5 Ways to Use AI To Alleviate Holiday Stress
Try Thryv for FreeBy Tami Cannizzaro, Small Business Expert
Updated October 21, 2026 · 10 min read
The holiday season brings cheer and happiness all around, but for small business owners, it can also mean long hours, missed calls, and endless updates across Google, Facebook, and every other platform customers use to find you.
This season, let AI take some of the “To Dos” off your list. From automatically updating your holiday hours online to sending timely reminders and answering customer questions, intelligent AI automation can keep your business running smoothly. Meanwhile, you can focus on creating a festive experience for your customers.
We’ll explore five easy ways to use AI to automate your holiday marketing, including how to handle out-of-office messages, sync your hours across listings, and send helpful emails or texts about seasonal offers and closures. Because when your technology works smarter, you can spend more time spreading cheer and less time managing the chaos.
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We’ll explore five easy ways to use AI to automate holiday worries, including how to handle out-of-office messages, sync your hours across listings, and send helpful emails or texts about seasonal offers and closures. Because when your technology works smarter, you can spend more time spreading cheer and less time managing the chaos.
AI Holiday Marketing Tips
- Set up an auto-reply message.
- Email your subscribers with your updated holiday hours.
- Automatically update holiday hours across search engines and listings.
- Automate reminders for appointments and seasonal offers.
- Use AI chatbots to handle FAQs like holiday shipping or closures.
1. Set up an auto-reply message.
During the busy holiday season, customers may reach out after hours or when your team is busy assisting in-person customers. Setting up an automated reply ensures no message goes unanswered. A friendly auto-response can let customers know you’ve received their inquiry, when you’ll respond, and even include your updated holiday hours or a link to your FAQ page.
With Thryv, you can set up automated text and email replies that go out instantly, so even when you’re away, your business stays responsive and professional. You’ll reduce missed calls, boost customer satisfaction, and maintain seamless communication during one of the busiest times of the year.
2. Email your subscribers with your updated holiday hours.
Before your customers plan their holiday visits or appointments, make sure they know precisely when you’re open. Sending a quick, festive email update helps avoid confusion, last-minute cancellations, or missed sales opportunities. You can also use this message to highlight seasonal promotions, gift ideas, or limited-time offers.
Thryv’s automation tools make it simple to schedule and send emails to your subscriber list, ensuring everyone is informed and engaged. By clearly communicating your holiday hours, you build trust and make it easier for customers to plan, so they choose you over competitors who forgot to send that reminder.
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3. Automatically update holiday hours across search engines and listings.
Few things frustrate customers more than outdated information online. If your holiday hours aren’t accurate on Google, Facebook, or Yelp, you risk losing business to competitors who appear open when you’re not.
Thryv takes the hassle out of this process by letting you instantly sync business hours across all your online listings from one dashboard. Update them once, and Thryv pushes the correct hours everywhere they appear. This small step prevents confusion, reduces customer complaints, and helps ensure your business shows up accurately wherever people search this season.
4. Automate reminders for appointments and seasonal offers.
The holidays can be hectic, not just for you, but also for your customers. Automated reminders help keep your calendar full and your customers on track.
Use Thryv to send appointment confirmations, follow-up reminders, or limited-time offer alerts automatically. These gentle nudges reduce no-shows and missed opportunities while promoting your holiday hours and seasonal specials. By freeing up time you’d typically spend sending manual messages, Thryv’s AI automation lets you focus on what matters most: providing exceptional service during the busiest season of the year.
5. Use AI chatbots to handle FAQs like holiday shipping or closures.
When customers have quick questions, like “Are you open on Christmas Eve?” or “When is the last day for shipping?”, AI chatbots can provide instant answers 24/7. This keeps your customers informed even when you’re off the clock.
With an AI-powered chatbot integrated through Thryv, you can program common responses about holiday hours, delivery timelines, special services, and more. It’s an effortless way to maintain customer engagement, reduce support requests, and keep your team focused on serving shoppers in person. The result? A smoother, more stress-free holiday season for everyone.
Make the Holidays Easier with AI Automation
The holidays don’t have to mean long nights juggling messages, missed calls, and last-minute schedule updates. With AI automation, small businesses can stay connected, maintain accurate information, and deliver a polished customer experience without the added stress. Tools like Thryv make it effortless to sync business hours across all listings, automate reminders and replies, and handle FAQs around the clock, so you can focus on serving customers and enjoying the season to the fullest.