Did you know that there are over 105,000 new Google Searches every second? That’s 6.3 Million searches every minute.
Standing out on search is, thus, crucial in this landscape. With millions of searches every minute and over 90% of the clicks going to the first page, it is what everyone is looking for at this time, and for good reason!
Understanding local search algorithms:
Recent studies have unveiled the significant impact of operating hours on a business’s online visibility.
Google, too, has confirmed the direct correlation between accurate business hours on your Google Business Profile and improved search visibility, particularly for local searches (like “best coffee shops near me.”) This means that ensuring your hours are correct could be the key to outranking competitors and attracting more customers.
This is because of the factors of Proximity, Prominence, and Relevance in Google search algorithm – how close your business is to the searcher, how good it is according to Google, and how closely it matches the description of the search – that affect the search engine ranking.
Impact of accurate business hours on visibility:
The impact of accurate business hours on SEO is massive – it signals to customers, and by extension, Google, what businesses would be open at the time of search, and is thus crucial for local search optimization.
Improved Local Search Rankings
- Google’s Algorithm: Search engines prioritize businesses that are open and accessible to potential customers. Businesses that clearly list accurate hours tend to rank higher in search results, gaining visibility based on real-time availability.
- Local Pack Appearance: Businesses with accurate hours are more likely to appear in the coveted local pack, the top three results in local search queries.
Enhanced Customer Experience
- Trust and Reliability: Accurate business hours build trust with customers, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and reliability.
- Reduced Frustration: Customers are less likely to waste time visiting a closed business, leading to increased satisfaction.
Increased Foot Traffic
- Real-time Search Results: People often search for businesses based on immediate needs. Accurate hours ensure that your business appears in search results when potential customers are actively looking.
- Spontaneous Visits: Correct business hours encourage spontaneous visits from customers in the area.
Better Data for Business Insights
- Customer Behavior: Tracking foot traffic based on accurate business hours can provide valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences.
- Optimized Staffing: Understanding peak hours can help businesses optimize staffing levels for maximum efficiency.
Thus, to capitalize on Google’s emphasis on open businesses and boost local SEO, you need to update business hours to ensure that all your information is accurate and up-to-date everywhere you appear online.
But if you want to go ahead and update business hours on Google right away, consider this: Google’s algorithms are complex.
If you’re changing your business hours now, Google is likely to initiate a cross-platform verification to check the validity of the changes. This means Google is going to check your primary website, your social platforms, and any other listings you have, to see if the business hours specified there match your new updated business hours.
What search engines like Google look for is consistency and accuracy, which is why you should aim to optimize all your listings with proper business hours (and other information, too), so that the correct information is displayed everywhere.
That’s why tools like Experience.com’s Professional Listings Management tool can be a game-changer.
All you need to do is update business hours in Experience.com’s Search Rank Platform, and publish it across all your listings with a single click, to improve Google search ranking.
The updated information (in this case, your business hours) will be published across your connected social platforms and third-party sites. You can check the status of publication on different platforms, track them from a single dashboard, and take action if needed.
Find out how to boost your rank on Google
Not only that, you will also be able to check your position on Google search and Google Maps, track customer actions, and measure for yourself the difference you see in business visibility on Google after updating your business hours, from the same dashboard!
Check out how a professional rose to the #1 spot on local Google search
Updating your business hours regularly, and maintaining accurate information on when you open and close, and special hours for holidays and events, lets searchers know when you’re available and gives them confidence that your business will be open when they arrive.
Google loves accuracy, your customers love accuracy, and Experience.com makes it effortless for you – it’s win-win-win!
