We’ve reached November now and Christmas is coming whether we like it or not. Is your website ready for the rush?
Five things to check this week:
- Opening hours. Add your Christmas hours to your website and your Google Business Profile now, not on Christmas Eve.
- Delivery cut off dates. If you sell online, make them obvious on every product page.
- Your checkout. Buy something from your own shop on your phone. Is it easy?
- Speed. More visitors means more strain. A slow site in December costs real money.
- Contact Details. Are they easy to find?
Is Your Website Ready for the Rush?
Christmas may still feel a little way off, but for many businesses the busiest period of the year is just around the corner. Whether you run a local shop, an shopify store, a restaurant, a service business, or a charity campaign, your website needs to be ready long before customers start searching, buying, and getting in touch.
In most cases, a few simple checks can make a huge difference to customer experience, sales, and enquiries during the festive season.
Here are five things every business should check this week.
1. Update Your Opening Hours
One of the quickest ways to frustrate customers is to have inaccurate opening hours online.
If you’re closing early, opening on special dates, or taking time off over Christmas and New Year, make sure the information is updated everywhere customers might look.
Check:
- Your website
- Your Google Business Profile
- Facebook and social media pages
- Any online directories where you’re listed
Don’t leave it until Christmas Eve. Customers are already planning ahead, and incorrect information can lead to lost business and negative reviews.
2. Make Delivery Cut-Off Dates Impossible to Miss
For ecommerce businesses, delivery expectations become critical in December.
Customers want to know one thing:
“If I order today, will it arrive before Christmas?”
Make your delivery cut-off dates highly visible across your website.
Consider adding them to:
- Product pages
- The shopping basket
- Your checkout process
- Homepage banners
- FAQ pages
The easier this information is to find, the fewer abandoned baskets and customer service enquiries you’ll have to deal with.
3. Test Your Checkout on Mobile
You know your website better than anyone, which can make it difficult to spot problems.
Grab your phone and try buying one of your own products, or better still, give your phone to a friend or family member and ask them to buy one of your products.
Ask yourself:
- Is the site easy to navigate?
- Are forms simple to complete?
- Are payment options working?
- Does everything feel fast and straightforward?
More than half of website traffic now comes from mobile devices, and Christmas shoppers are often browsing while travelling, watching TV, or sitting on the sofa.
If your checkout feels awkward on a phone, there’s a good chance potential customers are giving up before they buy.
4. Check Your Website Speed
As visitor numbers increase during the festive season, performance becomes even more important.
A slow website can mean:
- Lost sales
- Reduced enquiries
- Higher bounce rates
- Poorer search engine rankings
Simple improvements can often make a noticeable difference:
- Compress large images
- Remove unnecessary plugins
- Update your website software
- Test your hosting performance
If pages take too long to load, customers may leave before they’ve even seen what you offer.
At Christmas, more than any other time, every second counts.
5. Make Contact Details Easy to Find
Customers often have urgent questions during the festive period.
They may need to ask about:
- Deliveries
- Returns
- Availability
- Opening times
- Last-minute bookings
Can visitors find your phone number, email address, or contact form in a single tap?
If not, it’s worth making improvements now.
Your contact information should be clearly displayed on mobile devices and easy to access from every page of your website.
The easier it is for customers to reach you, the more likely they are to buy from you.
A Small Investment of Time Can Make a Big Difference
None of these checks require a complete website redesign.
In fact, most businesses can work through this list in less than an hour.
A little preparation now can help you avoid missed opportunities, stressed customers, and unnecessary headaches when the Christmas rush arrives.
If you’re not sure where to start, I can review your website and identify any issues before the festive season gets into full swing. Sometimes a second pair of eyes is all it takes to spot the things that could be costing you sales.
Need a Christmas website health check? Get in touch and let’s make sure your website is ready for the busiest time of the year.
None of these need a new website. Just a bit of attention.
Want me to run through these for you? Message me.
I’m Craig Pickles, a web designer, developer, technical SEO and social media specialist.