Google Adds Video Previews to Streamline Business Profile Verification for Healthcare Providers

Google continues to enhance its local search tools, now introducing a feature that holds significant implications for medical practices and healthcare providers. The new Video Previews option within the Google Business Profile (GBP) platform gives practitioners the opportunity to review verification footage before submission. Though seemingly minor, this upgrade can drastically improve accuracy, speed up the verification timeline, and help clinics appear sooner in Google Maps and local search results.

In today’s digital environment, where patients frequently search for providers online, early and accurate verification can make a substantial difference in patient acquisition. Delays in listing a medical office online mean lost opportunities for visibility, appointments, and trust-building.

How the Video Preview Process Works for Medical Practices

When initiating the verification process via Google Business Profile Manager, medical professionals can now opt for video verification and preview the footage before submission. This process can be completed through the mobile app or a desktop device, giving providers a chance to confirm that all required details are captured accurately.

Before submission, the platform presents a checklist to guide the creation of a complete and verifiable video. The preview must include:

• Clear external signage identifying the clinic or practice name
• Official materials such as licenses, branded uniforms, or professional credentials
• Internal features that confirm operations—this could include medical equipment, waiting room setups, or scheduling interfaces

If anything is missing or improperly captured, the user can select “Try Again” and re-record the video. Once the necessary elements are included, the final step is to upload the footage directly to Google for review.

Why Google Is Using Video to Confirm Business Authenticity

In recent years, verification fraud has become more prevalent, with bad actors using misleading listings to game search results. Static documents, such as images or PDFs, are often insufficient to prove that a medical office is genuinely operational at the stated location.

Video verification provides a more robust, context-rich method to verify real-world presence. By capturing footage of the exterior, signage, and functioning practice environment, Google can validate the authenticity of a provider more effectively. This is particularly valuable in healthcare, where trust and legitimacy are essential, and where inaccurate listings can create confusion for prospective patients.

Google’s emphasis on video aims to streamline verification while minimizing fraudulent or misrepresented profiles in high-value service categories, including urgent care centers, dental offices, and specialty clinics.

The SEO Impact of Delayed or Failed Verification

Delayed verification is more than an administrative inconvenience—it can significantly hinder a practice’s local SEO performance. Without a verified Google Business Profile, a provider’s facility will not appear in the Local Pack, Google Maps, or organic search results when patients search for nearby care.

The Video Preview feature addresses this by giving providers one last opportunity to confirm completeness before submission. This reduces the chances of rejection, minimizes back-and-forth with support, and shortens the timeline to activation.

Verification is a crucial first step in building local search authority, which depends on signals like:

• Proximity to the searcher
• Relevance of listed services
• Engagement signals (e.g., website clicks, direction requests)
• Volume and quality of patient reviews

Establishing these signals early helps medical providers compete more effectively in saturated local markets.

How MedShark Digital Supports Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare providers often face added complexity in digital marketing due to regulatory guidelines, location-based competition, and the unique trust dynamics of patient-provider relationships. A missed step in the verification process, such as blurry signage or incomplete credentials, can delay a listing’s launch and reduce early momentum.

At MedShark Digital, we specialize in helping medical professionals optimize their Google Business Profiles for local visibility and search performance. Our team assists with:

• Navigating the video verification process effectively
• Ensuring profiles meet Google’s evolving requirements
• Optimizing categories, service areas, and practice details for maximum reach
• Building strong local ranking signals through reputation and link-building strategies

By partnering with our experts, your clinic or healthcare facility gains a clear, accelerated path to verification and discoverability—allowing you to focus on patient care while we manage the digital details.

Take Control of Your Online Presence

In the healthcare sector, first impressions often begin online. Whether patients are searching for a pediatrician, a specialist, or a primary care provider, visibility in Google search results can determine who gets the call. Video Previews may be a small feature, but they can play a major role in getting your profile live—and getting patients through your doors.

To ensure your practice is set up for long-term success in local SEO, contact MedShark Digital today. Our tailored strategies help healthcare professionals verify faster, rank higher, and connect with more patients from day one.