5 Common mistakes with business hours

When it comes to running a physical location, optimizing your customer experience is crucial, even online! One often overlooked but critical aspect is accurately displaying your business hours.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid and tips to ensure your customers (and Google) always know when you’re open.

Avoid these common mistakes

1. Not mentioning special days on your website 

Many businesses forget to update their opening hours for special days like holidays, bridge days, or occasional Sunday openings.

This helps avoid confusion and frustration for your customers who may plan their visit based on outdated or incomplete information.

2. Conflicting information on the same page 

Having business hours listed prominently on your website is great, but if you mention closures or special hours elsewhere on the same page, it can create confusion. Make sure all mentions of your hours are consistent and up-to-date. This clarity helps build trust with your customers.

3. Special days only listed on a dedicated page 

While having a dedicated page for special hours can be beneficial for SEO, it’s crucial to also include this information on your main shop detail page. Most visitors will look for business hours on your shop’s detail page.

4. Inconsistent hours on your website and Google 

Consistency is key. If your website lists different hours than your Google Business profile, customers won’t know which one to trust. In the best case, they’ll call to confirm, but in the worst case, they’ll go to a competitor. Always make sure your business hours are consistent across all digital channels.

5. Not validating hours on special days on Google Business Profile 

Even if your hours remain the same on special days, it’s essential to validate them on your Google Business profile. Unconfirmed hours can lead to an orange warning for your customers instead of a green check, negatively impacting your Google ranking. Keeping in mind, Google is a foot traffic driver!

Oh, and Google sometimes add uncommon special days. Make sure you confirm or update these too!

How do you ensure consistent business hours

Sync your website and Google Business Profile 

Ensure that your business hours are the same on both your website and your Google Business profile. You haven’t claimed your Google Business profile yet? 

Website: Highlight hours on your shop detail pages 

Make sure to list your opening hours, including any special days, prominently on your shop detail pages. This is the primary place on your website where your customers will look for this information. You can still create a special page for i.e. Sunday openings or other variations for SEO purposes, but ensure this critical information is easy to find on your main pages.

Website: Visualise special days close to regular hours 

When listing your hours, include special days and closures near your regular business hours. If this information is too far apart on your shop detail page, visitors might miss it, leading to possible confusion.

Google: Regularly validate on Google 

Perform a monthly check of your Google listings and confirm or change your opening hours on special days. This small step can significantly improve your Google ranking and ensure customers always have the correct information.

Google : Use multiple schedules on Google 

Google now allows you to add multiple schedules for different aspects of your business. For example, you can specify different hours for your bar’s happy hour or indicate that your bike repair shop has different hours than your main bike shop. This flexibility helps you provide precise information to your customers, enhancing their experience. These extra hours are location based features.

Going for the perfect visualisation

Implementing a similar system on your website can enhance user experience.

The impact of incorrect or unvalidated hours

Incorrect or unvalidated hours can severely impact your Google ranking, which is a major traffic driver to your store. Avoid this pitfall by keeping your information up-to-date. Google lists all holidays which need to be reviewed.

Need help keeping everything in sync?

Consistent, accurate business hours are vital for your customer experience and overall business success.

If managing all these details feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

Doorganiser makes multi-location edits for businesses effortless.

Let’s talk and ensure your listings and website are always in sync.