Do Photos and Videos Affect Local SEO Rankings in 2026?

This is one of the most common questions in local SEO, and the answer is a little more nuanced than a simple yes or no. While photos and videos are not a direct, weighted ranking factor like your Google Business Profile categories or your review score, they have a massive and growing indirect impact on your visibility.

Think of it this way: Google does not rank you higher just because you have 100 photos. However, the actions customers take because of those photos can absolutely lead to higher rankings.

Let’s break down how this works in 2026.

The Real Impact of Photos and Videos: Engagement

Photos and videos are, without a doubt, the most powerful tool you have for driving customer engagement on your Google Business Profile. They turn a boring text listing into a vibrant, trustworthy preview of your business.

And the data proves it. According to 2025 industry research, the impact of visual content is undeniable:

• Profiles with videos see 50% more engagement than those with just photos .

• Adding new photos regularly can increase engagement by 25%.

• High-quality product photos can lead to a 45% increase in purchases.

Engagement means more clicks, more calls, more requests for directions, and more time spent looking at your profile. And this is where the connection to rankings happens.

How Engagement Affects Your Local Ranking

When a user clicks on your profile, calls your business, or visits your website from your listing, Google tracks this as a positive “behavioral signal.” These signals tell Google that customers who find your business are interested in it.

As we covered in our guide on how to rank higher in the Google Map Pack, behavioral signals are a direct ranking factor, accounting for about 9% of your total ranking power.

The chain of events is simple:

Great Photos & Videos → Higher Customer Engagement → Stronger Behavioral Signals → Higher Local Rankings

So, while photos are not a direct factor, they are the fuel for the engagement that is a direct factor.

A Simple Plan for Photos and Videos

You do not need to be a professional photographer to succeed. You just need a consistent plan, as we discussed in our post on how often to update your GBP.

• Add Photos Weekly: Aim to add at least two new, high-quality photos every week. This keeps your profile looking fresh and active.

• Showcase Your Business: Include a variety of photos, such as several exterior shots, interior photos to show the atmosphere, pictures of your team, and photos of your products or services in action.

• Don’t Forget Video: Video is a huge, underutilized opportunity. A simple 30-second video tour of your location or a customer testimonial can make a massive difference in engagement.

A Quick Note on Website Photos

It is also worth noting that for your actual website, the images you choose can have a more direct impact on your organic search rankings. A 2023 case study found that having high-quality photos that match what Google expects to see for a given search query can directly improve your ranking and even help you win the featured snippet.

The Verdict: Show, Don’t Just Tell

While photos and videos may not be a direct ranking factor in the traditional sense, they are one of the most powerful tools in your local SEO arsenal. They are the key to earning the customer engagement that Google rewards with higher visibility.

In 2026, a Google Business Profile without a steady stream of new, high-quality photos and videos is like a retail store with an empty window display. It might be technically open, but it is not inviting anyone inside.

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