How to Update Your Google Business Profile for Holiday Hours and Seasonal Promotions

Table of Contents

• What is Google Business Profile?

• Benefit for Small Businesses of Google Business Profile

• How to Update Your Profile for Holiday Hours

• Promoting Seasonal Offers and Events on Google

Bonus Tip: Manage Your Online Presence in One App

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The holiday season is a critical time for local businesses. Shoppers are actively seeking gift ideas, checking opening hours, and looking for the best local deals. The last thing you want is a customer arriving at your store only to find it closed because your online hours were outdated.

Google Business Profile improves your visibility in local search results

That’s why keeping your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) accurate and optimized is a must. Not only does it help customers find you at the right time, but it also improves your visibility in local search results.

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through how to update your holiday hours and add seasonal promotions to your Google Business Profile - plus, how to manage it all and more effortlessly with management tools like Hookle.

What is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by Google that lets businesses manage how they appear on Google Search and Maps. When someone searches for your business name or a related service, your profile appears on the right side of search results or in Google Maps.

Your profile includes:

• Business name and description

• Hours of operation

• Address and location

• Phone number and website

• Photos and videos

• Customer reviews

• Links to your social media profiles

• Posts and promotions

It’s essentially your digital storefront for local searchers. If you don’t have a Google Business Profile yet, it’s free and easy to set up. Get started here.

Benefit for Small Businesses of Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile helps you stand out from the competition and attract more local customers.

Here’s how it benefits small business owners:

• Boosts local SEO: An up-to-date profile helps you rank higher in local search results, which is vital when people search for example "[your service] near me".

• Builds trust: Accurate info, positive reviews, and photos build credibility and help potential customers feel more confident in choosing your business.

• Increases visibility: You’re more likely to show up in Google Maps and the "Local Pack" (top 3 business listings) when your profile is optimized.

• Enhances customer experience: Customers get the correct business hours, directions, and promotions - avoiding confusion and disappointment.

• Easy updates and announcements: You can quickly post updates such as offers, events, and important updates right from your profile.

How to Update Your Profile for Holiday Hours

Keeping your hours up to date during the holidays is essential. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to your Google Business Profile: Go to business.google.com and log in with the email tied to your business.

2. Navigate to the “Hours” section: Under "Business Information," find and click the pencil icon next to your regular hours.

3. Add special hours: You’ll see an option to "Add special hours" for specific dates like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or other seasonal events.

4. Confirm and publish: After entering the holiday hours, click "Apply" to make them live.

Google will even display a label like "Special hours" to inform customers that your schedule is temporarily adjusted.

Even though sometimes Google reminds you of holidays it's good to schedule a recurring monthly check-in to keep your hours and info up to date.

Promoting Seasonal Offers and Events on Google

Besides updating hours, your Google Business Profile is a powerful tool to promote seasonal offers and events. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Use Updates to Share Promotions

1. Navigate to the "Posts" section in your profile dashboard.

2. Choose “Add Offer” or “Add Update.”

3. Include a title, description, image, dates, and a CTA (e.g., "Buy Now" or "Call Today").

Add Photos and Videos

1. Show off your festive decorations, best-selling holiday items, or limited-time gift bundles.

2. This attracts visual attention and creates a holiday vibe.

Highlight Holiday Events

1. Hosting a small event or online sale? Announce it via a Google Post.

2. Link to your website or booking page if needed.

Encourage Reviews During the Season

1. The holidays are a great time to ask happy customers to leave a review.

2. You can create a direct review link using your Google Business dashboard and include it in email campaigns or social media.

Manage Your Online Presence in One App

Keeping your Google Business Profile updated is just one part of staying visible online. But managing all your platforms can quickly become overwhelming - especially during the busy holiday season. That’s where social media management app like Hookle comes in.

Hookle is designed for small business owners like you

Hookle is built for small business owners and lets you manage and post to Google Business Profile and all your social channels from one simple app. Schedule content in advance, promote seasonal offers, get smart AI-powered suggestions that match your business voice, and track performance with clear, easy-to-understand insights.

No need to switch between platforms or stress over what to post next - Hookle brings everything together, so you can focus on running your business while staying consistently active online.

Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself. Download Hookle for free today and simplify your online presence.