Keeping your website useful in hurricane season

Know the season

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center. In Broward County that is half the year, and it overlaps with summer slowdowns for some businesses and peak demand for others. The time to prepare your website is before June, when nothing is urgent.

Before the season: a checklist

Spend an hour on these in the spring. Each one makes a fast update easier when a storm is a few days out.

• Check that your regular hours are correct on your website and your Google Business Profile.
• Decide who on your team updates the website and the Google profile when plans change, and make sure they can sign in.
• Write a short closure or delay notice now, so you only need to fill in dates later.
• Make sure your website shows more than one way to reach you, such as a contact form and email, in case phone lines are down.
• Learn where to set special hours on your Google Business Profile, so you can mark a closure without changing your regular hours.
• If you offer storm-related services, write or refresh those pages now.

Have a closure banner process ready

A short notice at the top of your home page is the fastest way to tell customers what is happening. Keep it to two or three sentences: whether you are open, when you expect to reopen, and how to reach you. Put the date on it, so people know it is current.

Agree in advance who posts it and who removes it. A storm notice still showing two weeks after you reopened makes customers think you are closed. With a 2oozy website, you can make changes from your dashboard, including on a phone, or ask us to. Biz Web Helpers and 2oozy are both run by Airmecanx LLC, a Florida company.

Update your Google Business Profile too

Many customers never reach your website. They see your hours on Google Search or Maps and decide from there. Your Google Business Profile helps you manage how you appear in both, so update it at the same time as your website.

Use special hours for a temporary closure instead of changing your regular hours. That way your normal schedule comes back without extra work. If you post updates on your profile, keep them short and dated.

During and after a storm

Update fast, and update again when things change. A short, accurate note is better than a polished one that arrives a day late.

Say what you can actually do. If you are open but cannot take new jobs for a week, say so. If you are only handling existing customers, say that. If you lost power and are answering messages slowly, tell people when to expect a reply.

Keep your pricing language calm. Avoid storm-themed promotions, "emergency rates" headlines or anything that reads like you are raising prices because of the storm. If you have questions about pricing during an emergency, ask a Florida attorney.

Storm-related service pages, only if they are real

A roofer who does tarping, a tree crew that clears storm debris, a marine business that hauls boats before a storm or a contractor who installs shutters can each benefit from a page about that work. Publish it before the season, explain what you do and how to book, and keep it honest about capacity.

If you do not offer storm work, do not add a storm page to chase searches. Customers who need help will call, find out you cannot help, and remember that.

After the season

In December, remove any leftover notices, set your hours back if needed, and note what went wrong. Next spring, start the checklist again. Fort Lauderdale also gets busier with seasonal visitors in the winter, so it is a good moment to make sure your services and hours are right for that stretch too.