The holiday season is already here.
It’s time for your business to be well-prepared for one of the most lucrative period of the year.
The consumers from Ganesh Chaturthi to Navratri, Diwali, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, will be actively seeking out new clothing, gifts, and experiences.
Considering the intense competition to catch their attention, the stakes are high.
In such a scenario, your business visibility remains crucial.
That’s where you need to leverage your Google Business Profile (GBP). As a powerful tool that when optimized and used effectively can significantly drive foot traffic and phone calls; and boost online sales.
WHY GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE MATTERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
The holiday season brings with it a surge in consumer spending.
It’s time for your business to seize the chance to make the maximum of the opportunities that come along. It can boost its sales and enhance its brand visibility.
Make this holiday season your own using your Google Business Profile to capture attention and drive conversion.
- LOCAL INTENT: “Near me” searches spike during the season significantly. Give preference to their use. Like for instance, “Best holiday treats near me.”
- MOBILE USAGE: Shoppers on the go use Search and Google Maps. They help make quick decisions.
- TRUST FACTOR: Well-maintained profile will enhance your credibility. They also improve your chances of being chosen over competitors.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is more like your digital storefront.
It forms a customer’s first impression, before they step into your store or visit your website.
HOW TO USE GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE?
Your Google Business Profile has a key role to play.
Leverage it to the maximum to engage with potential customers and widen your exposure. This will help drive holiday revenue.
Here is how you should use it.
UPDATE AND OPTIMIZE BUSINESS INFORMATION
- BUSINESS HOURS: Your operating hours may during the holiday season change. So, make sure to
- SET SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS: Like ‘Holidays Eve’; ‘Navratri Special.’
- ADD TEMPORARY CLOSURES: If taking a holiday break, make changes ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Google allows you to set special hours within the dashboard. These will display in your profile prominently.
- ADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILS: Double-check your:
- Physical address.
- Phone Number.
- Website URL.
Keep them up-to-date and consistent across all platforms. Even a small mistake can confuse potential customers. This can hurt your local SEO efforts.
· BUSINESS CATEGORIES: Make sure you’ve selected the accurate primary and secondary business categories. More people search during the holidays using categorical terms like ‘Diwali Sweets’ or ‘Navratri Special’ rather than specific business names.
SHOWCASE HOLIDAY OFFERS WITH POSTS
You can use GBP to create posts that appear in your business profile directly.
They are ideal for:
- Advertising seasonal products or services.
- Promoting holiday sales and discounts.
- Sharing holiday greetings or thank-you messages.
- Announcing holiday season products or services.
Consider the following type of posts.
- EVENT POSTS: Promote holiday events with dates/times and details.
- OFFER POSTS: Add a coupon code. Else you can add limited-time deal.
- WHAT’S NEW: Highlight new holiday gift bundles or menu items.
Use these tips for effective posts:
- Keep text concise. At the same time, ensure they’re engaging.
- Use high-quality festive images.
- Include a clear CTA (Call-to-action). Like ‘Shop Now’ or ‘Call Us Today.’
Google Posts except for event posts expire after 7 days. So keep updating them throughout the season regularly.
ADD HOLIDAY-THEMED PHOTOS & VIDEOS
People generally shop with their eyes.
So update your GBP photo gallery with seasonal images.
- Decorated storefronts.
- Festive product displays.
- Behind-the-scenes shots of holiday preparations.
- Happy customers (with permission).
- Holiday-themed team photos.
Videos like photos are for engagement equally powerful.
You can post a holiday greeting from your staff a
- Virtual tour of your decorated store; or
- Time-lapse of holiday preparation.
Don’t forget to update to something festive and relevant to the season, your cover photo.
They’re often the first visual that users see.
USE Q&A FEATURE TO PREEMPT HOLIDAY QUERIES
Customers can on your Google Profile ask and answer questions.
Make use of the same by proactively answering common holiday-related queries.
Like,
- “Are you open on Diwali day?”
- “Can I place an order online & pick it up in-store?”
- “Do you offer holiday-themed gift cards?”
You can also send your questions and answer them from your business account. They help set expectations and build trust.
LEVERAGE GOOGLE REVIEWS MORE STRATEGICALLY
Reviews are critical year-round. They are even more so during the holidays. Consumers during this period are usually short on time. They would want reassurance about where they’re spending their money.
Use the following tips to leverage during the holiday season reviews.
- ASK SATISFIED CUSTOMERS TO LEAVE REVIEWS: Especially after successful holiday interactions or purchases.
- RESPOND TO ALL REVIEWS: Thank customers and address their concerns.
- FEATURE POSITIVE REVIEWS: In your website or posts.
- USE SEASONAL REPLIES: Like for instance, “Thank You for your appreciation”; or “Happy Festivities from all of us at Golden Bakery.”
The more positive and recent your reviews are, the more prospective customers are likely to trust you.
ENABLE AND PROMOTE ONLINE ORDERING OR BOOKING
Does your business provide booking appointments or ordering products online?
If so, ensure your GBP is well-integrated with the following features.
FOR RETAIL:
- Sync with platforms like “WooCommerce” or “Shopify.” To enable “Buy Online” buttons.
- Offer curbside pickup. Else local delivery options.
FOR SERVICE-BASED BUSINESSES:
- Use integrations like Square Appointments, or Calendly, or Booksy for online scheduling.
Customers appreciate convenience. They especially find it beneficial during the holiday rush.
ADD HOLIDAY-RELATED ATTRIBUTES
Google allows businesses to add attributes to their profile. Like for instance,
- ‘Family-friendly.’
- ‘Curbside pickup.’
- ‘Wheelchair accessible.’
- ‘Gift-wrapping available.’
Use them to tell readers what makes your business special during the holidays.
PROMOTE YOUR PROFILE ACROSS CHANNELS
Let your GBP reach as many people as possible.
Promote it on your
- Before that, check out the latest updates in Google.
- Social Media Platforms.
- Email Newsletters.
- Holiday Campaign Ads. Include in it a link to your Google Maps listing.
If done accordingly, your GBP can attract traffic from multiple touch-points. The more traffic it attracts, the more customers will engage with it.
LOCAL SEO BOOST
Just fine-tuning your GBP won’t suffice. It works better when well-integrated into a broader local SEO strategy.
During the holiday season:
- Optimize with local keywords and seasonal content, your website
- Build local backlinks. Like for instance, Get featured in a local holiday guide; or sponsor a local event.
- Create a blog content about gift guides, holiday trends, or local celebrations.
If your GBP and website are optimized together, your chances of ranking on local search results will significantly improve.
CONCLUSION
The holiday season is a time to take stock of your Google Business Profile.
Don wait to fine-tune your GBP until the season starts.
Start preparing for the season now. Treat your profile like a LIVE Storefront and ensure it gets regular attention and care.
Know that your GBP in the age of mobile shopping and instant search, can make or break your success this holiday season. In other words, it can be the difference between a record-breaking season and a missed opportunity.
