Last Updated: December 2025
What is the After-Hours Widget?
The After-Hours Widget is a time-based modal that appears on your website outside of your business hours. It helps manage visitor expectations, reduces after-hours calls, and can capture leads even when you're closed.
Key Features:
- Business Hours Scheduling: Set hours by day of week
- Timezone Support: Automatically adjusts for your timezone
- Custom Messaging: Personalized off-hours message
- Two Display Modes: Block calls entirely OR show warning/flag
- Mobile vs. Desktop Behavior: Different actions based on device
- Full Customization: Match your brand with colors and styling
- Smart Detection: Only appears when outside business hours
Setup Instructions
Step 1: Enable the After-Hours Widget
- Log into your Client Dashboard
- Navigate to the Settings tab
- Scroll to Enabled Widgets section
- Check the box for "After-Hours Widget"
- Click "Save Settings" at the bottom of the page
Step 2: Set Your Business Hours
In the After-Hours Configuration section:
- Select Your Timezone: Choose your business timezone from dropdown
- Important: This ensures hours display correctly for visitors in different timezones
- Example: "America/New_York", "America/Los_Angeles", "Europe/London"
- Configure Hours by Day: For each day of the week:
- Check the box to enable the day (or leave unchecked if closed all day)
- Set Opening Time (e.g., 9:00 AM)
- Set Closing Time (e.g., 5:00 PM)
- Use 12-hour or 24-hour format depending on your preference
Example schedule:
- Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed (unchecked)
Step 3: Choose Display Mode
Select how the widget should behave during off-hours:
Option 1: Block Calls Entirely
- Modal popup appears when visitor tries to call/book
- Explains you're currently closed
- Shows your business hours
- Prevents calls from going through
- Best for: Businesses that can't handle after-hours inquiries
Option 2: Show Flag/Warning
- Desktop: Shows warning but still allows calling
- Mobile: Shows popup modal blocking the call
- Informs visitor of off-hours but gives option to proceed
- Best for: Businesses with voicemail or emergency services
To select: Settings tab → After-Hours Configuration → "Display Mode" dropdown
Step 4: Customize the Message
Configure what visitors see during off-hours:
- Modal Headline: Main message (e.g., "We're Currently Closed")
- Message Body: Detailed information
- Include your business hours
- Mention when you'll respond
- Offer alternatives (email, contact form, emergency number)
- CTA Button Text: What appears on the button (e.g., "Got It", "Close", "Email Us Instead")
- CTA Button URL (Optional): Link to contact form, email, or other resource
Example message:
Headline: We're Currently Closed
Message: Our office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST.
We'll respond to your message first thing during business hours!
For emergencies, please call (555) 123-4567.
Button Text: Email Us Instead
Button URL: https://yoursite.com/contact
Step 5: Customize Styling
Match the widget to your brand:
- Background Color: Modal background color
- Text Color: Headline and message text color
- Button Color: CTA button background
- Button Text Color: Color of text on button
- Modal Overlay: Dark overlay behind modal (typically 50% black)
Color tips:
- Use high contrast for readability
- Keep it professional - this is a service message
- Test on both mobile and desktop
- Ensure button is clearly visible
Step 6: Install Widget Code
- Go to the Installation tab in your dashboard
- Copy the installation code snippet
- Paste into your website's
<head>or before</body>tag - Save/publish your website
Note: The widget code is the same for all widget types. If you've already installed code for Sidebar or Smart Button widgets, you don't need to install again.
Step 7: Test the Widget
During business hours:
- Widget should NOT appear
- Visitors can call/book normally
Outside business hours:
- Widget should appear automatically
- Modal displays your custom message
- Button clicks correctly (closes modal or navigates to URL)
How to test if currently during business hours:
- Temporarily change business hours to exclude current time
- Save settings
- Visit your website in incognito mode
- Widget should now appear
- Revert business hours to actual schedule when done testing
Platform-Specific Installation
WordPress
Use a plugin like "Insert Headers and Footers" or add to your theme's footer.php file before the closing </body> tag.
Wix
Dashboard → Settings → Custom Code → Add code to "Body - End" section.
Squarespace
Settings → Advanced → Code Injection → Footer section.
Shopify
Online Store → Themes → Edit Code → theme.liquid file before </body>.
Custom HTML Sites
Paste in the global header or footer template.
Common Issues & Solutions
Widget appears during business hours
Possible causes:
- Incorrect timezone: Double-check timezone matches your business location
- Wrong hours configured: Verify AM/PM and opening/closing times
- Browser cache: Clear cache or test in incognito mode
- Day of week disabled: Make sure day checkbox is enabled
Debug steps:
- Check current time in your selected timezone
- Verify day is enabled with correct hours
- Test with specific time boundaries (e.g., 8:59 AM, 9:01 AM, 4:59 PM, 5:01 PM)
Widget doesn't appear outside business hours
Troubleshooting:
- After-Hours Widget is enabled in Settings → Enabled Widgets
- Installation code is correctly pasted
- Business hours are properly configured
- Current day is not entirely closed (all day checkbox unchecked)
- Browser cache cleared
Test procedure:
- Temporarily set business hours to exclude current time
- Save settings
- Visit site in incognito mode
- Widget should now appear
Timezone is confusing
Understanding timezones:
- Widget uses the timezone you select in settings
- Visitor's local time doesn't matter - widget shows based on YOUR business timezone
- Example: If your business is in New York (EST) and closes at 5pm EST, the widget appears at 5pm EST regardless of whether visitor is in California
Finding your timezone:
- Search "timezone [your city]" in Google
- Common examples:
- East Coast USA: America/New_York
- Central USA: America/Chicago
- West Coast USA: America/Los_Angeles
- UK: Europe/London
- Australia: Australia/Sydney
Modal doesn't close when clicking button
Solutions:
- Check if button URL is configured correctly
- Verify JavaScript is not being blocked by browser
- Test on different browsers
- Check browser console (F12) for errors
- Ensure no other scripts are interfering with modal functionality
Message text is cut off or too long
Best practices:
- Keep headline under 50 characters
- Message body should be 2-4 sentences maximum
- Test on mobile devices (smaller screens)
- Avoid overly long URLs or phone numbers in message
- Use line breaks for readability
If text is too long:
- Shorten the message
- Remove unnecessary details
- Link to a full page (contact/hours page) for more info
- Focus on essential information only
Different behavior on mobile vs. desktop
This is expected: The widget can show different behaviors based on device:
Desktop (Block Mode):
- Modal appears
- Visitor can close modal and continue browsing
- Call buttons may still be clickable (depending on configuration)
Mobile (Block Mode):
- Modal appears with stronger blocking
- Prevents click-to-call from working
- Visitor must acknowledge message
Flag/Warning Mode:
- Desktop: Shows warning, allows proceeding
- Mobile: Shows popup, blocks call attempt
Why different? Mobile click-to-call is more direct (instantly initiates phone call), so blocking is more important to prevent interruptions.
Use Cases & Best Practices
Service Businesses (Recommended)
Ideal for:
- Medical offices
- Law firms
- Consulting practices
- Home services (plumbing, electrical, HVAC)
- Professional services
Configuration:
- Block Mode: Prevent after-hours calls
- Clear message with business hours
- Offer email or contact form alternative
- Include emergency contact if applicable
Example:
Headline: Our Office Is Currently Closed
Message: We're available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST.
Please leave a message or email us at info@yourcompany.com
and we'll respond during business hours.
For emergencies, call our 24/7 line: (555) 999-9999
Button: Send Email
URL: mailto:info@yourcompany.com
Retail/E-commerce
Use case: Physical stores with specific hours but online shopping always available
Configuration:
- Flag/Warning Mode: Allow browsing but inform of store hours
- Message directs to online shopping
- Include phone/email for questions
Example:
Headline: Store Currently Closed
Message: Visit us Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm.
Shop online 24/7 at yourstore.com or call us during business hours.
Button: Shop Online
URL: https://yourstore.com/shop
Restaurants
Use case: Prevent reservations outside operating hours
Configuration:
- Block Mode: Stop booking attempts when closed
- Show hours and encourage booking for next day
- Link to reservation system
Example:
Headline: We're Closed Right Now
Message: We're open Tuesday-Sunday 5pm-10pm.
Make a reservation for your next visit!
Button: Book a Table
URL: https://yourrestaurant.com/reservations
24/7 Businesses with Limited Hours for Certain Services
Use case: Some services available 24/7, others only during specific hours
Configuration:
- Flag/Warning Mode: Allow access but explain limitations
- Clarify which services are available now vs. later
- Provide both options
Example:
Headline: Limited Services Available
Message: Our showroom is closed (open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm) but
emergency services are available 24/7.
For emergencies, call (555) 123-4567.
Button: Emergency Service
URL: tel:+15551234567
Advanced Configuration
Split Hours (Closed for Lunch)
Limitation: The widget currently supports one open/close time per day. For split shifts (e.g., closed 12pm-1pm for lunch), you'll need to:
Option 1: Set hours to full open period (9am-5pm) and accept some calls during lunch
Option 2: Set two shorter periods and manually update daily (not recommended)
Option 3: Use custom scripting (contact support for assistance)
Future enhancement: Split hours may be added in future updates.
Holiday Hours
Current approach: Manually adjust hours in dashboard for holidays
Steps:
- Before holiday, set specific day to "closed" or adjusted hours
- After holiday, revert to normal hours
- Can update message to mention holiday
Example for Christmas:
- December 24: 9am-12pm (half day)
- December 25: Unchecked (closed all day)
- Message: "Happy Holidays! We'll be closed Dec 25-26 and return Dec 27."
Future enhancement: Holiday scheduling may be added in future updates.
Seasonal Hours
For seasonal businesses:
- Update hours when season changes
- Modify message to reflect seasonal availability
- Consider disabling widget entirely during off-season (uncheck in Enabled Widgets)
Example (Summer season only):
- May-September: Normal hours configured
- October-April: Disable After-Hours widget, add message to Sidebar/Smart Button about seasonal closure
Analytics & Performance
Tracking After-Hours Widget
Analytics available:
- Impressions: How many times widget was displayed (outside hours)
- Conversions: How many times CTA button was clicked
- Conversion Rate: Click percentage
Access: Analytics tab → Select "After-Hours Widget"
Insights to Look For
High impressions:
- Lots of traffic outside business hours
- Consider extending hours or offering more self-service options
- Opportunity for automated chat, email forms, or FAQ pages
Low conversion rate on CTA button:
- Button text may not be compelling
- URL may not be relevant/useful
- Consider better alternatives in message (email, contact form, FAQ)
High conversion rate:
- Visitors are engaging with alternative options
- CTA is relevant and useful
- Good opportunity to optimize the destination page
Optimization Tips
Test different approaches:
- Try different CTA button text ("Email Us" vs. "Contact Us" vs. "Schedule for Tomorrow")
- Test different URLs (contact form, email, FAQ page, booking calendar)
- Adjust message tone (apologetic vs. helpful vs. promotional)
- Experiment with offering incentives ("Book now for 10% off your first visit")
Monitor patterns:
- What times get most off-hours traffic?
- Which days have most after-hours visits?
- Consider adjusting business hours based on data
Need Help?
Support Response Times:
- Starter Plan: 48 hours
- Pro Plan: 24 hours (priority support)
- Premium Plan: 12 hours (premium support)
- Expert Plan: 12 hours (premium support)
Contact Support:
- From your Client Dashboard
- Include website URL and client ID
- Describe the issue with screenshots if possible
- Mention timezone and current business hours
Helpful Resources:
- FAQ document
- General Troubleshooting Guide
- Dashboard tooltips (hover over "?" icons)
- Test in incognito mode to avoid cache issues
Ready to manage after-hours visitors? Follow the setup steps above and your After-Hours Widget will be live in minutes!