How to Use Business Listings for Seasonal Promotions and Offers

With the holiday season just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to start thinking about seasonal promotions. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other December holidays are all on the way, which means customers are primed for festive shopping. From special deals to limited-time offers, the holiday season is a golden opportunity to attract new customers, boost your online presence, and get in front of holiday shoppers looking for something special.

One of the best tools to help you do just that? Business listings. Optimizing your listings for seasonal promotions can make a big impact, helping you show up in search results, stand out with eye-catching offers, and ultimately, bring more people through your (physical or virtual) doors. Here’s a guide to using business listings for seasonal success.

1. Prepping Your Business Listings for the Holidays

First things first—get your business listings ready for the season. Here are a few ways to give your listings a holiday touch-up and make them more attractive to seasonal shoppers:

• Update Your Business Info: Start with the basics. Make sure your contact info, holiday hours, and address are all current. If you’re extending hours or have special dates you’re closed, add these updates to help customers find you without any hiccups.

• Add Holiday Keywords: Think about what people are searching for this time of year. Phrases like “holiday sale,” “Black Friday deals,” “Thanksgiving catering,” or “New Year’s specials” help connect your business with relevant seasonal searches. Sprinkle these keywords into your descriptions to get your listing in front of more eyes.

• Refresh Your Photos and Visuals: Adding seasonal images to your listings can make them pop! Whether it's a holiday-decorated storefront, festive products, or special seasonal services, fresh visuals help grab attention and add a touch of holiday spirit.

2. Highlighting Special Offers and Limited-Time Deals

If you’re offering discounts or deals, don’t be shy—make sure they’re visible in your listings. Business directories often let you tag special offers, and these tags make it easy for people to spot deals at a glance. Here’s how to make your seasonal promotions stand out:

• Special Offer Tags and Highlights: Platforms like Google My Business allow you to tag your promotions, helping them appear prominently. Don’t forget to include any terms, like “10% off on Black Friday only” or “Free gift wrapping until December 24,” so people know exactly what to expect.

• Add Offer Details to Your Descriptions: Use the description section of your listing to explain your promotion. Phrases like “Limited-time holiday collection” or “20% off all holiday catering orders” work well to add a sense of urgency and clearly communicate your seasonal offerings.

• Seasonal Call-to-Action (CTA): Update your CTA to match the vibe of the season. For example, instead of a generic “Learn More,” try something like “Shop Holiday Specials Now” or “Order for Thanksgiving Today!” A timely, specific CTA encourages customers to click right away.

3. Leveraging Google My Business (GMB) for Seasonal Promotions

Google My Business is a powerful platform for local businesses, and it offers several ways to feature seasonal promotions that customers can see directly in Google search results. Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Post Seasonal Updates: GMB posts are an easy way to announce special deals or upcoming holiday events. A short, festive post with an eye-catching image can help attract attention from local searchers, and you can update these posts regularly to keep the holiday buzz going.

• Create Events for Special Days: Planning something special for Black Friday or a holiday open house? Create an event in GMB! Events stand out in search results and offer customers all the key details at a glance. Plus, customers can quickly see when and where the event will take place, which is perfect for time-sensitive offers.

• Use GMB Attributes for Seasonal Convenience: GMB lets you add attributes, like “Special Hours” or “Curbside Pickup,” to your listing. If you’re offering holiday-specific services like gift wrapping, holiday delivery, or contactless shopping options, make sure to highlight them in your GMB profile. These small details make a big difference for holiday shoppers!

4. Optimizing Other Key Listings for the Holidays

Beyond GMB, there are plenty of other platforms where you can promote seasonal offers. Here are some tips for getting more visibility on other popular platforms:

• Yelp and Social Media Integration: Yelp is a great platform for local businesses. Be sure to update your profile with any seasonal offers and connect it to your social media profiles to drive additional traffic. Remember that Yelp’s check-in offers program is being phased out, so look for other ways to make your Yelp profile festive and inviting.

• Industry-Specific Directories: If you’re in an industry with specialized directories, like TripAdvisor, OpenTable, or GrubHub, these can be great places to showcase holiday specials. Tailor your listings to seasonal services, like holiday catering on GrubHub or special New Year’s Eve menus on OpenTable, to reach a highly targeted audience.

• Local Directory Partnerships: Many local business directories offer special holiday sections or featured spots, which can be a fantastic way to increase visibility with nearby customers. Look for local opportunities to feature your seasonal promotions and make your business stand out in the community.

5. Encouraging Reviews and Building Reputation with Seasonal Shoppers

Customer reviews are invaluable for attracting more customers, especially during the busy holiday season. Here are some ways to leverage reviews:

• Encourage Reviews for Seasonal Services: If you’re offering a special holiday menu, seasonal products, or one-time services, ask customers to leave a review about their experience. Not only does this help you rank higher, but it also shows future customers that your business is a holiday hot spot!

• Showcase Positive Reviews from Past Seasons: If you’ve received rave reviews from past holiday seasons, consider highlighting them. Customers love seeing real feedback from other people, and if your business was a hit last season, it’s likely to be popular this year, too!

6. Tracking and Measuring Your Seasonal Listings’ Impact

Finally, you’ll want to measure how well your holiday promotions are performing so you can tweak and improve them as needed. Most platforms offer analytics tools to help you track customer engagement. Here’s how to make the most of them:

• Monitor Engagement Metrics: Pay attention to clicks, calls, and website visits that come through your listings. These numbers will give you an idea of which promotions are driving the most interest.

• Analyze Customer Feedback: Look at what customers are saying about your seasonal services. Are people raving about your holiday gift baskets, or are they suggesting improvements? Customer feedback can provide valuable insights for next season.

• Refine Based on Real-Time Data: If certain offers are more popular than others, or specific keywords are performing well, make adjustments in real-time. This flexibility lets you get the most out of your holiday campaign and maximize engagement right through to the New Year.

Seasonal promotions can be a major win for your business, and with the right tweaks to your business listings, you can attract more customers and make a memorable impact during the holidays. From Halloween all the way through the New Year, keeping your business listings fresh and festive is an easy way to stand out and keep customers coming back. So get creative with your promotions, update your profiles, and get ready to make the most of the season!