As the holiday season approaches, small business owners need to prepare for more than just increased customer demand or seasonal promotions. Updating your business hours on your Google listing is one small but crucial step to ensure your customers know when you’re open and available to serve them.
Why Are Accurate Business Hours Important?
Your Google Business Profile is often the first point of contact for potential customers. Especially during the holidays, people rely on Google to check store hours before making shopping or dining plans. If your listed hours are incorrect, you risk frustrating customers, losing business, and damaging your reputation.
For example, imagine someone drives across town to pick up a last-minute gift, only to find your store closed despite your Google listing saying otherwise. It’s an easily avoidable situation if your hours are updated!
Steps to Update Your Holiday Hours on Google
- Log into Your Google Business Profile
- Go to Google Business Profile Manager and log in with the account associated with your business.
- Select Your Business
- From the dashboard, click on your business name if you manage multiple locations.
- Navigate to the Hours Section
- Click on the “Info” tab on the left-hand side.
- Look for the “Hours” section, and you’ll see an option for “Holiday Hours.”
- Set Your Holiday Hours
- Click “Edit” next to “Holiday Hours.”
- Add specific dates and enter your adjusted hours for each holiday. For instance, if you’re closing early on Christmas Eve or staying open late on Black Friday, this is where you make those changes.
- Save Your Changes
- Once you’ve entered all the relevant holiday dates and times, click “Apply” to save your updates.
- Double-Check Your Listing
- Visit your business profile on Google to ensure the changes appear as expected.
Additional Tips for Managing Holiday Hours
- Set Expectations Early: Update your holiday hours well in advance, so customers have plenty of time to plan around them.
- Communicate on Multiple Platforms: Post your holiday hours on social media, your website, and even on physical signage at your location. Consistency is key.
- Use the “Temporarily Closed” Option If Necessary: If your business will be closed for an extended period, use the “Mark as Temporarily Closed” feature instead of deleting your profile.
- Plan for Last-Minute Changes: Be ready to update your hours in case of unforeseen circumstances like severe weather or staff shortages.
The Benefits of Staying Current
When your business hours are accurate:
- Customers trust your professionalism and reliability.
- You minimize missed sales opportunities.
- You reduce the risk of negative reviews from customers who feel inconvenienced.
Taking the time to update your holiday hours ensures your small business makes the most of the season while keeping customers happy and informed.
Need more help optimizing your business presence online? TLitrich Solutions specializes in providing tailored advice to help small businesses thrive. Reach out to us today!