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You are here: Home / Google Plus / New Google Plus Cover Photo and Profile Changes

New Google Plus Cover Photo and Profile Changes

March 13, 2013 by Jan Kearney

In the midst of Facebook Timeline announcements, Google Plus was in stealth mode last week making changes to the Plus Profile and Pages cover photo and about pages.  Perhaps I had my eyes shut most of last week, as I didn’t see much of a song and dance about it. 

Google plus cover image changes

There was a brief G+ update and a quick “it’s rolling out” on Marketing Pilgrim and Google Plus Daily.  To be fair, I didn’t pay any attention until I went to check my page was still there over the weekend.

Oh, and my Google Plus Page has done a disappearing act, currently showing a 500 error.  It’s to be expected that it would fall over at some point as merged pages for services businesses are not supported and are advised to delete.  I was being awkward and leaving it to see what happened next…

Contents

  • Google Plus cover photo changes
  • Google Plus Cover Photo Size
  • Google Plus Profile Changes
  • What you need to do now
  • Related Posts

Google Plus cover photo changes

The biggest change to profiles and pages is the cover photo.  It’s massive!

The only good thing that can be said about an image that takes up most of the screen is that at least Google doesn’t have the similar ridiculous restrictions about calls to action or 20% wording as Facebook.

Time to update your Google Plus cover image

Google Plus Cover Photo Size

The minimum size for your new Google+ cover photo is 480px x 270px and the max size is 2120px x 1192px.

The new profile photo displays as a circular image and sits over the cover photo.  The size for your profile photo is 250px x 250px square image.

Google Plus Profile Changes

The layout of both the profile and business pages has changed too.

On your personal Google+ Profile, your name, where you work, live and your circles are overlaid on the cover image in white text.

Business pages have your business name, address, phone and website overlaying the cover image, also in white text.

Because the overlay text is white, a dark cover photo works better and makes the text easier to read.

The about section has now become your story on both the page and profile.  What I have noticed on several client pages is the about section has lost the line breaks and needs reformatting to read well.  The problem now is changes to business details aren’t public until you merge pages – and this still is not advised.

The write a review button has changed colour and is now quite difficult to spot.  If you do have a Google+ review procedure in place it is worth updating your videos and handouts to make it clear where this button is.

As you scroll down the profile or page your cover image becomes a strip at the top of the page.

What you need to do now

Now you need to update your cover image so that it accurately reflects your business.

When designing your cover photo remember that what people actually see will depend on how they landed on your profile and whether they scroll. 

  • Land on the about tab or scroll on any page, a small strip is shown. 
  • On your posts page the bottom 2 thirds of the image is displayed.
  • It’s when you scroll up that the full giant image can be seen.

Ensure that the main focus of your new Google Plus cover image is in the mid third section because that is the area that is most likely to be seen and not covered by your business details.   If you aren’t as creatively and graphically challenged as I am, there is a PSD template over at the AutoRevo blog

All is not lost!

If a ginormous cover image is not your thing, it is possible to edit the image and show a cover that does not take up to 90% of the screen.

resize your google plus cover image

With my not very creative skills, I took some pics of my dogs, pasted them on a 2120px x 1192px image template and then cropped it back down to size.  The video below shows you how to do it too.

Over to you…

Have you updated your Google Plus cover photo yet?  What do you think of the new layout?

Don’t forget to circle me on Google Plus too!  Say hi and I’ll circle you back 🙂

New Google Plus Cover Photo and Profile Changes by Jan Kearney
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Filed Under: Google Plus Tagged With: Google Plus, Google Plus for business, Google+, How To Guides

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. Charlotte Henley Babb says

    March 13, 2013 at 11:57 am

    I think this is what they call “interactive” which means that you have to keep dinking with it. Thanks for all the numbers!

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 13, 2013 at 12:19 pm

      Dinking with it… lol Love that term, yes definately dinking!

  2. Bonnie Gean says

    March 13, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    I seen the new changes; Google caught me by surprise one day and asked if I wanted to change the photo size. I just left the page. Now, I’m not sure how to change it. ROFL

    Oh well… more pressing matters at hand. This will just have to wait!

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 13, 2013 at 1:59 pm

      You and me both, Bonnie – saw the changes and then left them… It would be really helpful if they at least gave a bit of warning! Just click on your cover image to change it over, but yours looks fine to me 🙂

  3. Joy Healey says

    March 13, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    Thanks for the information Jan, and for the video.

    I’d completely missed that, but as you say, I’m being prompted to change the page.

    I’m just having a new header designed, so I’ll probably wait for that before making any changes – but at least I’m warned now!

    Joy

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 13, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      It’s apparently slowly rolling out, Joy – I am sure it will keep prompting you 🙂

  4. Toni Nelson says

    March 14, 2013 at 1:54 am

    I have updated my image. I like the fact that there’s an active link to my website on the cover photo.

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 14, 2013 at 11:08 am

      Yes, the link is much better at the top on the cover! Thanks for popping in, Toni 🙂

  5. Linda Ursin says

    March 14, 2013 at 11:55 am

    I thought I’d work on that image today 🙂

  6. Debra Moser says

    March 14, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Hi Jan, thank you and appreciate the update on the changes. I have to admit that I’m not using Google+..trying to master LinkedIn, twitter and FB is enough right now:)

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 14, 2013 at 4:19 pm

      No need to master it, Debra – just be there and connect everything up. Google+ *is* Google, it’s far more than just another social network – and we do want to see your smile in the search results too!

  7. Marcia says

    March 18, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    Hi Jan

    Brilliant tutorial, thank you! Google + can be such a confusing minefield. Ps love your break dancing hamster! 😉

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 19, 2013 at 12:56 am

      I hope you were dancing along, Marcia! Thanks for popping in, great to see you here again 🙂

  8. Sue Worthington says

    March 19, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    Hi Jan
    Thanks for this – yes G+ were quiet about this
    My first reaction was oh yes it is big!!
    But us logo creator gals don’t get scared off by a big header space do we? lol
    Sue

    • Jan Kearney says

      March 19, 2013 at 9:33 pm

      I need to get my headers sorted – yes I used Logo Creator to fix up a few clients 🙂 Mine, was a Gimp special for the vid – I didn’t need to think or be creative lol

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

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