Google's Visual Search Upgrades - What Sales Teams Selling Digital Ads Need to Know

Izzy Fletcher • 25 February 2025

Google just dropped some pretty exciting updates to visual search, and if you're selling digital marketing solutions to SMBs, you're going to want to pay attention. These changes aren't just tech updates – they're golden opportunities for your sales team to close more deals.


What's new in visual search?


1. AI-powered backgrounds for Google business profile

Finally, Google Business Profile is getting the glow-up it deserves! They've added AI-generated backgrounds for post images. Here's the deal:

  • No more boring product photos - transform them into scroll-stopping posts in seconds
  • Zero design skills needed (perfect for busy business owners)
  • Professional-looking content without the professional price tag

2. Supercharged visual search features

But wait, there's more! Google has also also enhanced their Lens capabilities and added screen search for iOS users. What does this mean in non-technical terms? Your clients' customers can now:

  • Share their screen to highlight anything and get an instant search image
  • Get instant AI explanations of images (no specific questions needed)
  • Find businesses through all sorts of visual content

What does this mean for sales teams?

Real business impact

These updates directly affect your clients' money-making potential:

  1. New ways to be found
  • Visual searches = new customer discovery routes
  • Better-looking posts = more engagement
  • More touch points = more chances to convert

2. Staying ahead of the game

  • Early adopters always win
  • Visual optimisation is the new SEO frontier
  • Stand out without breaking the bank

3. Avoiding the pitfalls

  • Poor visual presence = lost customers
  • Competitors could steal your thunder
  • Playing catch-up is expensive

Turning these AI updates into sales wins

Before the client meeting

When doing your homework on a prospect, add looking at their visual game to your list.

Check their current set-up

  • Run a quick Google Business Profile audit - are they using posts at all?
  • Search their business name in Google Lens - see what pops up
  • Do a visual search of their products/services - spot any missed opportunities
  • Check if their images show up for local keywords

Grab some wow-worthy examples

  • Grab screenshots of their current visual presence (the good and the not-so-good)
  • Find a competitor who's crushing it with visual search
  • Pick 2-3 quick wins you can show them in the meeting
  • Save examples of AI-enhanced posts to demonstrate the difference


During the pitch

Keep it simple and impactful:

  1.  Start with reality: "Let me show you how people find you right now..."
  2.  Show the good stuff: "Check out what these new AI features can do..."
  3.  Create some FOMO: "Here's what your competitors are already doing..."
  4.  Be the hero: "Now, here's how we can get you ahead of the game..."



Making it work for different industries

Retail & e-commerce

  • Make products pop in visual shopping searches
  • Stand out in Google Lens results when people snap photos of similar products
  • Use AI-enhanced posts to showcase new arrivals and promotions

Service business success (trades, home services, professional)

  • Dominate local searches with before/after project photos
  • Tag service area locations in images to boost local visibility
  • Build trust with high-quality work portfolios that appear in visual search
  • Create AI-enhanced posts for seasonal service promotions

Food and hospitality wins

  • Get your menu items appearing in food-related visual searches
  • Optimise interior/exterior shots to appear when people scout locations
  • Use AI-enhanced posts to showcase daily specials and events
  • Turn food photos into discovery opportunities when locals search "restaurants near me"


Prove the ROI

Here's how to show your clients it's working:

Track if there is increase in quick wins:

  • Google Business Profile views since adding AI-enhanced posts
  • Number of customers mentioning "saw your photos online"
  • Increase in post engagement (likes, clicks, shares) month-over-month

Measure the money makers:

  • Customers calling after seeing visual search results
  • Bookings/appointments from enhanced posts
  • Sales from products featured in AI-enhanced posts
  • Revenue from customers who found you through visual search


Bonus metrics:

  • Decrease in time spent creating social content
  • Savings on professional photography
  • Rise in customer photo submissions
  • Improvement in "similar business" search appearances

Ready to win clients over with visual search?

Google's visual search updates are a big deal. They're changing how people find and choose businesses online. Your sales team has a massive opportunity here to show clients why they need to get on board now, not later.


Ready to help your sales team crush it with these new opportunities? Book a discovery call to see how Insites can power up your sales process with killer digital presence audits and analytics.

New paragraph

A yellow arrow is pointing up on a pink and black background.
by Izzy Fletcher 27 March 2025
Discover how your sales team can demonstrate clear ROI to budget-conscious SMBs. Learn 3 key strategies that help digital marketing agencies convert more prospects even when budgets are tight.
by Izzy Fletcher 19 March 2025
Google's new review QR code feature creates perfect sales opportunities for digital marketing agencies. Learn about Google's expanded data sources, and how Insites' Local Grid can help your sales team close more deals with SMB clients seeking local SEO services.
A woman wearing headphones is sitting in front of a laptop computer.
by Izzy Fletcher 14 March 2025
AI search engines drive 123% more traffic to SMBs in 2025. Learn industry-specific AI referral patterns from ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini to help your sales team convert more digital marketing clients.
A man is sitting in front of a laptop computer with a light bulb coming out of his head.
by Izzy Fletcher 12 March 2025
Transform digital marketing metrics into compelling stories that convert SMB prospects. This guide reveals proven storytelling frameworks, data-to-narrative techniques, and training methods that help sales teams close more deals. Learn how successful digital marketing agencies use storytelling to simplify complex concepts, create emotional connections, and position SMB owners as heroes in their own success stories. Ideal for sales leaders looking to boost conversion rates and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
A hand is pointing at a red pin on a map.
by Izzy Fletcher 11 March 2025
Discover the 10 digital marketing trends transforming hospitality in 2025. Learn how large sales teams can help SMB hotels and restaurants capitalise on AI, mobile optimisation, and data-driven personalisation to drive bookings and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
A computer screen with a funnel and a graph on it.
by Izzy Fletcher 5 March 2025
Discover how digital marketing agencies can help healthcare professionals showcase their AI innovations online. Learn to leverage Insites' traffic light scoring and Local Grid features to create compelling proposals, demonstrate competitive gaps, and win more healthcare clients.
A woman wearing headphones is sitting in front of a laptop computer.
by Izzy Fletcher 20 February 2025
Google just released generative AI for creating people in ads, and it's a game-changer for digital marketing agencies. This post breaks down how this feature helps your sales team close more deals, removes creative barriers for SMBs, and transforms the ad creation process. Learn specific ways to leverage this update to upsell ad services to your clients and position your agency as cutting-edge AI experts.
A person is holding a magnifying glass over a map on a laptop.
by Izzy Fletcher 19 February 2025
The problem for SMBs: Price wars and lost connections You might need to hold your clients hands when breaking this news because this isn't great news for small businesses. Here's why: Price becomes everything When services are presented side-by-side with only price and availability shown, businesses are forced to compete solely on price. This is especially problematic for service businesses that differentiate on quality, experience, or specialised expertise. Personal connections disappear 42.4% of Millennials and 55.9% of Boomers still rely on Google Search first when discovering products (according to GRIN survey data). But with this new feature, traditional direct phone conversations where businesses could build rapport and communicate value could vanish. Workload increases while conversion drops Business staff have to handle these AI calls like any other inquiry, but with: Zero information about the potential customer Likelihood of lower conversion due to price-shopping No opportunity to qualify the lead Potential for spam abuse (competitors wasting staff time) Now none of this ideal for SMBs, but it’s happening. So that’s where your sales team come in - they’re there to help them compete, rather than lose out based on ranking. This changes everything for your sales team If you're selling digital marketing solutions to SMBs, "Ask for Me" just handed you an incredible opportunity. Here's why your sales agents using Insites should be excited: 1. Creates genuine urgency that closes deals Unlike other Google updates that might seem abstract, this feature represents a tangible, easy-to-understand shift in how consumers find businesses. When you get prospects to understand that: Only top-ranked businesses will receive these automated calls Their competitors might already be getting these leads Businesses with no clear differentiators will get trapped in brutal price wars Suddenly, digital marketing services become an urgent necessity rather than a "nice to have." 2. Local SEO becomes critical If Google only calls businesses from the top Local Finder results, ranking well isn't just about visibility anymore - it's about being included in automated lead generation. Your sales agents can use Insites to: Show exactly where prospects rank in local search Use Local Grid to demonstrate which competitors are likely receiving these calls instead Quantify the potential revenue impact of missing these leads Create data-driven proposals with clear ROI potential 3. Opens new service opportunities "Ask for Me" creates specific new needs for SMBs that your team can address: AI-Readiness Audits : Only 18.8% of Gen Z consumers use Google as their primary product discovery tool (compared to 30.4% using Instagram and 23.2% using TikTok). But Google's new AI features could change those numbers dramatically. Sales agents can offer: Technical optimisation for AI crawlers Schema markup implementation Page speed improvements (critical for AI indexing) Local business metadata optimisation Differentiation Strategies : Help businesses stand out when traditional differentiators are removed through: Review management (star ratings become even more important) Content strategies that communicate unique value propositions Website optimisation for conversion once customers engage directly Response Protocols : Prepare businesses for handling these new AI-generated inquiries with: Staff training programs Scripts that effectively communicate value beyond price Follow-up strategies to convert price-shoppers How to use Insites to prepare clients Your sales team can leverage Insites to help SMBs prepare for this new reality with concrete, actionable steps: Run comprehensive local audits to identify where businesses stand in local search rankings. Analyse competitor performance using the Local Grid to understand who's receiving these automated calls. Identify specific optimisation opportunities across Google Business Profile, local citations, reviews and more. Create ongoing monitoring plans to track performance as AI features evolve. This is a sales opportunity, not a threat While "Ask for Me" creates challenges for SMBs, it represents a massive opportunity for digital marketing providers who can help businesses adapt. Your job? Nurture them through the shift. The local businesses that will thrive aren't those with the lowest prices—they're the ones working with solution providers to optimise SEO and AI search results. And that's exactly what Insites equips your team to deliver. To learn more about how Insites helps sales team, book a call with us today ! 👋 Happy selling
A person is holding a cell phone in their hand surrounded by social media icons.
by Coral Wood 17 February 2025
How customer reviews impact SMBs and how your sales teams can help with digital marketing solutions.
A group of people are having a video call with each other.
by Coral Wood 17 February 2025
What impact does social media search have on small-medium businesses and how can digital marketing solution providers leverage social media upselling in their pitch
Show More