Nothing is more frustrating for a potential customer than arriving at your store only to find it closed. A single wasted trip can result in negative reviews and lost sales for your business.
We have assisted thousands of local business owners in optimizing their websites, and having accurate business hours is crucial for keeping visitors satisfied. A clear schedule builds trust and improves your ranking in local search results.
In this guide, we will provide simple methods to add your business hours to your WordPress site, ensuring customers always know when to visit.
Why Should You Add Business Hours to Your WordPress Site?
Including business hours on your WordPress website enables customers to know when you are open. More importantly, it enhances your visibility in local search results.
Almost 46% of all Google searches have local intent. For businesses, these searches are incredibly valuable as they attract customers who are actively seeking the products and services you provide.
Customers can view your operating hours on your website as well as in search results, making it easier for them to plan their visit to your store, restaurant, or office.
Let’s explore how to effectively add your business hours in WordPress. We will discuss two methods and demonstrate how to manage your business information in search results.
- Adding Business Hours in WordPress with All in One SEO
- Adding Business Hours in WordPress with Business Profile
- Managing Business Information in Google Search Results
- Video Tutorial
- Frequently Asked Questions About Displaying Business Hours
- Additional Resources for Local SEO
Method 1: Adding Business Hours in WordPress with All in One SEO
This method is straightforward and recommended for all users.
In this method, we will utilize All in One SEO for WordPress. It is the leading SEO plugin available for WordPress, designed to increase your website’s organic traffic from search engines.
The greatest advantage of All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is that it not only incorporates your business information into the schema markup code, but it also enables you to showcase it to visitors on your website.
It provides you with enhanced control over how your website appears in search results. You can easily display your business hours anywhere on your site, and it also supports managing multiple locations.
Important Note: You will need at least the Plus plan to access the Local SEO feature.
Begin by installing and activating the All in One SEO for WordPress plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
After activation, the plugin will initiate a setup wizard. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup. For additional assistance, check out our article on configuring All in One SEO for WordPress.
After installing, activating, and configuring the All in One SEO plugin, navigate to the All in One SEO » Local SEO page to input your business details.
First, enable the ‘Multiple Locations’ option by switching the toggle to ‘Yes’. We suggest doing this even if you operate from a single location, as it unlocks essential custom blocks for the tutorial.
Next, click on the ‘Opening Hours’ tab. Here, you can enter the standard business hours applicable to your locations.
You also have the option to specify different business hours for each location as necessary.
Simply scroll down to the ‘Business Hours’ section on the page to configure your schedule.
You can choose to keep it open for 24 hours or manually set specific hours for each day.
Once you are done, click the ‘Save Changes’ button to apply your settings.
After setting up local SEO, let’s proceed to add your location details.
To begin, navigate to the Locations » Add New page where you can input your location and business details.
On this page, you can enter a title for your location.
Once you’ve provided a title, scroll down to the ‘AIOSEO Local Business’ section.
In this section, you’ll find a ‘Business Info’ tab. Here, you can complete the form to enter your business and location details, including your business name, address, phone number, accepted payment methods, service areas, and more.
Next, switch to the ‘Opening Hours’ tab to add your business hours or use the default hours you set previously.
When you’re done, remember to click the ‘Publish’ button to save your business details and operating hours.
You can repeat this process to add additional locations as needed.
How to Display Business Hours on a Post or Page
All in One SEO makes it simple to showcase your business hours anywhere on your website. It includes numerous pre-designed WordPress blocks that can be added to any post or page.
We generally recommend placing your business hours on your contact page alongside a contact form and your business phone number.
To add your business hours, simply edit the relevant post or page and locate the AIOSEO blocks. The plugin offers blocks for AIOSEO Local Open Hours, AIOSEO Local Business Info, and AIOSEO Local Locations.
To show your business hours, you need to insert the ‘AIOSEO Local Open Hours’ block.
Once you add the block, choose the location you wish to display from the block settings. Remember to click ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ to save your changes.
You can now check your website to see your business hours displayed on the page.
Show Business Hours Information in the Sidebar
All in One SEO makes it easy to showcase your business hours in your WordPress sidebar or any widget-ready area.
Simply navigate to the Appearance » Widgets section and add the AIOSEO Opening Hours widget to your sidebar.
Select the location you want to display and adjust the widget settings. Don’t forget to click the ‘Save’ button to keep your changes.
You can now visit your WordPress blog to see your business hours in the sidebar.
Display Business Hours Anywhere Using Shortcode
All in One SEO for WordPress also enables you to use a shortcode to present your business hours anywhere on your website.
Simply insert the shortcode [aioseo_local_opening_hours]to show your standard business hours.
You can also use[aioseo_local_opening_hours location_id="1"]to display the hours for a specific location. Find the location ID by editing the location details.
Method 2: Adding Business Hours in WordPress with the Business Profile Plugin
This method is designed for users who want to add business information schema to their WordPress site without the additional SEO features provided by a full SEO plugin like All in One SEO.
First, install and activate the Business Profile plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our step-by-step guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
After activation, navigate to theBusiness Profile » Settingspage to configure your business profile.
Here, select your business type as Organization and complete the other required fields.
The plugin may request a Google API key. Since we are only displaying business hours and not integrating a map, we suggest leaving this field empty to avoid the complications of setting up a Google Cloud billing account.
You can set your business hours here. The plugin also enables you to create multiple schedules and add exceptions for holidays and special events.
If your business operates in several locations, you can activate the Multiple Locations feature.
Remember to click the ‘Save Changes’ button to ensure your updates are saved.
How to Add Business Hours in WordPress Using Shortcode
The plugin provides a shortcode to display your business hours on any page of your WordPress site.
Simply edit the post or page where you wish to show the business hours and insert the shortcode [contact-card] .
You can now save your changes or publish your page and preview it.
This is how it appeared on our test website.
Managing Multiple Locations in Your Business Profile
The plugin also accommodates multiple locations.
If you have activated the multiple locations option in the settings, you can manage your locations by going to the Business Profile » Locations page.
On the next screen, you will need to enter a name for your new location.
Then, scroll down to the ‘Opening Hours’ section at the bottom.
You can add your business hours details from this section.
In the left column, you can enter your location details, including your address, phone number, email, and more.
Once you have completed the entries, click ‘Publish’ to make your location live.
Repeat this process to add additional locations as necessary.
How to Display Multiple Locations in Your Business Profile
The plugin utilizes the same shortcode to showcase any location along with its business hours.
Simply edit the post or page where you wish to show the location details. Then, insert the shortcode in the following format.
[contact-card location="34"]
Remember to substitute the location value with your actual location ID. You can find this ID by editing the location and checking the URL in your browser’s address bar. Look for the number that appears after post=.
This is how the information for a single location appeared on our test website.
Managing Your Business Information in Google Search Results
Google employs Schema.org rich snippets to retrieve and present enhanced search results from your website.
Schema.org is a structured data markup language that exists in the source code of your website and is not visible to regular visitors.
This feature allows search engines to display extra details in search results, such as your business hours, location, customer reviews, recipe details, and more.
To effectively manage your business information in search results, it is essential to create a Google Business Profile account. This enables you to add your business location and other relevant details.
Once verified, you can provide additional information about your business and control how it appears in search results, Google Maps, and Google Places.
The WordPress plugins we discussed earlier will assist you in adding your business hours in an SEO-friendly Schema format to your website.
Important Note:Google discontinued their free ‘Business Profile’ websites in March 2024. This highlights the necessity of managing your own business information on your WordPress site. Check out our guide for alternatives to Google Business Profile websites.
Frequently Asked Questions About Displaying Business Hours
We understand that adding business hours to your WordPress site can lead to many questions, particularly if you are new to managing a website.
We have gathered answers to frequently asked questions about displaying business hours, managing multiple locations, and enhancing local SEO. These insights will guide you in making informed decisions for your business and help you avoid common mistakes.
Is it necessary to include business hours on my WordPress website?
Absolutely, including business hours is vital for local businesses.
This information informs customers of your availability, boosts your local SEO rankings, and minimizes unnecessary inquiries about your operating hours.
Approximately 46% of Google searches are local, making it essential to provide this information to attract customers.
What distinguishes All in One SEO from the Business Profile plugin when it comes to adding business hours?
All in One SEO is a robust SEO toolkit that offers local SEO capabilities, various display formats (blocks, widgets, shortcodes), and enhanced control over how your site appears in search results.
The Business Profile plugin is a straightforward, free tool that focuses exclusively on showcasing business information. While AIOSEO requires a paid subscription for its local SEO features, Business Profile is entirely free to use.
Is it possible to add business hours for multiple locations?
Yes, both methods allow you to manage multiple locations. With All in One SEO, you can set different business hours for each location.
The Business Profile feature also supports multiple locations, enabling you to assign unique hours for each site and showcase them using specific location IDs in shortcodes.
Where is the best place to display my business hours on my website?
We suggest placing your business hours on your contact page, in the footer, or in the sidebar where visitors typically look for this information. Alternatively, you can create a dedicated ‘Hours & Location’ page. Both plugins enable you to display hours anywhere using blocks, widgets, or shortcodes.
Will displaying my business hours enhance my SEO?
Yes, using properly formatted business hours with schema markup helps search engines recognize your business details and can boost your local search rankings.
This structured data can also show up in Google search results, making your listing more informative and appealing to potential customers.
How can I update my business hours for holidays or special events?
Using All in One SEO, you can specify unique operating hours for each location or modify the default hours. The Business Profile feature allows you to include exceptions for holidays and special occasions. Don’t forget to regularly update your Google Business Profile to ensure consistency across all platforms.
Is it possible to show business hours in the sidebar of my website?
Yes, both plugins allow for displaying hours in the sidebar. All in One SEO offers a specific widget for business hours, while Business Profile provides a contact card shortcode that can be inserted into text widgets in your sidebar.
Is a Google Business Profile account necessary?
While it’s not mandatory to add hours to your website, we highly recommend setting up a Google Business Profile account. This will help you control how your business is represented in Google Search, Maps, and local listings, enhancing the structured data on your site.
What should I do if my business operates 24 hours?
Both plugins accommodate 24-hour businesses. You can designate your business as ‘Open 24 Hours’ or manually set the hours from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM for each day of the week.
Can I modify the appearance of the business hours on my website?
Both plugins provide styling options for your business hours. All in One SEO offers advanced customization features and various display formats, while Business Profile includes basic styling that integrates well with most WordPress themes. You can also implement custom CSS for additional design tweaks.
Will my business hours show up automatically in Google search results?
Using structured data (schema markup) with these plugins helps Google recognize your business hours, but there is no guarantee that they will appear in search results.
To maximize the likelihood of your business hours being displayed in search results, combine proper schema markup on your website with a verified Google Business Profile.
How frequently should I update my business hours?
You should update your business hours whenever they change, including for seasonal variations, holidays, or permanent modifications. Ensure that your website, Google Business Profile, and all other online listings are consistent to prevent customer confusion.
More Resources on Local SEO
We hope this article has guided you in adding your business hours to your WordPress site. Now that you know how to do this, you might be interested in exploring other articles related to local SEO:
- How to Properly Add Google Maps to Your WordPress Site
- A Comprehensive Guide to Adding a Google Maps Store Locator in WordPress
- Step-by-Step Instructions for Adding Multiple Locations Schema for Local Businesses in WordPress
- How to Embed a Google Map with a Map Pin in Your Contact Forms
- Top Google Maps Plugins for WordPress: Most Available for Free
- Recommended Google Reviews Plugins for WordPress: Expert Selections
- Beginner’s Guide to Displaying Weather Forecasts in WordPress
- Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Click-to-Call Button in WordPress
- Best Apps for Virtual Business Phone Numbers: Including Free Options
- Understanding the Google Knowledge Panel and How to Claim It Using WordPress
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