Videos on your Google business profile show potential customers your company in a more dynamic way and give you the opportunity to show the atmosphere of your establishment in more detail, introduce your range of products, dishes, drinks, and services. Most importantly, videos allow your company to show exactly where your business is located, confirming that it is real and physically exists at the specified address.
Requirements for videos in a Google Business Profile
Before adding a video, make sure it complies with the Business Profile photos & videos policy and posts content policy and does NOT fall under Prohibited & restricted content.
Google recommends adding videos with the following parameters:
- Duration: Up to 30 seconds long
- File size: Up to 75 MB
- Resolution: 1280×720 or higher
Do not upload videos in super high quality, as the system will compress them anyway. It is worth adding videos to your profile in both vertical and horizontal (album) orientation. Videos in MPEG4 (MP4) format are allowed — this is the most compatible format that Google processes the fastest, as well as MOV (often used by Apple devices), AVI, and WMV.
What to record in a video for your GBP
Exterior and Interior.
- If your business is difficult to find (for example, it is located in an inner courtyard), show in detail how to get there, nearby landmarks (bus stop, name of a large store nearby).
- Clearly show your sign and entrance door, go to the service area/reception/cashier/sales floor.
- For beauty salons, medical centers, and even offices, it is important to show clean, well-lit workplaces and waiting areas; for cafes and restaurants, show the coziness of the hall and the atmosphere of the establishment; for hotels, show the uniqueness of the style and spaciousness of the rooms.
Services and goods.
- An original or simply beautiful video of your products/services stimulates direct interest and desire to purchase or order them. Don’t just show the product, demonstrate how it is used.
- For restaurants and cafes, show the special features of preparing your customers’ favorite dishes and drinks.
- For mobile businesses such as cleaning, plumbing, repair services, as well as hairdressers and manicurists, talk about the benefits of your service and show the “before” and “after.” Film a video before and after the service is provided, then edit it into a short, informative video.
Employees at work and the team
- Record a video business card or video greeting that shows your friendly team against the backdrop of your establishment’s interior.
- The company owner can briefly talk about their business, what the company is proud of, how it differs from its competitors, or what unique experience it offers its customers.
- Use an informal tone to show your openness, sincerity, and friendliness. This type of content builds trust with potential customers and establishes a personal and emotional connection.
How to add a video to your Google business profile
You can add videos from any device (mobile phone, tablet, laptop) where you have access to manage your GBP.
To add a video to your profile from a laptop or computer:
1. Go to your business profile account. To do this, enter the words “my business” in the Google search bar OR follow this link OR click on the nine-dot square next to your avatar in the Chrome web browser and select the Business Profile Manager menu item.
2. When the business profile dashboard opens, click on the icon labeled Photos (yes, videos are added via the Photos section).
3. In the new tab, you will see several sections: View all photos (and videos), Add photos (and videos), Add cover, Add logo.
4. When you click on Add photos (and videos), a new dialog box will open where you can drag and drop one or more videos that you want to publish in your profile gallery. Alternatively, by clicking on Select images and videos, you can select videos from the folder where they are stored.
You can also add a video by clicking on the corresponding button, which is displayed directly on the cover page in your business profile account.
If you have multiple profiles, you can go to the list of companies at this link and add videos directly from there by clicking on the camera icon.
❗ Please note: sometimes Google automatically sets a video as your profile cover. This could be either your own video or a video posted on your profile by a map user. What should you do in this case? If the video is high quality and you like it, you can leave it as it is. If you don’t like it, try adding a new high-quality photo or video as your cover. Upload high-quality and relevant content, then there is a better chance that Google’s algorithms will be able to choose the best for the cover.
How to upload a video to your Google Business Profile from a mobile phone (smartphone)?
1. Open the Google Maps app, tap the Company icon at the bottom right, then select Add photo (and video).
2. In the tab that opens, select the video you want to upload to your profile.
Video upload status in GBP
After you add a video, the system checks it for compliance with the rules and assigns one of the following statuses:
- Pending. The video is being uploaded or processed, or your profile is unverified or blocked. Customers cannot see this video on your profile, on Maps, or in Google Search.
- Not approved. This happens when the video has not passed system moderation. This is usually due to non-compliance with requirements (too long, too large, incorrect format), prohibited content (scenes of violence, nudity).
- Live (Published): the video has successfully passed system moderation and your customers can see it in their profile, both in Search and on Google Maps.
F.A.Q. about videos in Google Business Profile
Can I add videos created by artificial intelligence?
If the video is entirely generated by artificial intelligence, it is better not to add it. The published video should reflect your actual business. You can use AI to improve image and sound quality, and you can add some individual frames generated by AI, but the basis for the video should be real footage of your business. Similarly, you should not use stock videos.
How many videos should you add to your profile? How often should you add videos to your profile?
It is advisable to limit yourself to a few videos for the entire profile (3-5 is enough). Maps is not a social network, so you don’t need to generate new content every day. Google’s algorithms value updates and relevance more, so add new videos when you have a really interesting event, seasonal update, or new product. It’s also worth adding a new video if you’ve significantly changed your interior, added new equipment, expanded your premises, or moved to a new address.
What should I do if the video does not upload or takes a long time to verify?
First, make sure that the problem is not related to your equipment or Internet connection (check your Internet speed, clear your browser cache, try using a different device). If the problem is not related to the Internet, check whether the video file meets Google’s requirements, try reducing the size or duration of the video. If the video has been uploaded but is not displayed in your profile, wait 48 hours. If the video does not appear in your profile after this time, it has most likely been rejected. You will not receive a notification explaining the reason. Try uploading the video again, after checking that it does not violate the rules.
Can I speed up the video verification process?
No. The uploaded video is checked automatically, and you cannot influence this process.
Can I add videos from YouTube?
This is not possible. You must upload the video file directly to the gallery in your GBP, not via a link. It can be the same file you uploaded to YouTube, but make sure it meets the technical specifications and requirements.
