GBP Images

How to Make Instagram Story Images for a Local Business

The quickest way to make Instagram Story images for a local business is to open the GBP Image Generator and choose Instagram Story / Reel. That makes a tall picture for Stories and Reels, with story ideas like a flash sale or a new service.

Make a Story Image
Free to Start 250,000+ Users

September 22, 2026

Why stories need their own size

A Google Post picture leaves empty bands on a Story. Choose Instagram Story / Reel Vertical · 9:16 for Stories and Reel covers. The tool does not create a 16:9 YouTube or cover size.

Keep the sale or service real. Google’s photo guidelines still matter if you later reuse a frame on the Business Profile. For a matching feed post, make a second square picture instead of stretching this one. You can also share a GBP post when the caption should stay in sync.

What the Story ideas are for

Ideas like a flash sale, a new arrival, or a before-and-after. After you pick a business, you usually see 3 suggestions instead.

Sale

Flash sale countdown announcement

Use only if the sale is real and the end date is true.

New

New arrival or new service spotlight

Good for a service you just started offering.

Proof

Before-and-after showcase

Only use this if both the before and after are real photos you own. Do not generate a fake after result.

How to Use the GBP Image Generator

Here’s how to use it.

1

Open GBP Image Generator

Open GMB Everywhere AI Tools and find the card titled GBP Image Generator. It says it creates on-brand images for your profile, Google Posts and social. Click Generate Images.

GMB Everywhere AI Tools page showing the GBP Image Generator card and the Generate Images button
2

Find your business and pick a format

You’ll land on GBP Image Generator. Under Find your business, start typing your business name and pick the listing. Under Where will you use it? choose Instagram Story / Reel (Vertical · 9:16). The four options are GBP Post (Landscape · 4:3), Profile Photo (Square · 1:1), Facebook / Instagram Post (Square · 1:1), and Instagram Story / Reel (Vertical · 9:16). There is no 16:9 option.

GBP Image Generator with Instagram Story Reel Vertical 9:16 selected and Story ideas listed
3

Pick an idea and generate

After you pick a business, that list becomes 3 ideas suggested for the listing. Pick the one closest to what you need, or choose Custom — write your own. The names below are examples of the defaults, not a promise you will see those exact lines. A reference image and the optional Custom prompt are separate fields. Then click Generate image.

  • Flash sale countdown announcement
  • New arrival or new service spotlight
  • Before-and-after showcase

What the tool does not do

It does not upload the image to Google Business Profile, Instagram, or Facebook. Download it, take a look, then add it yourself. Keep the picture honest, and do not invent a shop, team, or offer you do not have.

What to do next

A feed post is a different option, so make a second square picture instead of stretching this Story. If you want the caption to travel with a GBP post, use the share GBP post guide after the image is live.

What not to do, and what to do instead

What people try first

  • Uploading a Google Post picture and hoping Stories crop well
  • A countdown for a sale that already ended
  • Tiny text that is hard to read on a phone

What actually helps

  • Instagram Story / Reel 9:16
  • One Story idea
  • Look at it, download it, then add the Story yourself

Quick FAQs

Does this post the Story?

No. You download the image and add it in Instagram.

Is this also for Reels?

The card is labeled Instagram Story / Reel. It is a tall cover-style image, not a video editor.

Does this upload to Instagram?

No. Download the tall image, then add it to your Story yourself.

Features

Complete suite of professional tools for Google Business Profile management

View Competitor Category

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - primary and secondary categories display automatically beside the profile

Features:

  • Always Free to Use
  • Find Primary Category
  • Find All Secondary Categories
  • Direct Link to Category Finder
  • Always Displayed on Google Maps

Local Scan

How to use:

Search for any term on Google Maps - click the Local Scan button to compare all GBPs

Features:

  • Compare Multiple Competitors in One Click
  • Compare Competitors Categories & Services
  • Compare Competitor Reviews Across GBPs
  • Compare Competitor Location Advantage
  • Compare Attributes & Other Data

AI Tools

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'AI' button beside the GBP to use AI features

Features:

  • AI GBP Post Generator
  • AI Review Response Generator
  • AI GBP Description Generator
  • AI Q&A Section Generator
  • AI Facebook Post Generator

Category Finder

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Find more' button beside categories

Features:

  • Find Related Categories Based on Real Data
  • Get Service Suggestions for Each Category
  • Analyze Traffic Potential per Category
  • Extract Category Suggestions from Website URL
  • Category Suggestions from AI Chat

Basic Audit

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Basic Audit' button beside the GBP

Features:

  • GBP Info like Place ID, Knowledge ID, CID & More
  • Find Services, Attributes, Categories & More
  • GBP Links like Review Request, Service/Product & More
  • Compare on External Maps Outside Google Maps
  • 40+ Additional Data Points & Tools

Review Audit

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Review Audit' button beside the GBP

Features:

  • Track Review & Rating Trends Over Time
  • Detailed Review Analysis for GBP
  • Discover Common Keywords in Reviews
  • Custom Review Filtering for Analysis
  • Other Review Features

Teleport

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Teleport' button beside the GBP

Features:

  • Find GBP Rank at Any Location
  • Find GBP Rank for Any Search Term
  • Find GBP Competitors at Any Location
  • Customizable Location Settings
  • Can Run for Any Location Worldwide

Post Audit

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Post Audit' button beside the GBP

Features:

  • GBP Posts Timeline Visualization
  • Track Total GBP Posts & Post Frequency
  • Analyze GBP Post Content & Character Count
  • Monitor GBP Posts with Links & Media
  • GBP Post Performance Insights

Website Audit

How to use:

Open any business on Google Maps - click the 'Website Audit' button beside the GBP

Features:

  • Compare NAP against the GBP
  • Check hours, categories, and meta tags
  • Review local keywords and category pages
  • Score content depth, spelling, and headers
  • Check mobile click-to-call

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