How to Update Your Retail Store Hours On Google and Facebook

If you’re an e-commerce brand with a physical location, make sure you update your store’s hours! Whether you’ve shuttered your brick and mortar operations for the interim, or have reduced hours as an essential business, make sure search and social accurately reflect your store’s availability to ensure your customers don’t end up showing up to closed doors. They won’t be happy.

Not sure what to do? Here are some suggestions.

How to Update Your Store’s Hours On Google

If Google My Business is new to you, make sure you sign up first (it’s free!). If you already have an account, here’s how to update your hours in Google:

1. Sign into Google My Business and click manage to find the location you want to edit.

2. Click Info on the left menu.

3. Make changes to the hours and make sure you click Apply.

For brands with 10+ locations, you can make bulk updates. More information on that here.

How to Update Your Store’s Hours On Your Facebook Page

Second to Google Search, your customers are likely looking you up on Facebook for your store’s hours. Here’s how to updates on your store’s Facebook Page:

1. Login to Facebook and navigate to your businesses’s Facebook Page.

2. Click Edit Page Info on the left side of the Page.

3. Select the Open on selected hours under the Hours section.

4. Click Time and update your store’s hours.

5. Click Save Changes.

If you don’t see an Hours section, you may need to change your Page’s Category.

Communicate Your New Hours

Not all your customers will seek the new information. While you can’t reach every customer who might try to visit you, you’ll want to be proactive in trying to make sure new hours are communicated. Here’s where you can communicate your store’s new hours:

• Create a text or image post on Facebook.

• Upload an image of new hours on IG and Twitter.

• Create a Story on FB and IG with your new hours.

• Send new hours in your email newsletter.

• Make a quick blogpost with new hours.

• Update other social profiles where you list your hours, such as YouTube, Pinterest, etc.

Now that you’ve updated everything… don’t forget to change it back when the time comes!

Coronavirus Relief Funding For Small Businesses

In a very short time, the global pandemic known as Coronavirus (or COVID-19) has made an impact on the lives of millions. As members of a small business, our team has been watching what's happening that affects our personal lives and the arena of ecommerce. In spite of global uncertainty, we’ve put together a short list of relief efforts available for small businesses, many of whom are Shopify merchants.

Our team is located in the United States, so not all links will be applicable to everyone. But we encourage all small businesses to do their own research to find additional relief to help supplement the continuation of business in the coming months.

Shopify COVID-19 Response

Shopify is providing help for merchants, new and old, in a multitude of ways, from physical and digital gift cards for all plans, local pickup and delivery options for Shopify POS users, $200 million in small business funding through Shopify Capital, and more.

U.S. Federal Government

Small Business Administration Coronavirus Assistance

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in response to Coronavirus, has various loans and assistance available to small businesses in the U.S. 

State & Local Government

Here in the United States, there are many state and local governments with their own relief funding opportunities. This is likely true in other countries, and so we encourage small businesses looking for help during this Coronavirus pandemic to search those efforts in their own state, provinces, and territories.

Corporate And Non-profit Relief

Facebook Business Resource Hub

Facebook has pledged $100 million in grants for small businesses affected by COVID-19. More information can be found in their newly launched Business Resource Hub.

GoFundMe.org Small Business Relief Fund

GoFundMe, Yelp, and Intuit Quickbooks have pledged up to $1.5 million in the GoFundMe.org Small Business Relief Fund, where small businesses negatively affected by COVID-19 can apply for microgrants.

JPMorgan Philanthropic Effort

JPMorgan Chase has earmarked $8 million of its $50 million philanthropic effort “to assist small businesses vulnerable to significant economic hardships in the U.S., China and Europe.”

Kiva Small Business Loans

Applicable to eligible U.S. applicants, small business owners can apply for loans of up to $15,000 from Kiva lenders with 0% interest for up to six months to help with funding during the Coronavirus pandemic.

USA Today Support Local

USA Today has launched a Support Local for U.S.-based local businesses to list themselves as selling gift cards for supporters to buy and utilize later.

Wefunder Coronavirus Crisis Loan Program

An investment crowdfunding platform, Wefunder launched the Coronavirus Crisis Loans program to expand the availability of cash for small businesses through crowdfunded loans of $20,000 to $1 million from backers.