How to Add Video to Google Maps & Google Business Profiles (GBP) for Your Retail Store

Like most humans, Google loooooves casual, multi-shot video, especially for local retail stores. But there's a secret to how to add those videos, and how to make videos that get featured at the top. In this article, we'll share what types of videos work best, and how to share directly to Google.

What to Make: Search Engine Optimized Video (SEOV)

We've studied this one closely and built custom video templates to match Google's desires. Here's what the algorithm seems to like:

• Aim for authentic, casual videos: forget the sizzle, AI, transitions and animations. Google loves videos of real people doing real things.
• Make your video about 25 seconds long.
• Use multiple shots: a single clip doesn't tell a story.
• Add visual variety: wide shots, close ups, menus, product detail, human reactions. They make the video vibrant and real.
• Shoot outside shots during daytime for clear images.

We've tested this around the world, from a grocery store in San Francisco to the oldest restaurant in Europe. In nearly all cases, videos made with NanoFlick using this structure take the top spot and define the experience for those businesses on Google.

NanoFlick's structured, casual videos regularly shoot to the top of Google search & maps.

You can run with the SEOV guidelines yourself. We've built some free templates with full shot lists like the one below. You can use these with any camera or app. Tap/click on the image below to see the full template.

There are several other templates to help revitalize your Google presence and social feeds, and to drive more traffic. Take a look here.

Content Recommendations

We suggest making 3 "evergreen" video overviews, then supplement with 1–3 weekly videos that you also distribute on other social channels like Instagram. Some evergreen options would be:

• Store Tour
• Meet the Staff
• Behind the Scenes

For the more frequent, updated content to keep your listing fresh, consider:

• Community Event — Open house, holiday party, famers market, etc.
• Customer Q&A
• New Product Arrival
• How-To Demonstration
• Product Review
• Flash Sale Alert
• Holiday Greeting
• Testimonials — recruit loyal customers to share their own

Getting it Done

The links above include shot lists you can use with any camera or editing software. Those same shot lists are built into the free NanoFlick app. It's the easiest and quickest way to make these Google-optimized videos. The app walks you through each shot step-by-step so there's no editing required, cutting your production time from hours to minutes. Just shoot the shots and share immediately. Give it a try.

How to Share via Google Maps

Google uses the same intake for Google Maps and Google Business Profiles (GBP), but the process is not obvious. First of all, it has nothing to do with YouTube. The videos featured in Maps & GBP do not include YouTube videos. Second, the videos can only be submitted via the Google Maps app on mobile, or using the GBP dashboard on web. We'll cover sharing via Google Maps here, and save the GBP dashboard for a different update. Note that you cannot share via Google Maps on desktop/computer, only using the mobile app.

1. Edit the video to match the guidelines above. Aim for about 25–27 seconds in total length.
2. Share the video to your camera roll. On NanoFlick, you share from the MyFlicks tab or the Shot List view shown below. Other video editing apps will have a similar way to save to your Camera Roll.

3. Open the Google Maps app on that same phone. Tap on the business name to see the GBP for that business. Then tap on Reviews.
4. Add your review, or if you already have one, add this video to the existing review. You may only have one review, but each review may have multiple videos or photos.

If your review runs longer than 30 seconds total, the app will require you to trim it down before you can post it. You can trim the ends in Google Maps or go back into NanoFlick (or your editing app) to trim other shots and repeat these steps.

Once your video is done, wait about a day before looking for it on Google maps and Google search. You can always delete or replace old videos as you add new ones, to freshen your listing.

For more detail on social media strategy for retail, take a look at the research and case studies here.

You can download the NanoFlick app free from the Apple App Store and start creating in minutes. Select the "Small Biz" category or search for "Retail" to access relevant templates, or visit nanoflick.com/video-stories to explore all available templates. If you have a template idea you'd like us to add, go to Settings in the app, and tap the Suggest a story template button.

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