How to Control What Image Google Shows in Search Results
Google updated its Image SEO documentation this week, clarifying exactly how business owners can influence which image appears when their site shows up in search results. If you have ever searched for a local business and seen the wrong photo in the results, this matters to you.
What Google Changed
Google added a new section called “Specify a preferred image with metadata” to its Image SEO best practices. The company also updated its Discover documentation to explain that it uses both schema markup and the og:image meta tag when picking thumbnails for Search and Discover.
This is a clarification based on publisher feedback. Google has always pulled images from pages automatically, but now it is telling site owners explicitly: you can tell us which image to use.
Three Ways to Set Your Preferred Image
Google outlined three methods for specifying which image you want in search results.
The first uses schema.org structured data with the primaryImageOfPage property on a WebPage type. The second attaches an image property to your main entity, like a BlogPosting or LocalBusiness. The third, and simplest, uses the standard og:image meta tag in your page HTML.
For most small businesses, the og:image method is the easiest to implement. It goes in the head section of your webpage and looks like this:
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/your-preferred-image.jpg">
What Makes a Good Thumbnail Image
Google also published best practices for choosing the right image. Pick something relevant and representative of your content. Avoid generic images like your logo or photos with text overlaid.
The recommended specs are straightforward. Use an image at least 1,200 pixels wide. Go for high resolution, ideally over 300KB. A 16:9 aspect ratio works best. These are the same recommendations Google has made for Discover, and they now apply to regular search thumbnails too.
Avoid images that are too narrow or overly wide. If you are a restaurant, use a photo of your actual food or interior, not a stock photo of a generic dining scene. If you run a plumbing business, a photo of your team on the job beats your company logo every time.
Why This Matters for Local Businesses
When someone searches for “best pizza near me” or “plumber in [your city],” Google may show a thumbnail preview alongside your listing. That image is often the first impression potential customers have of your business.
If Google is picking a random image from your website or, worse, an outdated one, you are losing clicks. Taking control of your thumbnail image means ensuring the photo that represents your business is actually the one people see.
This is especially important for local businesses competing against larger chains with bigger marketing budgets. Your thumbnail image is free real estate in search results. Make it count.
How to Check What Google Is Showing
Search for your business name and see what image appears in the results. If it is not your best photo, you can change it. Update your og:image tag or add schema markup to your website. Give Google a few weeks to recrawl your pages before expecting changes.
Most website platforms let you set og:image in your SEO settings. If you use WordPress, SEO plugins like RankMath or Yoast have fields for this. If you built your site yourself, add the meta tag to your page headers.
The Bottom Line
Google just made it easier to control your search presence. The methods have been there all along, but now Google is openly telling publishers how to signal their preferred image. For small businesses, this is a practical win. Take five minutes to set your og:image tag correctly. Your thumbnail in search results will thank you.