How do you write a Christmas trading hours post customers actually read?
Lead with the dates and times in the first line, put them in a clear visual (a branded image or a short list), and post it more than once. Customers scan for one thing: "Are you open when I need you?" Give them that answer straight away, then add one friendly line. Post it in early December, then again the week before closing.
What should a Christmas trading hours post include?
Every post needs the same core details. Leave any of them out and you'll get the questions you were trying to avoid.
- Last day for orders or bookings (the date people tend to miss)
- Opening hours for each day that differs from normal, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve
- The day you reopen
- How to reach you if something goes wrong while you're closed
- A short, human sign-off, such as a thank you for the year
If you sell online, add your last postage date. If you run appointments, say when the diary fills up. Be specific: "Closed 24 December to 1 January, back on Friday 2 January" beats "closed over the festive period" every time.
Where should the dates go in the post?
Put them at the very top, before any festive greeting. Social feeds are fast, and most people give a post a second or two. If the first line is "We're so grateful for a wonderful year…", the dates sit below the fold where they get missed.
A better opening is: "Our Christmas opening hours: last orders Friday 18 December, back Monday 4 January." Then add the warm bit underneath. You keep the personality and the information still lands.
Should you use an image or just text?
Use both. A simple branded image with your hours in large, clear type is what people screenshot and save. Your caption then repeats the same details in plain text, which helps anyone using a screen reader and anyone searching for your hours later.
Keep the image uncluttered. Your logo, your colours, the dates and perhaps one festive touch is plenty. If a customer can't read it on a phone at arm's length, it's too busy.
How many times should you post your Christmas hours?
More than once. A single post gets seen by a fraction of your followers, and people forget quickly in a busy month. A sensible pattern looks like this:
- Early December: the full announcement, so people can plan ahead.
- A week before your last day: a reminder with the cut-off date up front.
- Your final day open: a short "last chance" or "we're off for Christmas" post.
- Your first day back: a quick "we're open again" note.
Each post should stand on its own, repeating the key dates, because someone who sees only the third one still needs the full picture.
Where else should your Christmas hours appear?
Your social posts are only one place customers look. Check each of these:
- Google Business Profile: update your special hours here, because it's often the first thing people see when they search for you.
- Your website: a banner or a short blog post helps, particularly if you run a Shopify, Wix or WordPress site.
- Your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X profiles: pin the post so it stays visible.
- Your email signature and any automatic replies.
Consistency matters. If your Google listing says one thing and your Instagram says another, customers will believe whichever one they saw last, and you'll be the one fielding the confusion.
Why does a trading hours post matter beyond the information?
Because it shows you're still alive. When people research a business online, they check its social media, and a feed with no recent posts can make a business look dead. Customers want to see a pulse. A clear, timely Christmas hours post tells them you're active, organised and looking after them.
December is also when you're busiest and most short on time, which is exactly when posting tends to slip. Planning the four posts above in November means they're done before the rush starts. If you'd like more ideas for steady, useful posts all year, our educational content and tips are built around exactly that.
Common questions about Christmas trading hours posts
When should I post my Christmas opening hours?
Early December is ideal, with a reminder about a week before your last day. If you take orders or bookings, give people enough notice to act before your cut-off date.
Do I need to post if I'm only closed for a few days?
Yes. Even a short closure causes missed visits and unanswered messages if people don't know about it. A brief post takes a couple of minutes and saves a lot of replies.
Should I mention Christmas Day if everyone knows I'm closed?
Yes, list it anyway. Customers often assume small businesses might open for part of a day, and being explicit about each date removes any doubt.
Can I schedule my Christmas hours posts in advance?
You can, and it's the easiest way to cope with December. Write them all in one sitting, schedule them for the dates above, and you won't have to think about it again while you're busy.
Want your Christmas posts handled for you?
We're Content Colin, and we create and schedule social media and blog content for small businesses, so your feed stays busy while you're run off your feet. You tell us about your business, connect your accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, X, Shopify, Wix or WordPress), and we fill your schedule with posts in your branding and tone of voice. You can edit or swap anything before it goes live.
Plans start from £29 per month, with no contract and the freedom to cancel any time. Have a look at Content Colin and get your festive posts sorted before December gets away from you.