When someone in Somerville searches for a contractor, a dentist or a place to eat, the first thing they see usually isn't your website. It's your Google Business Profile: the map listing with your reviews, photos and hours. That profile is your storefront in search, and most businesses leave the video part of it empty.
Why video on your profile matters
People compare two or three listings before they call. Photos help. A short video showing your space, your team and your work answers the real question faster: are these people legit, and do I want to deal with them? It also gives people one more reason to spend time on your listing instead of the one next to it.
Google's requirements
Google's own guidelines for Business Profile videos are short: up to 30 seconds long, a file size up to 75 MB, and a resolution of 720p or higher. Videos also have to follow Google's content policies, and they can take some time to appear after you upload while they are reviewed.
What to post
Keep it real and keep it short. A walk-through of your space. Your team at work. A finished project or a dish coming out of the kitchen. A 20-second hello from the owner. Before and after. Google wants videos that show what the business is actually like, not ads with heavy text and borders, so shoot it like a peek behind the curtain.
Make it work hard
Upload a few, not just one, and add new ones every month or two so the profile looks alive. Use the same footage on your website and social so one shoot does triple duty. And make sure the first two seconds show something worth seeing, because most people will watch with the sound off.
Pair it with reviews
Video gets attention. Reviews close the deal. When a profile has fresh video and a steady stream of recent reviews, it looks like a busy, trusted business, because it is. Ask happy customers for a review the same day you finish the job.
Quick checklist
Verified profile. Correct hours and categories. Fresh photos. Two to four short videos under 30 seconds. New content every month or two. Replies to every review. Do those and you will be ahead of most of your competition in local search.
We shoot short Google-ready clips as part of every content day. Want help with yours? Book a free call.
