A Google Business Profile video has a narrow job: help someone understand what the business looks like, what it offers and what visiting or buying may feel like. Treat it as a short piece of evidence, not a compressed commercial with every message competing for attention.

Know the current upload limits first

Google currently requires Business Profile videos to be no longer than 30 seconds, no larger than 75 MB and at least 720p resolution.[1] The profile must be verified before its photos and videos can appear on Google.

Build the edit around those limits from the beginning. A 25-to-30-second master gives the editor room to remove a shot without rebuilding the story. Export at 720p or higher, then confirm the final file size before uploading.

Choose one purpose for each video

A short profile video works best when it answers one practical customer question. For example:

  • Where is the entrance? Show the exterior, sign and path inside.
  • What is the atmosphere? Show a real service moment, the room and the team at work.
  • What will I receive? Show the product, process or finished result without exaggeration.
  • What makes the location useful? Show seating, accessibility features, pickup flow or an important amenity.

Google specifically suggests adding media of a storefront, products and services, and notes that an exterior photo can help customers recognize a business when they visit.[1] The same customer-first logic is useful when planning a short video.

A simple 30-second shot structure

  1. 0–4 seconds: establish the place. Start with the exterior, sign or most recognizable view.
  2. 4–12 seconds: show the experience. Use two or three stable shots of the space, service or team.
  3. 12–22 seconds: show the offer. Demonstrate the product, process or result with specific visual detail.
  4. 22–28 seconds: add one proof point. Show a useful feature, finishing detail or real customer-facing moment.
  5. 28–30 seconds: end cleanly. Hold the final image long enough to understand it.

This structure is an editorial recommendation, not a Google ranking formula. Google does not promise that a particular shot order will improve placement. The goal is a clear, accurate video that helps a prospective customer make sense of the business.

Keep the footage real and location-specific

Google’s Maps media guidance recommends using media captured at the location, keeping the place as the main subject and avoiding screenshots, stock imagery, collages or heavily manipulated media.[2] It also says stable, in-focus video is most helpful.

For production, that means choosing a quiet shooting window, cleaning the customer-facing areas, checking practical lighting and recording stable movement. Colour correction can make the scene consistent, but the result should still represent the location and service accurately.

Use text and graphics sparingly

Google advises keeping Maps media simple and says added text or graphics should be relevant to the place.[2] A short label such as “Private dining room” or “Wheelchair-accessible entrance” can clarify a shot. A screen full of prices, contact details and promotional claims can obscure the location.

If the video needs a full offer, deadline or booking message, place that information in an appropriate Business Profile post or on the linked website instead of forcing it into the footage. Google’s Business Profile policy also warns that posts with unverified contact information may be removed and recommends using the profile’s verified contact features.[3]

Get permission before showing identifiable people

Google’s prohibited-content policy says not to post another person’s personal information without consent and includes a person’s face in a photo or video as an example.[4] Plan who will appear, obtain appropriate permission and avoid capturing uninvolved customers in the background.

This is a publishing safeguard, not legal advice. Businesses should use a consent process appropriate to their location, industry and intended use of the footage.

Upload, then check the status

On a computer, Google says to find the business in Search or Maps, open Photos, choose Add photos and select the video.[1] Google reviews uploaded media. The status can appear as Pending, Not approved or Live, and Google says media can take up to 24–48 hours to appear.

If a compliant video remains missing, first confirm that the profile is verified, the file meets the duration, size and resolution limits, and the upload is not a duplicate. Do not repeatedly upload altered copies while an earlier version is still pending.

Pre-upload checklist

  • The profile is verified.
  • The video is 30 seconds or shorter.
  • The file is 75 MB or smaller.
  • The export is 720p or higher.
  • The footage accurately represents the location, product or service.
  • The video is stable, in focus and not heavily filtered.
  • Any added text is relevant and easy to read.
  • Identifiable people have given appropriate permission.
  • The final frame does not contain an unsupported claim or outdated offer.
  • Someone checks the Live status after the review period.

Sources

  1. Google Business Profile Help: Manage your Business Profile photos and videos
  2. Google Maps Policy Help: Tips for posting media to Maps
  3. Google Business Profile Help: Photos, videos and posts content policy
  4. Google Maps Policy Help: Prohibited and restricted content

Sources were accessed and checked on October 30, 2026. Google may change product requirements, so confirm the linked guidance before a future upload.

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