Here’s a scene I see every holiday season. A customer searches “open near me” on Thanksgiving weekend, Google says a local shop is open, they drive across town and find a dark storefront. That customer doesn’t just leave. They leave a frustrated review.
The fix takes about 15 minutes. Here is the Google Business Profile checklist I run for my clients before Thanksgiving week.
1. Set your special hours now
In your Google Business Profile, use the “special hours” option to add holiday dates: Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (November 28 this year), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Mark the days you are closed and any shortened hours. Do it all at once and you’re covered through January.
2. Publish a holiday post
Google posts show up right on your profile. Share your holiday hours, a seasonal offer, gift cards or an event. Add a clear photo and a button like “Call” or “Learn more.” Keep it short and specific.
3. Refresh your photos
Add a few current photos: your storefront, your team, your holiday displays or recent work. Fresh, real photos build trust and help your listing stand out next to competitors still showing photos from 2019.
4. Reply to every recent review
Thank happy customers by name when you can. For a negative review, respond calmly, take responsibility where it is fair, and invite them to contact you directly. Future customers read your replies as closely as the reviews.
5. Double-check the basics
Confirm your phone number rings the right line, your website link works on a phone, and your business categories still match what you sell. Small errors here quietly cost you calls.
6. Make your website match
Your website should show the same holiday hours as Google. Add a simple banner at the top of your homepage, and make sure your “Call” button works on mobile. Consistency builds trust with customers and with Google.
Why this matters more than you think
For many local searches, your Google Business Profile is the first thing a customer sees, often before your website. It shows your hours, photos, reviews and a button to call or get directions, right in the search results and on Google Maps. During the holidays, people search with intent: they want to buy, book or visit now. An accurate, active profile tells them you’re open and ready. An outdated one sends them to the competitor down the street.
Need a hand?
If your Google listing has been on the back burner, you’re not alone, and it’s one of the highest-impact things a local business can fix. At GIVE Consulting, we help Corpus Christi small businesses get found online with Google Business Profile management, websites that convert and social media that brings people through the door.
Let’s talk about your holiday plan, or call me at 361.445.2103.
What’s the one marketing task you keep putting off until after the holidays? Tell me in the comments.
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