Holiday Tech Etiquette for Small Businesses

(Or: How Not to Accidentally Ruin Someone’s Day)

The holidays are hectic. Customers are racing to finish shopping. Employees are juggling school plays, turkey duty, and in-laws. The last thing anyone needs? Tech mix-ups that make things worse.

Don’t worry—we’ve got you.
This is your Holiday Tech Manners Guide, aka how to not be that business.

1. Update Your Business Hours (Before Someone Shows Up Angry)

Imagine this:
Someone skips lunch, drives across town because Google says you’re open… and finds a dark, locked shop. Boom. You’ve just become the main villain in their holiday meltdown.

Where to update:

• Your Google Business Profile (biggest priority!)
• Facebook, Instagram, Yelp—anywhere your business appears
• Your website (try a banner at the top)
• Apple Maps (yes, people do use it)

Sample holiday message:

“Happy Holidays! We’ll be closed Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 for family time and leftover pie. Back Monday, a little sleepier—but happy to help!”

2. Set a Friendly Out-of-Office Reply (That Doesn’t Sound Like a Robot)

If you’re taking time off, don’t ghost your customers. Set up an auto-reply that’s professional and human. Think “helpful hotel concierge,” not “autopilot pilot.”

Example:

“Hi there! We’re out of the office for Thanksgiving, Nov. 28–Dec. 1. We’ll reply as soon as we’re back and fully caffeinated. For urgent stuff, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Have a fantastic holiday!”

3. Don’t Overshare (Nobody Needs Your Itinerary)

Yes, we all love Aunt Carol and her Denver stuffing recipe—but your customers don’t need the play-by-play of your travel plans.

Too much info = security risk.
Stick to:
✅ Dates you’re out
✅ When you’ll respond
✅ Who to contact if it’s urgent

Save the vacation pics for Instagram.

4. Check Your Voicemail (Before It Checks Your Nerves)

Holiday callers are usually in a rush. Don’t let an old voicemail with wrong hours send them into voicemail rage.

Pro tip: Call your own number. Yes, seriously.
Make sure:

• The greeting is clear
• It matches your hours
• People know what to do next

Example:

“Hi! You’ve reached [Business Name]. We’re closed for the holiday weekend but will call you back Monday. Need help sooner? Press 1 to reach our on-call team. Thanks and Happy Holidays!”

5. Share Shipping Deadlines (Before the Panic)

If you ship stuff, make those cutoff dates very clear.
Post them everywhere:

• On your site
• In emails
• On social media

Late packages are bad. But not knowing they’d be late? That’s how customers turn into keyboard warriors.

Nobody wants to explain, “Your gift is arriving… sometime in January.”

The Bottom Line: Good Tech Manners = Happy Customers

Holiday tech etiquette is simple:

• Be clear
• Be kind
• Don’t leave people guessing

It keeps customers happy, avoids mix-ups, and makes your business look like the thoughtful rockstar it is—even when you’re off enjoying some mashed potatoes.

Want help making sure your systems are ready for the holidays?
Book your free discovery call.
We’ll help you keep things smooth, shiny, and stress-free—so you can actually enjoy your time off.

Because nothing says “holiday magic” like tech that doesn’t break.