The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start preparing your restaurant for the busiest time of the year. Whether you're featuring a Babka special, serving up a boozy Christmas brunch, or hosting a themed New Year’s Eve bash, optimizing your Google Business Profile can help you attract more customers and give your sales one final boost for the year. 

When potential customers search for a place to eat during the holiday rush, they’ll turn to Google. And when they find you, what will they see first? Your Google Business Profile! So, let’s unwrap the best ways you can make sure your profile is ready for the holidays. And don’t worry—just like Santa’s elves, Marqii is here to help make your holiday marketing a breeze.

Why Optimizing Your Google Business Profile Matters for the Holidays

With everyone traveling for the holiday season, this brings increased foot traffic, family gatherings, and customers looking for special holiday experiences or new places to take visitors. That means more eyes on your Google Business Profile than ever. If your profile isn’t up-to-date, you could miss out on those last-minute reservations, catering events, or holiday party bookings.

By optimizing your Google Business Profile, you’re putting your restaurant in the best spot to be found. Whether it’s someone searching for extended hours, holiday events, or special menus, you’ll be front and center. Plus, you’re making it easier for customers to find the info they need, which means fewer phone calls, more reservations, and happy reviews.

Now let’s dive into Marqii’s tips for optimizing your Google Business Profile for the holidays:

Tip #1: Update Your Hours and Holiday Closures

First things first—make sure your hours are correct! The last thing you want is for a potential customer to show up for dinner only to find your doors locked because of special holiday hours. 

Updating your holiday hours on Google is super easy and ensures no one is left hangry during their holiday celebrations.

Here’s how to update your hours on Google (if you don’t have Marqii):

• Log into your Google Business Profile. Find the location you want to add your holiday hours to and click the pencil icon.

• Find the "Special Hours" option under the “Hours” tab.

• Add your holiday hours, whether you’re closing up early on Christmas Eve or extending them for late-night New Year’s traffic. It's important to add holiday hours EVEN IF you're open during your normal business hours. This is how you get the nice green check mark on your GBP, rather than the dreaded red "holiday hours may vary" message.

If you have multiple locations, it can be daunting to have to go in and update holiday hours one by one. That’s where Marqii can help you out through our listings management tool. Simply update your holiday hours once in our dashboard, and we take care of updating the rest. And this doesn’t just include Google either. We can update your holiday hours for Yelp, OpenTable, TripAdvisor, and more too!

For those lucky Marqii clients, here is how you can update holiday hours in our dashboard:

1. Login into the Marqii dashboard
2. Navigate to locations on the side menu and select the location where you want to update holiday hours.
3. Scroll down to “Hours” and expand the tab.
4. Select “Holiday Hours” and add “add holiday hours.”

Tip #2: Highlight Special Holiday Events on Google

Hosting a special holiday dinner, live music event, or festive New Year’s party? Make sure your customers know! Google allows you to create events directly on your profile, which is a fantastic way to get the word out about any holiday happenings at your restaurant.

Here’s how to add events:

• In your Google Business Profile dashboard, click “see your profile” and navigate to the "Add Update" button at the top.

• Choose the “Add event” option and fill in the details, including date, time, and a brief description of your event.

• Add a festive photo or graphic to catch people’s attention—bonus points for holiday décor or a shot of your special holiday LTO.

Not only does this help you get the word out, it also makes your profile more engaging. Adding an event signals to Google that your information is current and that you are engaged, which can help bump you up in local search rankings. Not to mention, promoting your event on your GBP can bring in more customers and create buzz for your holiday festivities.

Tip #3: Spread the Holiday Cheer in Review Responses

The holidays are a time of joy, and that positive energy should show up in your reviews. Happy holiday diners are more likely to leave glowing feedback, especially if they had an unforgettable experience at your restaurant. Take advantage of any uptick in reviews and make sure you are responding to every review that comes your way! (Negative and Postivie)

Don’t be afraid to integrate keywords into your review responses to help boost your SEO and promote holiday specials. Especially if you can do it naturally. For example, if someone leaves a review raving about a dish they tried, you can respond with something like this:

[Name of Reviewer], thank you for sharing your experience! I’m so glad you loved our Peach Cobbler, and I’ll be passing your compliments along to our pastry team. If you make it back in the next month I think you’d love our Apple-Cranberry Tart. We bring it out just for the holidays. Look forward to having you back in soon!

Responding to all reviews will be key in showing up higher in rankings by showing Google you’re responsive to feedback. We get that your plate can get really full during the holiday season. With Marqii’s AI Suggested Review Response feature, you can tackle reviews in less time than it takes to pour a cup of hot chocolate. With a click of a button, you can generate on-brand review responses without worrying about brand voice, context, or time. 

Tip #4: Utilize Google Posts for Holiday Announcements

Google Posts are a fantastic way to announce any holiday promotions or updates. Whether it’s a special holiday menu, a new cocktail creation, or a limited-time offer, sharing these updates through Google Posts ensures that your holiday marketing efforts reach a wider audience.

To create a Google post:

• In your Google Business Profile dashboard, click “see your profile” and navigate to the "Add Update" button at the top.

• Choose the type of post you want to create (holiday offers, product highlights, etc.).

• Craft a fun, engaging message, and don’t forget to add a festive image!

These posts appear directly on your profile, so every time someone checks out your restaurant on Google, they’ll see your latest updates. Use this space to keep the holiday excitement alive and keep customers coming back.

Not sure what type of promotions would work for the holiday? We’ve got you covered.

More Holiday Marketing Ideas for Your Restaurant

If there’s one thing customers love during the holidays, it’s a good deal. Here are some ideas to boost holiday sales and engage customers:

• Black Friday/Cyber Monday Gift Card Deals: Offer a special deal on gift cards. For example, “Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card” is a great way to attract more customers and get them thinking about gifting your restaurant experience to friends and family. It’s a win-win!
• Holiday Gift Bundles: Create a holiday gift bundle that includes a meal and some branded swag—like a T-shirt, mug, or bottle of house-made sauce. This could be offered as a dine-in special or as a gift package for guests to take home. This would be the perfect time to bottle up your house sauce that everyone loves and add it to the bundle! Customers love something tangible to take away, and you’ll boost your brand visibility too.
• Take-Home Kit or Catering Special: Ease the holiday stress by offering a take-home kit that guests can pick up and finish at home OR offer a catering promo that takes the cooking off their plate entirely! Customers love a deal that saves them money AND time. Don’t underestimate the power of a no-effort meal during the busy holiday season.
• Special Events: Host a special event to expand your guest experience and draw in new customers. This is the perfect opportunity to collaborate with other local businesses to offer up a raffle or a special deal with a meal from you and dessert from the bakery next door. Bonus points for having live music or some sort of on-site attraction to engage guests while they dine. And if the event is a success, you can make it an annual event! After all, people love traditions around the holiday season. Attending your event could be one of them!

These offers don’t just bring in sales—they help customers remember your restaurant when planning their holiday events or looking for gift ideas.

Tip #5: Leverage Photos and Videos for Visual Appeal

Let’s face it—people eat with their eyes first, especially during the holidays. This season is the perfect time to update your Google Business Profile with festive photos and videos. Show off your holiday décor, capture your team in action, or snap some shots of your seasonal specials.

Not only do visuals make your profile more engaging, but they also help potential customers imagine themselves enjoying the experience. Whether it’s a cozy, twinkling-lit dining room or your chef plating a festive dish, visuals go a long way in creating that holiday vibe.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but during the holidays, it could be worth a thousand orders!

Prep for the Holidays with Marqii

With the right updates to your Google Business Profile and a sprinkle of holiday magic, you can make sure your restaurant shines bright this holiday season. From updating your hours to promoting special events, the key is to keep your profile fresh and engaging.

Remember, holiday marketing doesn’t have to be stressful. Need help managing your reviews, and listings? Schedule a demo to learn more!