As the holiday season wraps up, it’s essential for businesses to refresh their online presence. Updating your business hours on Google and Apple Maps isn’t just a formality—it’s a strategic move to enhance customer trust, satisfaction, and competitive edge. This guide provides a step-by-step process to update your business hours on both platforms, ensuring your customers always have the most current information.
The Importance of Accurate Business Hours for Online Visibility
Accurate and up-to-date business hours are crucial for a strong online presence. SEO specialists highlight that Google’s local search algorithm now prioritizes accurate operating hours as a key ranking factor. Incorrect or outdated information can lead to customer dissatisfaction and drive them to competitors—62% of consumers avoid businesses with incorrect information online. On the other hand, accurate business hours build trust and increase the likelihood of customers choosing your services.
How to Update Business Hours on Google Maps
Google Maps is a primary resource for customers seeking business information. Follow these steps to ensure your Google Maps listing reflects accurate business hours:
- Access Your Google Business Profile:
- Log into the Google account linked to your business.
- Navigate to the Google Apps menu and select “Business Profile.”
- Choose the business you wish to update from the Business Profile Dashboard.
- Update Your Business Hours:
- In the “Opening hours” section, select “Open with main hours” and enter the updated times.
- Add special hours for holidays or unique business events.
- Save your changes to update your profile.
- Verify and Review Your Changes:
- Double-check for accuracy and ensure the updated hours are displayed correctly on your Google Business Profile.
How to Update Business Hours on Apple Maps
Apple Maps is equally important for accurate business listings. Here’s how to update your business hours on Apple Maps:
- Access Apple Maps Connect:
- Sign in with your Apple ID at the Apple Maps Connect website.
- Select “Locations” and choose the business listing you wish to update.
- Update Your Business Hours:
- Modify the “Hours” section with current opening times.
- Use the “Special Hours” feature for non-standard business hours or holiday schedules.
- Save the changes to reflect these updates on Apple Maps.
Streamlining Business Information Updates
For businesses with multiple locations, manually updating business hours can be time-consuming and error-prone. Local listing management tools like PinMeTo offer an efficient solution for bulk updating business hours on Google and Apple Maps. These tools allow you to easily schedule custom open hours and manage holiday schedules for all your locations from a single dashboard, maintaining accurate and consistent information across various platforms.
Conclusion
Maintaining accurate business hours on Google and Apple Maps is vital for a strong online presence. Regularly reviewing and updating your listings will prevent customer confusion and enhance your reputation. Embrace the benefits of a well-managed digital presence and start updating your business listings today.