What Should I Set as My Opening Hours on My Google Business Profile?

The short answer is that you should ideally set your opening hours to 24 hours on your Google Business profile, supported by a night dispatch or similar service that can handle calls and book appointments for the next day.

Full Explanation

Setting your opening hours on your Google Business profile is more than just informing customers when you’re available. It directly impacts your business’s ranking in local searches. If your hours show you close at a certain time, your ranking may decline after that time, allowing competitors with later or 24-hour availability to rank higher. By setting your hours to 24/7, you signal to Google and potential customers that your business is always accessible, even if the service at night is limited to call handling or appointment booking for the following day.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Set your official opening hours to be 24 hours in your Google Business profile settings.
Establish a night dispatch system or a similar setup that can accept calls outside of typical business hours.
Ensure calls during the night are recorded or handled in a way that allows appointment booking for the next day.
Monitor the impact on your search ranking and customer engagement to ensure this approach benefits your business visibility.

Real Examples

While specific examples aren’t provided here, consider a business that stays open 24 hours in Google Business, backed by a night dispatch. This business remains highly visible in search rankings at all times, unlike competitors whose rankings drop after their closing time. This setup can improve customer confidence as well, knowing someone is always available to take calls and bookings.

Common Mistakes

Setting opening hours that don’t reflect actual availability, causing customer frustration.
Failing to provide night-time call handling or booking services, which undermines the benefit of 24-hour listing.
Neglecting the importance of opening hours as a ranking factor, leading to missed opportunities in local SEO.

FAQs

Why does setting 24-hour opening times improve ranking?: Because Google factors availability into ranking, and businesses open longer often rank higher, especially during off-hours.
Is a night dispatch really necessary if the business isn’t physically open 24 hours?: Yes, it allows calls to be accepted and bookings to be made for the next day, maintaining the business’s availability in the eyes of customers and Google.

Key Takeaways

Set your Google Business profile opening hours to 24 hours for optimal ranking.
Support this with a night dispatch or similar service to handle calls and bookings outside normal hours.
Recognize the direct impact of opening hours on local SEO and customer interaction.