Why Extending Your Business Hours Online Could Unlock a Surge of New Leads
The Silent Killer of Leads: Outdated Google Business Hours
Most small business owners don’t realize this, but Google is quietly filtering you out of search results every single day—based on your listed business hours. If someone searches for your service at 7:30 PM, and your Google Business Profile says you close at 6, you’ve already lost the lead before you even knew it existed.
This isn’t just about store hours. It’s about visibility. Google heavily prioritizes open now businesses in local search results. If you’re “closed,” your listing gets deprioritized—regardless of how close you are, how many reviews you have, or how great your offer is.
Why It Matters in 2025
Customer behavior has changed. More searches now happen outside of traditional 9–5 windows. Saskatoon homeowners research contractors after work. Parents search for clinics after kids are in bed. Event planners look for vendors late at night or early in the morning.
By only listing standard hours, you’re telling Google: “Only show my business to people who search during the day.” That’s a losing strategy.
Extend Your Availability—Without Extending Your Hours
You don’t need to keep staff on-site 24/7 to be “open.” AI receptionists and lead capture tools can give your business a virtual front desk around the clock. Here’s how:
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AI Chatbots on Your Website: Answer questions, capture contact info, and qualify leads automatically.
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Missed-Call Text Back Systems: If someone calls after hours, they get an automatic text reply and link to your services or booking page.
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Google Business Profile Messaging: Let users message you directly from Google Search or Maps—even when you’re closed—and respond later or use AI to triage.
If your Google hours say you’re open until 9 PM, but your AI handles inquiries after 5 PM, you appear open and responsive, without burning out your team.
The Setup: How to Do It in Under 10 Minutes
- Log in to your Google Business Profile
- Go to the “Info” section
- Under “Hours,” extend your listed open hours to match when your AI or auto-responder is available
- Add “More hours” → “Online service hours” if applicable
- Test your website chat, call handling, or inbox messaging to ensure it can engage after-hours leads
- Keep your hours consistent across all listings (Google, Facebook, website, etc.)
This small change creates a major visibility boost—especially for searches that happen when your competitors are digitally “asleep.”
Case in Point: After-Hours Leads Aren’t Just Noise
One Saskatoon clinic we work with saw a 37% increase in qualified inquiries by extending their hours on Google to 10 PM and setting up AI chat and voicemail reply tools. Most of those new leads came between 6 PM and 10 PM—previously a dead zone.
You’re likely missing these same high-intent buyers. They’re searching. You’re invisible.
What This Means for Your Business
- Higher placement in Google local results
- Increased lead volume without added staff cost
- Better customer experience: instant replies even after hours
- Competitive advantage over businesses that still shut down online at 5 PM
This isn’t a technical hack. It’s a customer-centric strategy. Update your hours. Set up AI to meet people when they’re ready to buy—not just when you’re around to answer.
Want help configuring it? We do it all the time.
