We get a lot of inquiries from service providers who need websites for their businesses, from dog groomers to contractors, and one of the first things I always ask is, “Do you want your clients to be able to schedule appointments online?”
Surprisingly, the most common answer I get is NO.
There are a lot of reasons that people may decide not to consider online appointment scheduling, but here are some that come to mind:
- they want to talk to clients about their services first
- they use a pencil/paper appointment book
- they are afraid of managing online scheduling software
- perceived cost
But there are even more reason to offer online appointment scheduling.
- It’s in demand. People want it. You will have more appointments booked if you offer online scheduling, and it’s only going to increase every year.
- People don’t like talking on the phone. A lot of people work in small environments, and talking on the phone is akin to sharing their personal information with the entire office. They want to schedule appointments privately.
- It’s not as expensive as you think. There are a lot of factors to consider when you think about online appointment scheduling, but consider this. Online appointment scheduling reduces strain on your office staff and resources needed in your office. There are thousands of options for online scheduling, and many come with free trials. It’s worth a shot to see how it works with your clients.
- You will lose potential clients by not offering it. Cost is a big consideration when not implementing online booking, but consider this, if you had potential clients not book because they want to book online, would gaining their business offset the cost? How much of an increase in bookings make it a worthwhile investment?
- Increased efficiency. Imagine the extra time you’ll have to do your own work if you aren’t busy answering phones and scheduling appointments.
It’s 2015. It’s time to make the jump. Your clients want online scheduling. The technology exists. It’s time to make it a reality.
Contact us today to see how we can help you set up online appointment scheduling for your business.
Amy Masson
Amy is the co-owner, developer, and website strategist for Sumy Designs. She's been making websites with WordPress since 2006 and is passionate about making sure websites are as functional as they are beautiful.
I work in a private office, but I still hate talking on the phone. I have great loyalty to my barber, but for anyone else, if your competition can let me schedule an appointment without ever talking to a person, they win.
Me too!