You put off getting your shop on Google. Now Google wants proof you are even real.
That proof is a video. Not a photo. A video of your shop, filmed on your phone.
This trips up good, honest businesses every week. Here is how to get it right the first time.
Why is Google asking for a video now
Google wants to stop fake listings, so it checks new ones.
Video verification is now the normal way new listings get approved, in most regions, for most new profiles.
The video must be unedited and continuous. At least 30 seconds long. Recorded on a mobile phone while you are logged into the Google account that manages your listing.
Just walk and film.
What exactly do you need to film
Two things, in one continuous shot.
First, film outside. Show the street, your sign, and something nearby that proves the address, like a neighbouring shop or landmark.
Second, film the business itself. Storefront, signage, inside the shop, or your equipment.
If you work from home, film your house or flat from outside. That counts.
If you run a service business with no fixed shop, like a plumber or a driver, film your tools, your van, or your equipment instead. Google allows this.
Get it wrong and you wait. Verification can take up to five business days, and if it fails, you record again from scratch.
A blurry, rushed video costs you a week. A calm 30 second walk costs you nothing.
How to actually get this done this week
Do not overthink it. Follow these steps in order.
- Log into the Google account you use for your business, on your phone.
- Walk outside first. Film your street sign, your shop front, and one landmark nearby, slowly.
- Walk inside next, in the same continuous recording. Show your counter, stock, or equipment.
- Keep it over 30 seconds, and do not cut or edit the clip.
- Upload it when Google asks, and wait for the result.
This whole video rule only matters if you are trying to get listed in the first place. Many Zimbabwean business owners still are not. A .co.zw domain, the local web address that shows customers you are a real Zimbabwean business, currently costs as little as US$5 for the first year. That is less than a bag of sugar, for a year of being findable.
Being on Google, with a real address and a real listing, is what makes a customer trust you before they even call. A video is a small price to pass that test.
If putting up a proper website, fixing your Google listing, or automating the boring parts of your business has been on your someday list, Eka can help you get it done properly, without wasting money.
