile.

Photos uploaded by the owner

  • Scenario 1: There are no existing photos in Google Business Profile. The owner of the location uploads photos to the platform and then connects the location to Google Business Profile. The photos will be submitted to Google Business Profile after the next sync.
    • If we delete these photos from the platform and sync, the photos will be removed from Google Business Profile.
    • If we disconnect Google Business Profile from our platform, remove the photos from the platform and connect again, we will only remove the photos in Google Business Profile, which were previously uploaded by us.

  • Scenario 2: There are already existing photos for the location in Google Business Profile, but not in our platform.
    After a sync, the existing photos will not be removed from Google Business Profile and not added to the location's photos in our platform but pulled as Profile suggestions
    • If you choose and confirm them or upload the photo-URLs from your Google Business Profile-export, we will update the location's profile and add the photos from Google Business Profile to the photo section. This way you can add the photos to other directories. This action will NOT enable you to delete the photos in Google Business Profile.
    • If you choose not to pull the photos into the location profile, by confirming the suggestions without choosing any photo at all, the photos will be removed from the Profile suggestions section on the platform. This action will NOT delete the photos from your Google Business Profile profile. 
    • As soon as you upload new photos to your profile, the photos in the suggestions section will be removed. This action will NOT delete the photos from your Google Business Profile profile.


Photos generated by Users

Photos uploaded by Users will be pulled into Customer Feedback Inbox as a dataPoint/Review.

We don't delete visitors generated photos. However, our customers can contact Google Business Profile Help and request the removal of a photo uploaded by visitors of the location if this photo violates the Google Maps photo policies.



Best Practices

  • If you are an Enterprise client we suggest the following steps:
    • Export the data from Google Business Profile
    • Copy and paste the URLs of the photos in our import file
    • Import the photos to the platform
  • If you are an SMB client:
    • Connect your location to Google Business Profile
    • Choose the suggestions displaying the Google Business Profile photos
    • Confirm the chosen suggestions









How can I manage two different locations which have the same address, without Google identifying them as duplicates?

This has to do with the NAP data - Name, Address, Phone number - which need to differ as much as possible.
At least 2 out of 3 pieces of information should vary from one location to the other.



A new location is close to an old, verified one - should I overwrite it or create a new listing?

In the case of rebranding, a location changing its address, or a new opening, the question often is should I rewrite the existing listing or create a new listing? Google follows the following rule: 

  • If the new listing is within a radius of 5km distance from the existing one, there is a higher chance that Google will see it as a duplicate, in case the phone number and the category are the same (even in the name and address differentiate) => if possible, overwrite the listing
  • If the new listing is more than 5km away from the existing one => create a new listing
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What is the Google short name & URL and how can it be used?

You can create a short name, or a custom name, for your Google Business Profile Profile to make it easier for customers to find you.

When you share your short name, customers can enter the short name URL in the browser’s address bar, like “g.page/[yourcustomname],” to go directly to your Business Profile.

Find more information and to learn how to create your shortname and URL on Google Business Profile here

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