TIP 1: Always upload via Google Photos

The advantages include:

1. No need to wait for uploading to Google Maps because your images are already on the cloud.
2. You can use the brilliant editing tools in Google Photos to crop and adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation.
3. No need to backup your un-cropped and processed images separately since you can always Download the original from Google Photos.
4. You can make minor adjustments to your images even after uploading them to Google Maps without losing your views.
5. You have access to all your pics on all your devices and hence can upload from whatever device you prefer.

TIP 2: Use two devices while uploading

If you have more than one device, it can be very useful to have a second device to showing you which pic is next in line. This way, you don't need to jump between Google Photos and Google Maps all the time.

TIP 3: Only upload your very best pic

Limit yourself to uploading only one great picture to each place instead of uploading several mediocre pics. By selecting the very best, you increase your chances of being featured, and your average view count will increase. By only having one pic for each place, you also lower your risk of uploading duplicates. Finally, having only one pic per place makes it quicker to count how the quality algorithm rated your pics. And those figures are likely to more positive.

There are no official rules from Google preventing you from uploading as many pics as you like to one pin. But you may find this post on Connect interesting.

TIP 4: Delete duplicates and don't double post again

Don't double post any of your photographs. You can't even reuse a picture in two different places. You can be suspended for this as mentioned here. If you did double post any pics, please remove them now under Your Contributions.

Duplicates can happen if your internet connection is unreliable. Or you could think it's okay to upload again when Google Maps suggest so. You should check for duplicates under Your Contributions regularly.

If in doubt find the official wording related to duplicates here.

TIP 5: Near-duplicates - No thanks

I found these 4 images uploaded to the same fast-food restaurant. Notice how the two top images are almost identical. The last 2 are taken from a slightly different angle. Only one of them should have been uploaded to Google Maps. Which one would you keep?

Photo credits: Raphael Umse.

Here is another version of Near Duplicates: Zooming in, like in the second image, does not add more information. Maps users can zoom in by themselves on the first image. Hence the second image should not be uploaded to Google Maps.

Try to always delete near similar images when you are out shooting. Also, check photo rules 5-7.

Photo credits: Raphael Umse.

TIP 6: Don't upload to the wrong pin

I live quite close to a lot of tourist attractions. Very often, tourists make the mistake of uploading their pics to incorrect places. One example is the famous Little Mermaid. Out of the first 20 pics, only 4 were uploaded to the correct pin. 16 were from other locations nearby and around Copenhagen. I wish local guides would be more careful zooming in and use text-search to find the right pins before uploading.

Sometimes I spend time flagging such images. But it's a job with no ending in sight. It's a very common error.

Cheatsheet

To recap and memorize the photo rules and the uploading tips you can use this cheatsheet.

The cheatsheets can also be downloaded: Desktop or Mobile.