Videos on Google Business Profile: Do Them Right
Uploading videos to your Google Business Profile: the official requirements and why almost no restaurant uses them yet
Your Google profile probably has a dozen photos, dishes, the interior, maybe the facade. A video probably is not among them, most restaurants do not have one. That gap is one of the few remaining spots in the profile where a single business can still visibly stand out from the competition.
The official requirements for videos on Google Business Profile
Google sets concrete, verifiable rules here: videos can be a maximum of 30 seconds long, the file can be a maximum of 75 MB, and the resolution needs to be at least 720p. (Source: Google Business Profile Help: Manage your photos and videos)
Some guides circulate different figures, such as a 60-second length limit or a recommended 1080p resolution. That could not be confirmed on Google’s own help page, the three figures above are the only requirements documented there.
Does a video improve your ranking, or not
The honest answer: there is no solid evidence either way. The current Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Survey does not list video as a standalone ranking factor, unlike review count, category, or profile completeness. (Source: BrightLocal: Google’s Local Algorithm and Local Ranking Factors)
That does not mean a video is worthless, just that its value lies somewhere other than the algorithm. We saw the exact same pattern with Google Posts, also not a direct ranking lever, but still genuinely useful, see our article Google Business Posts: Do They Actually Help Restaurants. For video, that purpose is attention and differentiation: a guest scrolling through several profiles is more likely to stop at a video than at yet another still photo, simply because most profiles do not have one.
What’s actually worth filming for a restaurant
A video does not need to be a production. A short, real glimpse feels more credible than a polished promotional video and takes just a few minutes to shoot on a phone.
A look into the kitchen during service. Movement, sound, the pace of a real service evening, that delivers something a photo cannot.
A dish being plated. The final touches before serving show craft and build appetite at the same time.
The atmosphere in the dining room at peak time. Full tables, good energy, that instantly conveys to an undecided guest what to expect.
Perfection matters less than authenticity, a slightly shaky but genuine video beats a sterile stock-photo feel.
How to upload a video
1. Prepare the recording. Stay within the limits, maximum 30 seconds, file under 75 MB, at least 720p, when in doubt record at higher quality and let the app compress it.
2. Upload it in your profile. In the Photos section, select the Videos tab and upload the file.
3. Wait for approval. As with other profile changes, it takes a short moment before the video becomes visible.
4. Refresh it periodically. A single video from last year eventually looks just as dated as an old photo, an occasional refresh keeps the profile feeling alive.
In short
A video on your Google profile does not provably improve your ranking, but it fills a space almost no competitor bothers with, for little effort and clear technical requirements. These small, often-overlooked pieces of a complete profile are exactly what SupaPresence handles for restaurants. Join the pilot for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for videos on Google Business Profile?
According to Google, a maximum of 30 seconds long, a maximum file size of 75 MB, and a minimum resolution of 720p. Other figures circulating in some guides, such as 60 seconds or 1080p, could not be confirmed on Google’s own help page.
Does a video on your Google profile improve your ranking?
Video is not listed as a standalone ranking factor in the current Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Survey, unlike review count or category, for example. The benefit lies more in differentiation and attention than in a direct ranking effect.
How do you upload a video to a Google Business Profile?
In your profile, go to the Photos section, select the Videos tab, upload a recording that meets the technical requirements, and wait for it to be approved. It then appears in the profile’s photo section on Google Maps and in Search.
What should a restaurant actually film?
A short, authentic glimpse works better than a polished promotional video, a look into the kitchen during service, a dish being plated, or the atmosphere in the dining room at peak time.