I’ve hunted tips and tricks - may have missed the answer I’m looking for.
A business-person I know personally has had the photo of another entirely different establishment added to his business in maps, and unfortunately it’s become the lead picture - so when people look they don’t see his business but an entirely different one.
The wrongly located picture has been added by a Local Guide Level 6.
The a correct frontage can be seen on StreetView (so whoever reviews my report should be able to tell it’s accurate, even if the don’t trust me).
The business owner’s reported it. Nothing changed. He thought I might be able to suggest something so I’ve reported it several times since mid-December - but got no response, no change, no explanation. To have the wrong picture attached as the lead picture is actually doing his business harm - Google Maps is supposed to help, not harm - and I don’t know what else to suggest.
Hello @PeteMHW did he claim the listing in Maps es being the owner? If so, he has more possibilities than other users, including setting the cover photo, if I remember correctly.
If he did not claim it, he should do so and can ask questions on Google My Business community.
See also What business owners can do that we can’t (Index) for more information
@PeteMHW
Hi! This is definitely frustrating, but there are a few steps you can take to resolve it:
Flag the Incorrect Photo – Click on the image, select “Report a problem,” and explain why it’s misleading. Encourage Others to Report – If multiple users report the issue, it may get reviewed faster. Seek Help from Google Support – Post the issue in the Google Business Profile Help Community or contact Google Business support directly for faster resolution.
Since the correct image exists on Street View, mention that in reports. Hopefully, Google reviews it soon!
This is definitely a frustrating situation, especially when the incorrect photo is affecting the business’s reputation. Here are some steps you can try to resolve it:
Suggest an Edit (Again): Continue reporting the incorrect photo through Google Maps by selecting the image, clicking on the flag icon, and choosing the reason for removal. Encourage others (staff, friends, loyal customers) to do the same. Multiple reports can signal urgency to Google.
Contact Google Business Support:
If the business is verified on Google Business Profile, the owner can contact support directly.
Go to the Google Business Profile Help Center and request a callback or chat for assistance.
Use Social Media: Sometimes, reaching out via platforms like Twitter (@GoogleMyBiz) can prompt a quicker response. Describe the issue clearly and ask for assistance.
Update Photos Actively: Upload multiple high-quality images of the correct frontage and business interior. Regular uploads can influence which images Google prioritizes.
Encourage Reviews with Photos: Ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews with relevant photos. Google often promotes these images over incorrect ones.
Local Guide Feedback: If you suspect the incorrect photo was uploaded maliciously, consider reporting the Local Guide’s profile for contributing misleading content.
Community Help Forum: Post the issue in the Google Maps Help Community where experts and other Local Guides can provide suggestions.
Apart from reporting the photo, I’d suggest that both you and your friend upload new correct photos of the place, in hopes that the Google Maps algorithm selects one as the new cover photo.
Sorry for the late reply, @PeteMHW , I had a couple of busy days
As I said in my message, this is an interesting issue: a photo uploaded in a business appears a the Cover photo in a different one.
I will escalate it immediately
Has the problem just been solved for the one location that I raised, or has the technical glitch been ruled out so that it never happens again across the entire platform?
I don’t have an answer to your question, @PeteMHW , but my scope for escalating it was exactly to give to the team the opportunity to investigate, and hopefully fix the glitch.
Naa, I’m just curious, and when something sounds wrong I like to go in deep.
The team fixed it, not me
And how did you get access to “the team” - is that because you are a Moderator? I tried several routes to get it resolved but always hit brick walls - as though no one believed me!
Connect moderators, like the Product Experts in the Google Maps help community can escalate issues with the team.
But the reason why it was fixed is that it was possible to find and escalate the glitch: a photo posted in one place that appears in a different one.
A member of the team will probably not invest time on a single photo (there are around 500 million of contributors in Google Maps) but for sure they will be interested to in exploring something that is working in the wrong way, to find the roots of the glitch and to fix it
