Christmas week is the busiest and most unpredictable week in the restaurant business. Some San Antonio spots close for the holiday. Others stay open and pack every table. Some offer special menus, catering, or take-home holiday meals.
Whatever your plan is, your Google Business Profile needs to communicate it clearly…because that’s where customers are looking. Once the holidays pass, our new year marketing plan guide for San Antonio restaurants will help you start the new year with a clear strategy.
Update Your Holiday Hours Right Now
This is the most urgent task on the list. If you don’t update your holiday hours on Google, one of two bad things happens:
- Google shows your regular hours, a customer drives to your restaurant on Christmas Eve, and you’re closed. Bad review incoming.
- Google guesses you’re closed when you’re actually open, and customers skip you for a competitor.
Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard and set special hours for:
- Christmas Eve (December 24)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
- New Year’s Eve (December 31)
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
Do this today, not the week of Christmas. Google sometimes takes a day or two to update. For a complete guide to maximizing your restaurant’s Google profile during the holidays, our Google Business Profile holiday season guide for restaurants covers additional optimization strategies.
Promote Your Holiday Menu or Catering
If you offer a special Christmas menu, holiday catering, take-home meals, or tamale orders (because this is San Antonio, after all), post it on your Google profile.
Create a Google Post:
“Hosting Christmas dinner? Let us do the cooking. Our Holiday Catering Menu is available for orders…feeds 8-12 people, includes [items]. Order by December 20 for pickup on December 23-24. Call [number] or visit [link] to order.”
Include a mouth-watering photo. A beautifully arranged holiday spread or a close-up of your star dish. This post appears directly in search results when someone searches for your restaurant…or for “Christmas catering San Antonio.” Our Google Business Profile holiday season guide for restaurants covers more ways to optimize your profile for seasonal demand.
Push Gift Cards Hard
Restaurant gift cards are one of the most popular holiday gifts in America, and December is when the vast majority are purchased. Your Google Business Profile should feature them prominently.
Post about gift cards at least twice in December:
- “Still need a gift? A [restaurant name] gift card is the perfect present for the food lover in your life. Available in any amount…order in person or online at [link].”
- “Last-minute gift idea: [restaurant name] gift cards. We’re open until [time] on Christmas Eve.”
If you sell gift cards online, add the link to your Google profile under the “Order Online” or “Website” section.
Respond to December Reviews Quickly
During the holiday rush, reviews come in faster. People are dining out more, emotions run high (good and bad), and there’s more activity across Google.
Check your reviews daily in December and respond within 24 hours. Thank positive reviewers by name and mention what they enjoyed. Handle negative reviews professionally and quickly…the last thing you need is an unaddressed complaint sitting publicly during your busiest season.
Add Holiday Photos
Upload fresh photos of:
- Your restaurant decorated for the holidays
- Your holiday menu items
- Your team in festive attire
- Any special events or decorations
Restaurants near the Riverwalk, in Southtown, or at the Pearl can showcase their neighborhood’s holiday atmosphere too. “Our patio overlooking the Riverwalk Holiday Lights” is the kind of photo that makes someone choose your restaurant tonight.
The holiday season flies by. Make sure your Google Business Profile is carrying its weight so you can focus on what you do best…feeding San Antonio.
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