What is Additional Image Link [additional_image_link] Product Attribute? Google Free Listings (2025)

Visual representation plays a critical role in online shopping, where customers rely heavily on images to make purchasing decisions. The Additional image link [additional_image_link] attribute allows retailers to provide multiple images for a single product, showcasing it from various angles or in different settings.

This attribute not only enriches your product listings but also ensures that customers have a comprehensive view of what they are buying, enhancing their shopping experience on Google’s free listings.

What is Additional Image Link [additional_image_link] Product Attribute?

The Additional image link [additional_image_link] attribute enables you to submit more than one image for your product beyond the main image provided in the image link [image_link] attribute. These additional images can highlight different perspectives, show the product in use, or emphasize specific features, providing a more complete visual narrative. By utilizing this attribute, you enhance the visual appeal of your listings, making them more attractive and informative to potential customers.

What are Free Listings? Google’s free listings appear organically across various platforms such as Search, Maps, YouTube, and the Shopping tab without the need for paid advertisements. By including additional images through the additional_image_link [additional_image_link] attribute, you can make your listings more engaging and informative, increasing the chances of attracting clicks and conversions.

Including multiple high-quality images helps customers better understand the product, reducing uncertainty and increasing trust. This can lead to higher engagement rates and ultimately drive more sales through Google’s free listings.

Where Does Google Merchant Center Fit In?

Google Merchant Center is your centralized hub for managing product feeds, including attributes like title [title], description [description], image link [image_link], and additional_image_link [additional_image_link]. By accurately providing multiple images for each product, you enhance the richness and appeal of your listings. This ensures that your products are displayed with comprehensive visuals, helping them stand out in Google’s competitive marketplace.

Minimum Requirements for Additional Image Link [additional_image_link]

To ensure your products are displayed correctly and effectively in free listings, adhere to the following minimum requirements:

1. Meet Image Link Requirements: Ensure your main image complies with the image link [image_link] requirements.
2. Use Supported Formats: Submit images in JPEG, WebP, PNG, GIF, BMP, or TIFF formats with the correct file extensions.
3. Provide Clear and Relevant Images: Additional images should enhance the customer’s understanding of the product, showing different angles or usage scenarios.
4. Avoid Restricted Content: Do not include images with watermarks, promotional text, or irrelevant graphics that do not pertain to the product itself.

Additional Image Link [additional_image_link] vs. Main Image Link [image_link]

Understanding the distinction between these two attributes is essential for accurate and effective product listings:

A) Additional Image Link [additional_image_link]

• Definition: URLs of supplementary images that provide different views or highlight specific features of the product.
• Usage: Use to show the product from various angles, in different settings, or to emphasize unique aspects that aren’t captured in the main image.

B) Main Image Link [image_link]

• Definition: The primary image URL that represents the product.
• Usage: This should be the clearest, most accurate representation of the product, typically showing the product against a plain background.

By effectively utilizing both attributes, you create a well-rounded visual presentation that caters to diverse customer preferences and search behaviors.

Best Practices

Optimize your Additional image link [additional_image_link] attribute by following these best practices:

• Follow Image Link Best Practices: Ensure your additional images adhere to the same guidelines as the main image, avoiding watermarks, text overlays, and irrelevant content.
• Show Different Angles: Provide views from multiple angles to give customers a complete understanding of the product’s appearance and features.
• Highlight Key Features: Use additional images to focus on specific aspects or functionalities that may not be visible in the main image.
• Use High-Quality Images: Ensure all images are clear, well-lit, and professionally presented to enhance the overall appeal of your listings.
• Avoid Redundancy: Each additional image should offer a unique perspective or highlight different features to maximize the value of the attribute.

Pro tip: Use an AI tool to optimize your product feed

Examples

Below are scenarios illustrating common mistakes and optimized corrections when using the additional_image_link [additional_image_link] attribute:

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Pro tip: See two Google product feed examples (from 2 different online stores)

Why the Right Additional Image Link Matters for Free Listings

Providing accurate and high-quality additional images through the additional_image_link [additional_image_link] attribute significantly enhances your product’s appeal and visibility in Google’s free listings. Multiple images allow customers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the product, which can increase their confidence in making a purchase. When customers can see the product from various angles or in different contexts, they are more likely to engage with the listing, leading to higher click-through rates and potential conversions.

Moreover, well-optimized additional images contribute to a better user experience by reducing uncertainty and setting clear expectations. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also minimizes the likelihood of returns and negative feedback, thereby strengthening your store’s reputation and performance in the competitive online marketplace.

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Even experienced retailers can encounter challenges when managing the additional_image_link [additional_image_link] attribute. Here’s how to avoid common pitfalls:

• Including Irrelevant Images: Ensure that all additional images are directly related to the product and enhance the customer’s understanding of it.
• Submitting Low-Quality Images: Always use high-resolution, clear images to present your product in the best light.
• Using Promotional Text or Watermarks: Avoid adding any promotional overlays or watermarks that can distract from the product itself.
• Duplicating Main Image: Provide unique additional images that offer different perspectives or highlight different features, rather than repeating the main image.
• Overloading with Excessive Images: Limit the number of additional images to a maximum of 10 to maintain clarity and relevance.
• Incorrect URL Formats: Ensure all image URLs are properly formatted, encoded, and lead directly to the image file without redirections.
• Neglecting Variant-Specific Images: Provide additional images that correspond to each product variant to accurately represent each option.
• Ignoring Image Guidelines: Adhere strictly to Google’s image format and quality requirements to prevent disapprovals or poor display of your listings.
• Failing to Update Images: Regularly review and update your additional images to reflect any changes in product design or availability.

Related Attributes

Accurate data across product attributes ensures your listings are comprehensive and easily searchable. Monitoring potential issues in the Merchant Center’s “Diagnostics” or “Needs attention” tabs can help maintain the integrity of your product data. If you utilize structured data on your website, map relevant fields to schema.org properties for enhanced compatibility. Below is a table of attributes—those marked as Required apply to free listings when relevant, while recommended ones can further improve your product’s discoverability.

FAQs About Additional Image Link [additional_image_link]

Does adding additional images improve my product’s ranking?

Yes. By providing multiple images, you enhance the visual appeal and informativeness of your listing, which can lead to higher engagement and click-through rates. Enhanced engagement signals to Google that your product is relevant and valuable, potentially improving its ranking in search results.

What types of images should I include as additional images?

Include images that show the product from different angles, highlight specific features, demonstrate the product in use, or showcase variations. Lifestyle images that place the product in a real-world context can also be very effective.

Can I include images with promotional text or watermarks?

No. Additional images should be clean and free of promotional text, watermarks, or any other overlays that do not pertain directly to the product. These elements can distract customers and lead to disapproval of your listing.

How many additional images can I submit?

You can submit up to 10 additional images per product. Ensure each image is unique and provides additional value to the customer’s understanding of the product.

Should I use the same image for different product variants?

No. Each product variant should have images that accurately reflect its unique features or differences. This ensures that customers can see exactly what they are purchasing.

What if my additional image URLs contain commas?

Encode any commas within the URLs as %2C. However, do not encode the commas used to separate multiple image URLs. For example: https://www.example.com/image2%2C3.jpg,https://www.example.com/image2%2C4.jpg

Can I use non-English text in additional images?

While the images themselves can contain text, it’s best practice to ensure that any text included is clear and relevant to the product. However, avoid using text that is not easily understood by your target audience or that includes promotional language.

How often should I update my additional images?

Update your additional images whenever there are significant changes to the product, such as design updates, new features, or when introducing new variants. Regular updates ensure that your listings remain accurate and relevant.

What should I do if an additional image is disapproved?

Review Google’s image policies to understand the reason for disapproval. Correct the issue by updating the image to meet the guidelines and resubmit it through the Merchant Center.

Can I use images from different sources as additional images?

Yes, as long as you have the rights to use those images and they accurately represent the product. Ensure all images are high-quality and relevant to the product being listed.

Conclusion

The Additional image link [additional_image_link] attribute is a powerful tool for enhancing the visual representation of your products in Google’s free listings. By providing multiple, high-quality images, you offer customers a comprehensive view of your products, improving their shopping experience and increasing the likelihood of conversions. Ensure that your additional images are relevant, clear, and adhere to Google’s guidelines to maximize their effectiveness and maintain compliance.

Remember to use this attribute thoughtfully—showcasing different angles, highlighting key features, and demonstrating the product in use. By following best practices and avoiding common pitfalls, you can create compelling and informative listings that stand out in a competitive online marketplace, driving higher engagement and sales through Google’s platform.