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It’s the first official week of summer! That means searches for warm weather favorites like iced coffee and BBQ are spiking and business owners are updating their hours to accommodate summer tastes and needs. But what good are seasonal hours if your customers don’t know about them? To welcome businesses into the start of summer, we’re shedding some sunshine on the importance of updating your business hours. In a fresh round of new Google research, we found that: 25% of small businesses change their operating hours during the summer. 1 Most business owners aren’t cutting back for R&R, they’re extending their hours and staying open even longer. 2 Yet since the unofficial start of summer (Memorial Day), only 1% of businesses have adjusted their hours on Google My Business. 3 The states where businesses have changed their hours most on Google My Business are Ohio, Delaware, and Wisconsin. 4 Keeping customers happy 84% of consumers turn to search engines to gather information for...

No two businesses are the same. And for small business owners, their unique character is vital for their success and keeps their loyal customers coming back. Hailee Bland Walsh, the owner of City Gym in Kansas City, believes her gym “should be more than a place to workout. It should be a place to belong." She uses Google My Business to share that her gym is a safe place where everyone is welcome. This message has been especially meaningful for Jake who recently returned to City Gym for the first time after having surgery. For him, City Gym has been an integral part of his transition from female to male, providing a place to explore his changing body and a community of support for him and his friends. In recognition of LGBT Pride Month, we are excited to share the story of Hailee and Jake, and the power of the web to connect remarkable businesses like City Gym with their people. Posted by Arjan Dijk