Google’s AI Now Chooses Your Local Ad Photos – Here’s How It Works

Google is here with another exciting AI-driven feature. From now onward it will automatically pick photos for local ads from your LSA or Local Service Ads library by itself. This automatic selection of photos is aimed to improve your business visibility, and engagement, and achieve a competitive edge. While this no doubt is a great initiative, it is essential to gain insight about this new decision, understand how it works, how it is beneficial, and most importantly how you can make the most of it. In this blog, experts offering local SEO services have explained everything that you need to know.

Google has once again pushed the boundaries of innovation! It has rolled out a new automated photo selection feature for Local Service Ads or LSA platforms. This implies that from your LSA profile, Google will now choose photos to display on your ads. To clarify, ‘how will it help?’ Google Ads Liaison, Ginny Marvin, has disclosed that the newly introduced feature is designed to boost ad engagement through the selection of images that are anticipated to increase user interaction with the advertisement. In this article, we will take a look at how it works, is advantageous, and will open new avenues for businesses as per experts offering local SEO services.

What Does This Feature Promise?

The advent of Google’s AI-selected photographs for local advertisements signifies a pivotal transformation in the realm of digital marketing. Historically, it was the responsibility of businesses or appointed professionals offering digital marketing services in India to meticulously select images that would effectively represent their brand in online promotional materials. Presently, Google’s advanced AI algorithms have assumed this role, meticulously analysing extensive datasets to select the most captivating and efficacious images for local business promotional campaigns.

This innovation is a component of Google’s continuous endeavours to improve user experience and simplify the advertising process for enterprises. By employing machine learning and computer vision technologies, the AI is capable of identifying high-quality, pertinent images that are likely to engage potential customers.

How Does It Work?

Google’s Ad Liaison, announced on X (previously Twitter);

“Local Services advertisers: Starting today, we’ll begin selecting photos from your LSA profile to show in your ads. Photos will be selected based on their likelihood to increase engagement with your ad.”

Main Highlights of the Update

• Photos selection can impact the position of ads in search results
• Google suggests uploading between 3 to 5 images for Local Search Advertising (LSAs)
• Images must be of good quality, pertinent, and unique
• Not every ad will always feature photos

Image Requirements

Google has outlined the criteria for selecting photographs, emphasising the importance of originality and quality. It has also stated that the update could assist in improving the ranking of local advertisements.

It has mentioned;

• Photos should be of high quality, pertinent to the advertiser’s portfolio, and original.
• It is advisable to upload a minimum of three to five images to your Local Service Ad profile on the Profile and Budget page.
• Incorporating photographs into your Local Services Advertisements can enhance the visibility and ranking of your ad.
• It is important to note that not all advertisements will feature a photograph, as this decision is contingent upon the nature of the user’s query and other relevant factors.

No Guarantee of Image Inclusion

Without a commitment to feature images in ads, and Google determining which image to display based on user searches and its own standards, it could be difficult for advertisers to control and tailor marketing campaigns.

While Google’s update appears to increase ad engagement by selecting images more likely to improve user interaction with the ad, there were some sceptics among the users on X.

In fact, a user asked—

• What does it mean by the statement that- “Photos will be selected based on their likelihood to increase engagement with your ad.”
• And, whether it would be best to start using click-bait LSA thumbnail photos from now onward.

Google’s Ads Liaison, Ginny Marvin, was quick to respond to address these queries, and she wrote on X;

“No, don’t do that. Photos must be high quality and relevant to the service provided. As in other marketing contexts, consider photos that represent the business & service provided well and that will engage potential customers. See our photo guidelines here:
support.google.com/localservices/”

How Can It Be Helpful?

This update to the Local Search Advertising (LSA) is crucial for digital small businesses.

It alters the influence of images on local service ads, which could change how ads perform and attract users.

What Does It Mean for Business Owners?

Improved visibility: High-quality photos could improve your ad’s position.

Better engagement: Attractive visuals might increase your click-through rate (CTR).

A competitive advantage: Those who adapt quickly could surpass their peers.

Saves time: No more issues with choosing images manually.

Best Practices for Utilising AI-Driven Photo Selection

While Google’s AI-driven photo selection provides a wealth of benefits, it’s crucial for businesses to adhere to best practices to optimise their ad performance;

1. Provide a Diverse Image Library

Ensure that both your Local Service Add profile on the Profile and Budget page have a diverse collection of high-quality images. This not only expands the AI’s selection options but also enhances the chances of choosing the most relevant image for each ad.

2. Maintain Consistency

Even as the AI selects images, it’s important for businesses to uphold their branding consistency. All images should mirror the brand’s identity and values, ensuring that the AI’s choices are in harmony with the broader marketing strategy.

3. Update Regularly

Maintain an up-to-date image library that is enriched with new content. As your business progresses, it is imperative that your imagery evolves in tandem. Consistent updates guarantee that the artificial intelligence is equipped with the most current and pertinent images at its disposal.

What Is the Way Forward?

While it is right that Google has said that the decision is for improving the site ranking, only time will tell what is what. Automatic image selection is a great initiative by Google but it is important to consider consulting experts offering local SEO services to monitor the ad and user interaction, and conversion rates, analyse, and take correct action to make the most of this decision, and get the positive results.

Also, to know about other interesting digital marketing trends, read this blog.

Conclusion

Change is the only constant, and Google’s AI-driven automatic photo selection is another initiative to transform online advertising. The advent of AI is ushering various changes in the online business world, and to move forward it is important to embrace them as they come. However, for the betterment of your business, you must gain knowledge and make the best decision. In this blog, we have tried to present to you a picture that experts offering digital marketing services in India are anticipating, and the ways to make the best use of this opportunity. So, once you give this blog a read, hopefully you can understand why the move has been intiated, and what move you and other online businesses should take for the best result.