Hello!!!
Today we have launched a few new features for all our yclas.com sites ;)
You have asked for it, so we deliver.
From now on you can add multiple images when editing an advertisement and, next to that, you can also now add images directly from a URL without the need of downloading them first and then uploading them again.
Another improvement is that you now have the option to hide the ad details, so only logged users can see them.
Listing photos in 2026: limits, formats and what search engines expect
This release note is from 2017, and the photo tools have changed since. On sites using the Nova theme (the default for new sites), sellers drag and drop photos into the form or pick them from their phone, and the first photo becomes the cover. When editing a listing they can upload more photos, delete them or use Make Primary to choose another main photo. Importing a photo from a URL is not part of the Nova forms, so ask sellers to upload the original files.
The limits on your site today
- Photos per listing depend on your plan: 5 on Starter, 20 on Professional and 30 on Enterprise (Yclas pricing, October 2026). You can set a lower number under Settings > Advertisement > Number of Images.
- Formats and size: under Settings > Media you choose which formats to accept (JPEG, PNG, WebP and GIF) and the maximum file size, up to 12 MB on hosted sites, along with resize dimensions and an optional text watermark.
- Who sees the details: the "hide details" option in this post is now called Require Login to View Listing (Settings > Advertisement). A related switch, Require Login to Contact, lets anyone browse but asks visitors to sign in before they message a seller.
What makes photos work in search
Google's image SEO guidelines (updated 2 March 2026) support BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, SVG and AVIF. They recommend descriptive file names (such as my-new-black-kitten.jpg rather than IMG00023.JPG), alt text that describes the image without keyword stuffing, and sharp, high-quality photos, because they appeal more to users than blurry ones. Tell your sellers to rename photos before uploading, especially for cars, property and equipment, where buyers search by exact model or address.
If you feed listings into Google Shopping, the bar is higher. Google Merchant Center requires images of at least 500 x 500 pixels, recommends 1500 x 1500 or more, and caps files at 16 MB and 64 megapixels. It also disapproves images with watermarks, borders, placeholder graphics or promotional text overlays. That creates a trade-off with the Yclas watermark option: a watermark discourages competitors from copying your photos, but it disqualifies those images from Google's shopping surfaces. Pick the one that matters more for your niche.
Think twice before hiding listing details
Requiring login to view listings is useful for members-only marketplaces (trade buyers, private clubs, sensitive categories). Search engine crawlers don't sign in, though, so hidden details and photos can't help those listings rank. For a public marketplace that grows through search traffic, Require Login to Contact usually protects sellers from spam without hiding the listings from Google.
It has taken us a lot of time to have these features ready so I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks again for your trust in us and for your continuous feedback!
