360° Photos And Google Business Accounts
360-degree photos and Google Business go hand in hand.
Having such an account gives the possibility to show 360 photos on a Google Business Profile. This aspect is clearly aimed at increasing the online visibility of a place, and it’s an official feature offered by Google Business for its subscribers.
More than showcasing 360-degree photos on a place’ profile, Google Business also offers the ability to embed those images on business websites.
More than showcasing 360-degree photos on a place’ profile, Google Business also offers the ability to embed those images on business websites.
Know that there are some downsides for professional uses of 360° photos with such accounts. Learn more in the FAQs.
Google Maps
How to view the 360 photos?
Access the photo gallery and navigate to the "Street View & 360º" tab!
Know that all the Google platforms are interrelated. For instance, if you view a 360-degree photo on Google Maps, you will also find it on the Google Earth, etc.
Check out this example
Uses with Websites
When a 360° photo is available on a Google Business account, it is possible to use it on any website.
This type of ‘virtual tour powered by Google Street View’ is very familiar to most users today.
Here, the user interface is made by default and includes: navigation arrows, full-screen mode, zoom buttons and floor levels.
Check out this example.
Google Trusted Photographer
Google Trusted
Photographer
Being called Google - Street View - Trusted Photographer does not mean that a photographer is a great . Far from it!
This program is temporarily closed!
Until 2018, the “Trusted” certificate was automatically awarded to photographers who published more than x50 360° photos on Google’s mapping platforms such as Maps and Earth. However, the Google’s AI could not identify if the 360° photos were professional or very bad images. This was probably the breaking point.
Learn more: Welcome to trusted and Street View trusted photographer program
Do you want to know if a "Google Trusted Photographer" is a great photographer?
First, ask them to show their 360-degree photo contributions to the Google platform!
Google Street View
What is Google Street View?
It's a Google technology featured in the mapping platforms of Google Maps and Google Earth.
Basically, it’s the tech that we are using to view 360 degree photos (Street View photos) on someone’s Google Business Profile.
Know that before showcasing such 360 degree photos of any places, they are first of all a contribution to Google’s mapping platforms.
Julien's Service
Julien offers the uploading of 360 photos to Google Business accounts for clients requesting for a 360-degree Photography Service.
What is provided?
– Uses of the Google’s arrows to access the 360° photos.
– Photos linked to the photo gallery of the client’s Google Business account.
– Photos geolocated on Google’s mapping platforms.
– Add of floor levels (if necessary).
Visit Julien's portfolio of 360º photos.
FAQs
Commonly by using Google Maps.
Research the place you’re looking for, click the first image you’ll find to access the photo gallery, then navigate to “Street View & 360°”.
Step by step process (updated 2023).
- With a laptop/desktop, open your internet browser, jump to Google.com only, and research the place you are looking for.
- On the right side of the screen you’ll find a panel with the Google Business account/profile of the place. Click on the Google Maps window.
- When Google Maps is open, click the featured image of the place (top left).
- In the filter bar, navigate to the “Street View & 360º” tab, then select the 360 photo you want to embed.
- At the top left of the 360 photo, you’ll find a small window with a few information. Here, click the (3 vertical dots) ⋮ icon and select “share or embed image”.
- When the “share” window is open, select the “embed a map” tab.
- Set yourself the default view you want – by rotating and zooming on to the 360 image. Then click “Copy html”.
Know that:
• The “copy html” code changes each time you move/modify the default view of the 360 photo.
• The “copy html” code can be easily customized such as its size, border, adding CSS, etc. by a webmaster.
• If the photo has a Google’s logo/profile picture: it’s not possible.
Know that using the “report a problem” button is a waste of time and hope. This feature was created to report a lack of privacy and anonymity, offensive content and inappropriate location.
• If the photo has someone’s logo/profile picture: get in touch with this person.
It’s not possible.
This aspect is handled by the Google Business account AI.
It’s not possible.
This aspect is handled by the Google Business account AI.
No, this option is no longer available by the Google platform.
Never!!
Unless, maybe, if you need assistance.
The main downside is that this solution is entirely managed by Google’s AI, and which can potentially face different bugs with the uses of 360º photos.
All professional 360-degree photographers should know how to work/deal with Google’s AI. However, and potentially facing a buggy situation with your 360-photos and the AI, the best option will be to delete the 360° photos and to re-upload them.
Also, any professional 360-degree photographers are limited to the features offered by the Google Business platform.
For instance, ‘changing the default view of a 360 photo’, etc. is not possible neither by the owner of a Google Business account – you – nor by any third-party professional photographers.