The holidays are stressful enough without technology tripping you up. The holidays are stressful enough without technology, making them harder. Between last-minute shoppers, shifting employee schedules, small things can go sideways fast. The last thing you want is to accidentally frustrate people with avoidable tech slip-ups.
Think of this as your Holiday Tech Manners Guide from your friendly local IT team at Heart of Texas IT.
1. Update Your Business Hours (Before the Confusion Starts)
Picture this: A customer rushes across town during their lunch break because Google says you’re open, only to find your door locked and lights off. Not a great way to spread holiday cheer.
What to update:
- Your Google Business Profile (the big one!)
- Facebook, Instagram, Yelp – anywhere customers might find you
- Your website banner with a friendly holiday schedule
- Apple Maps (yes, people actually use it)
2. Set Friendly Out-Of-Office Replies (That Don’t Sound Like Robots)
If you’re taking time off, don’t leave customers in e-mail purgatory, wondering if you’ve disappeared into the holiday abyss. A good auto-reply is like a friendly doorman – professional but human.
3. Don’t Overshare In Your “Out of Office” (Nobody Needs Your Itinerary)
Keep it simple. Customers don’t need to know that you’re visiting Aunt Carol in Denver, that your office manager is flying to Cancún or that Bob from accounting is doing a “Friendsgiving potluck tour.”
Besides being TMI, sharing too many details can create security risks. Stick to dates, response times and alternate contacts. Save the travel stories for social media
4. Test Your Phone Systems (Before They Test Your Patience)
Holiday callers are often in a rush and already stressed. Make sure your voicemail greeting actually matches your hours and doesn’t send people on a wild-goose chase.
Pro tip: Call your own number. Yes, really. You’d be surprised how many businesses have outdated greetings from 2019
5. Communicate Deadlines Clearly
If you ship products or schedule services, be upfront about cutoff dates and holiday hours. Missed expectations can damage customer trust faster than any late delivery.
Post your deadlines online, share reminders, and update your voicemail or email signature. A little clarity now saves a lot of apologies later.
The Bottom Line:
Good Etiquette = Happy Customers = Good Business
Good tech etiquette keeps customers happy and your business running smoothly even when you’re taking a break.
At Heart of Texas IT, we help Central Texas businesses stay connected, secure, and ready for the holidays (and the chaos that comes with them).
Want to make sure your systems and customer experience stay polished this season?
Let’s talk about simple ways to keep your technology running without the headaches so you can actually enjoy the time off.