On weekends and holidays yes but during the week it’s a real struggle @WilfriedB
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Yes unfortunately others had the same problem @shunsader. It’s just the way the collage decided to order the photos differently to the order shown in Poll #3 but as @tony_b mentions here, the collage is not relevant. As you did eventually pick up, I tried to cover for this by way of additional notation but who reads the fine print right? Then I decided to simply add a second poll on topic #3, and this poll is dedicated to the order question.
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At the end of each of the three polls I presented a collation and summary of the discussion on that part of this trilogy and the brief summary here collates the predictions and reasoning shared by Local Guides across the three polls. As the poll results remain hidden until closure, this analysis focuses on the collective insights and prevailing theories before the actual view counts are revealed.
Poll #1: Night Photos (Angled vs. Straight-On)
- Local Guides grappled with the impact of the photo’s angle versus a straight-on view in nighttime conditions.
- Arguments revolved around the angled shot potentially being more visually appealing, capturing more context, or better showcasing illuminated signage.
- Others favored the straight-on shot for its direct representation of the storefront.
- Factors like lighting, clarity, focus, and adherence to the rule of thirds were also considered.
- The underlying concept of “clickability” and what might attract a user’s eye began to surface.
- Initial leanings were somewhat divided, with some favoring the angled shot (B) for its visual dynamism and others potentially leaning towards the straight-on shot (A) for its directness, though a clear consensus did not emerge in the provided snippets.
Poll #2: Day vs. Night Photos (Both Straight-On)
- The introduction of a daytime straight-on photo alongside the nighttime straight-on photo (carried over from Poll #1) shifted the focus to the impact of the time of day.
- A significant theme emerged suggesting the Maps algorithm might prefer daytime photos due to superior clarity, greater detail visibility, and a representation of the store during typical operating hours.
- The size and visibility of the ALDI sign in each photo became a key point of analysis.
- Perceptions of image sharpness and clarity varied between the two photos.
- The rule of thirds in relation to the signage was again discussed.
- The composition, including the amount of sky and parking area, was considered.
- The potential for the algorithm to prioritize helpful and informative content over purely aesthetic appeal was reinforced.
- Predictions leaned towards the daytime photo (B) based on its perceived utility for users, though some still favored the nighttime shot (A) based on factors like perceived sharpness or adherence to compositional rules.
Poll #3: Ranking All Three Photos (Night Straight-On, Night Angled, Day Straight-On)
- This final poll asked Local Guides to rank all three photos in order of predicted view count.
- The angled nighttime shot (B) continued to be favored by some for its comprehensive view and relatability.
- The daytime straight-on shot (C) gained significant support, particularly after Local Guides like @AT_Rome consulted AI models (Gemini) which strongly favored it based on clarity, directness, and user utility.
- The nighttime straight-on shot (A) was favored by those prioritizing specific elements like signage visibility and sharpness.
- The reasoning became more nuanced, with considerations for overall information content, personal aesthetic preferences, and even unique perspectives like assessing area safety at night.
- Uncertainty in predicting the algorithm’s behavior was openly expressed by some participants.
- The potential influence of the photo’s placement within the Google Maps interface was acknowledged.
Overarching Observations and Emerging Theories:
- The “Utility” Factor: The idea that the algorithm prioritizes photos offering practical information and ease of identification for users gained traction.
- Daytime Advantage: A growing consensus suggested a potential bias (or logical preference) within the algorithm for daytime imagery.
- The Role of Signage: The visibility, size, and even alignment of store signage remained a recurring point of analysis.
- Angle vs. Straight-On: Context Dependent? The preference for angled vs. straight-on shots seemed to depend on the specific context (night vs. day) and what aspects of the storefront were being emphasized.
- AI Influence: The increasing reliance on AI models like Gemini to predict the algorithm’s behavior highlighted a new layer of analysis in understanding Google Maps photo ranking.
- Personal Preference vs. Algorithmic Logic: The tension between what Local Guides personally find appealing and what they believe the algorithm favors remained a key theme.
This pre-closure summary captures the rich discussion and diverse perspectives shared by the Local Guides throughout this three-part experiment. The anticipation for the actual view counts is palpable, and the reveal promises to offer valuable insights into the complex factors that influence photo ranking on Google Maps. The next stage will involve comparing these predictions with reality and revisiting the reasoning of those whose insights proved most accurate. Are you ready!
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In case you haven’t noticed, 3/4 polls have now been closed. The BIG reveal will be announced later today, once the voting has been summarized. You’ll note that I haven’t closed Poll #4 so if you haven’t as yet voted for the finishing order you a small window of opportunity to do so.
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Finally, over the Easter break I found time to finish off this series of related topics. I thought it would be interesting to compare participants’ predictions with reality and after identifying the Local Guides who were most accurate in their predictions, to revisit the reasoning provided by those accurate predictors, and analyze why their insights might have been correct. I also thought that it would be useful to synthesize the key learnings from the polls.
From a detailed review of the comments made by Local Guides in all polls, the initial observations from vote counts are as follows:
- Poll #1 (Night Angled vs. Night Straight-On): Photo B (nighttime angled) was the clear favorite among voters for having the most views in this scenario. This suggests that many Local Guides believe the angled perspective is more engaging or better captures the essence of a storefront at night.
- Poll #2 (Day Straight-On vs. Night Straight-On): The daytime photo (Photo B in this poll, different from Photo B in Poll #1) received a slightly higher number of votes than the nighttime photo (Photo A). This lends some support to the theory that daytime photos are generally preferred or believed to garner more views. However, the margin was relatively small, indicating that the nighttime straight-on shot is still considered a strong contender by many.
- Poll #3 (Ranking All Three): The straight-on daytime photo (Photo C) received the most votes for being the single photo with the most views out of the three. The nighttime angled photo (Photo B from Poll #1) came in second, and the nighttime straight-on photo (Photo A) received the fewest votes for the top spot. This suggests a hierarchy in perceived view potential: Daytime Straight-On > Nighttime Angled > Nighttime Straight-On.
So now what everyone has been waiting for, here are the actual results!
- A (Nighttime Straight-On): 255,246 views - The clear winner by a significant margin.
- B (Nighttime Angled): 43,497 views - A distant second.
- C (Daytime Straight-On): 11,298 views - Trailing significantly behind the two nighttime shots.
The view counts provide a dramatic and very clear picture of the actual performance of the three photos and I’m sure that most will agree, this outcome is quite surprising, especially given the strong sentiment in the discussions favoring daytime shots and angled perspectives.
So now, with both the actual finishing order (A > B > C) and the view counts, the analysis will be even more revealing. Let’s start with an assessment of the accuracy of the Local Guides’ predictions. Keep reading…
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Assessment of the accuracy of the Local Guides’ predictions.
So in summarizing the overall accuracy of the predictions for each of the individual “most views” polls (Poll #1 and Poll #2) and for the “single most views” question in Poll #3.
Poll #1: Nighttime Straight-On (A) vs. Nighttime Angled (B) - Which has the most views?
- Actual Winner: A (Nighttime Straight-On)
- Votes for A: 28 (44%)
- Votes for B: 35 (56%)
- Accuracy: In this direct comparison, a larger percentage of Local Guides incorrectly predicted that Photo B would have more views than Photo A. This suggests that the initial intuition favored the angled shot in a nighttime scenario.
Poll #2: Nighttime Straight-On (A) vs. Daytime Straight-On (B - Note: different Photo B than Poll #1) - Which has the most views?
- Actual Winner: A (Nighttime Straight-On)
- Votes for A: 18 (47%)
- Votes for B (Daytime): 20 (53%)
- Accuracy: Similar to Poll #1, a slight majority of Local Guides incorrectly predicted that the daytime straight-on photo would outperform the nighttime straight-on photo. This reinforces the general preference expressed for daytime imagery.
Poll #3: Which of the three photos (A, B, or C) will have the most views?
- Actual Winner: A (Nighttime Straight-On)
- Votes for A: 14 (28%)
- Votes for B (Nighttime Angled): 15 (30%)
- Votes for C (Daytime Straight-On): 21 (42%)
- Accuracy: In this poll, the largest percentage of Local Guides predicted Photo C (Daytime Straight-On) would have the most views. Photo B (Nighttime Angled) was the second most popular prediction, and Photo A (the actual winner) received the fewest votes for the top spot. This indicates a significant underestimation of Photo A’s performance, likely due to the general preference for daytime and angled shots, and perhaps a lack of explicit consideration for cover photo influence.
Overall Summary of Prediction Accuracy (Most Views):
Across all three polls focusing on which photo would garner the most views in a specific comparison or overall, the actual winner (Photo A) was consistently under-predicted by the majority of participating Local Guides. The prevailing sentiment favored either the nighttime angled shot (B in Poll #1) or the daytime straight-on shot (B in Poll #2 and C in Poll #3). Keep reading…
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Identifying any Local Guides who consistently predicted the outcome or showed insightful reasoning!
The following Local Guides correctly predicted the final finishing order of A > B > C and a big congratulations to each of you amazing Local Guides:
Connecting Accurate Predictions with Insightful Reasoning:
Now, let’s look at the reasoning provided by some of the accurate predictors in our earlier discussions:
- Those consistently favoring Photo A (especially in Poll #1 and #2): Some users like @MarkAuchincloss, @StevenBerlin, @Steve_UK and @TerryPG consistently voted for Photo A, sometimes against the prevailing sentiment for angled or daytime shots. Their reasoning often focused on the clarity of the business name/sign in Photo A and the direct, unobstructed view of the storefront, suggesting an intuition about what makes a good primary representation, potentially aligning with cover photo selection criteria.
- Those correctly predicting the final order: @cmelanie, @StevenBerlin and @tony_b not only often favored Photo A but also correctly predicted the A > B > C order. Reviewing their earlier comments, there was sometimes a sense that the initial impact and clarity of Photo A, despite being nighttime, might give it an edge, even if they also acknowledged the potential appeal of the other shots. @cmelanie, for example, early on noted the sharpness of Photo A. @Trail_blazer considered the algorithm might favor a clear view of the business. @AT_Rome, while ultimately predicting C as most viewed and CBA as the order, provided significant analysis based on AI (Gemini), which leaned towards daytime clarity. This highlights the challenge of predicting algorithmic preferences versus user behavior or cover photo selection logic.
Overall Observations:
- A smaller subset of Local Guides consistently recognized the potential of the nighttime straight-on photo (A). Their reasoning often touched upon factors like clarity and directness, which could be relevant for a cover photo.
- The majority of participants were swayed by the intuitive appeal of the angled nighttime shot (B) or the daytime straight-on shot (C), reflecting common photographic preferences.
- The accuracy in predicting the final order was relatively low.
- While @cmelanie, @tony_b and @StevenBerlin are the only 3 Local Guide that correctly predicted the finishing order of the 3 photos in Poll #4, of these, Steven was the only one who consistently correctly predicted Photo A as the most viewed photo in Polls #, #2 and #3. So I think Steven did remarkably well.
This summary provides a good overview of the accuracy of predictions and links some of the correct calls back to the reasoning provided.
Some additional information:
In the details provided in each poll, a number of important pieces of information were provided about the photos including for example that they were all uploaded at approximately the same time and that none of the photos were edited before uploading. The fact that all photos were uploaded at the same time eliminates the possibility of upload timing significantly influencing the cover photo selection.
However, for obvious reasons we weren’t told that Photo A ( Night Straight-On) was the cover photo from day 1. In fact on just checking, it’s still the cover photo (see here). Photo B ( Night Angled) is in position #10 in the gallery for the POI and Photo C ( Day Straight-On) is in position #15. If you think about it, this strengthens the idea that the Google Maps algorithm or potentially a manual review guided by algorithmic preferences, made a deliberate choice to feature the nighttime straight-on photo (A) as the primary representation of the ALDI supermarket. The fact that the nighttime straight-on photo has been the cover photo for the supermarket’s listing on Google Maps would almost certainly explain its overwhelmingly high view count and suggests to me that the power of the cover photo placement for Photo A significantly outweighs the visual preferences or intuitive algorithmic assumptions held by many Local Guides.
Also, while the cover photo gets the most prominent display, users often don’t scroll far into the gallery to view other images extensively and to my mind, the steep drop-off in views from A to B to C likely reflects this typical user behavior on Google Maps listings.
So now it’s over to you. How did you go and what do you think?
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Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum richtigen Tipp @cmelanie
@StevenBerlin
@tony_b 
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Adam, thanks for finally bringing us to the end of this discussion. Or perhaps it is just the beginning as we analyze the analysis. 
So, even though you’ve revealed that Photo A is actually the cover photo, I find it hard to understand the large gap between that and the other two. There’s nothing “wrong” with them except they’re not in the “right” position in the list at the POI.
What we still don’t know is WHY the algorithm chose that one as the cover photo. But so long as it got chosen, it got the views.
Now that you’ve given us the link to the POI, I’ve made an interesting observation confirming a tactic that I often use. This ALDI supermarket has lots of internal shelf display photos on Google Maps, but you took a few external photos of the building, and one became the cover photo. This was the case with my Star Photo at the hardware store, and is often the case with restaurants when I post an external photo after all the food photos uploaded by their patrons. Nine of my top 10 photos are external, with the other one being a menu board inside. Eight of my top 10 photos are the cover photo, with the other two being of places where a new photo of mine has superseded the old cover, but hasn’t attained as many views yet.
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If I have enough non-redundant, I always post up to ten. Not always, but many times 2 or 3 get “semi hidden” (i..e. not even appearing under “By Me”), one or two or none make it under the top ten, the rest is pushed way down in the list. It always surprises me, which are selected and which are not, but one clue is “redundancy”: A and C are most similar. So A was pushed way down, but more distant than B, because it shows a different perspective.
I noticed, over time, the positions can change completely: the cover photo disappears completely and other one of mine is on top like in the following example:
I added this little former church on March 4, this photo showed 13 views next morning and appeared at position 3 after Google Street View. Until today, it increases in average 29 views daily.
However, less than three weeks later (March 21) it disappeared from the listing (got “semi hidden”), instead this photo is the cover until today with a daily average delta of 3 (thus doesn’t get updated daily).
At any time, there were only three out of my 6 photos shown on the listing. Two of those three did never show any views, while the third “semi hidden” has 1,385 views as of today, that is more than ten times more than those visible on the listing did get: 100, 25 and 14.
Of the two semi hidden with zero views, one was just for documenting the name of the church. while the other is quite similar to another which does appear on the listing.
I know, those numbers are extremely low and would be ignored by most of you, but I believe, they do tell a story. I hope, all my links work correctly.
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No need to apologise for the small numbers. It makes it easier for me to relate. I certainly don’t have anything taken after February 7th 2024, that looks like the 255,246 by @AdamGT.
Most times I post just one or two photos/videos, but here are a few examples where I did more:
- 103, 101, 78, 6
- 261, 9, 0
- 1859, 1666, 1077, 896, 276, 177, 69, 65, 25, 7
- 2854, 798, 110, 34, 29, 12, 0
- 32909, 19255, 15428
- 1006, 157, 17
- 0, 0, 0
- 642, 249, 68, 0
- 4871, 20, 13
- 1899, 1626, 663
- 91, 35, 31
- 1181, 992, 747, 590
- 25248, 4371, 296, 189, 51
- 3403, 1441, 472, 298, 218, 197, 58, 56
Some of the above instances are combos of photos and videos. Sometimes the algorithm puts my video ahead of my photos, but that’s still not showing up as predictable.
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@tony_b I agree there’s nothing wrong with the other two photos but I believe that once the cover photo is selected then to give a better user experience, any other similar photos are pushed lower to give prominence to photos that show something different about the POI like inside shots, photos of products on sale or meals etc. Then as I mentioned and as you would expect, users often don’t scroll far into the gallery to view other images and to my mind, the steep drop-off in views from A to B to C likely reflects this typical user behavior.
Yes we don’t know WHY. Could the business owner have some input on this? Is it that Photo A was determined to have better clarity of the business name/sign and direct, unobstructed view of the storefront, as suggested by some like @MarkAuchincloss, @StevenBerlin, @Steve_UK and @TerryPG who consistently voted for Photo A and sometimes against the prevailing sentiment for angled or daytime shots? Maybe (1) the AI decided on a storefront photo for this POI, (2) all contributed storefront photos are assessed and ranked, (3) the best is chosen and in the case of ties, one is chosen at random!
Great observation @tony_b. This is a tactic I too often use. If you look at the other storefront photos and the Street View shot, I believe it was too difficult a decision for the AI to make 
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I myself have also experienced this @WilfriedB and at the time wondered why.
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But my photo was added in June 2023 @tony_b 
Yes that’s correct, so maybe it was a poor comparison. But the point I was making is that lower numbers than that, are my “normal”, and it has gotten worse since the February fiasco last year.
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Unlike my earlier Local Guide days, I’m the same as you @tony_b and now rarely post more than 2 or 3 photos to any POI. There has to be something really special about a place for me to post more and if I do, I come back and see which have the greatest impact and cleanup then rather than wait for time to pass to do any cleaning up.
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Thanks for explaining @tony_b and I know well what you mean about the lower numbers!
Good idea, Adam. Except that as a victim of Google’s gamification, I presently don’t want to do much deleting. I need 80 more photos to get the Master Photographer badge within the remaining 276 days of 2025. That’s one photo every three days, and I’m doing more than that at the moment, but after all the discussion we’ve had in this thread, I need to be even more mindful of what the algorithm thinks about what I post.
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Haha @tony_b, another victim of the Local Guides gamification hey! Well it seems that you’ve set yourself a good goal and if you’ve learnt something from this thread, night-time square on, night-time angled, daytime square on, daytime angled you might be able to and then perhaps select and add 2 photos which you consider would best help Maps users and thus be attractive to the AI your challenge might be a walk in.
To give you some food for thought, with this topic and lengthy discussion in the back of my head, I took and uploaded the daytime photo shown below back in July 2021 of L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE and on Saturday we walked past this same POI after a nighttime show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and decided I shoot and uploaded a nighttime photo of it. Interestingly, the AI liked the nighttime shot and within minutes it became the cover photo for L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE…just saying Will see ow it goes!
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Yes Adam!! I like that nighttime photo too. I can see how it might dethrone the previous daytime photo and take the crown.