7 Ways A Small Business Can Benefit From An Online Appointment System
Guest Post by George J. Newton
In a very modern business world, some small businesses may be reluctant to employ an online appointment system, thinking that this kind of automated setup would be better suited to the big boys - while they cling to the telephone and the appointment book.
However, small businesses can really benefit from using an online appointment system, too, and here are 7 ways how:
1. A time-saver for business
If you have a small team of staff, you want them employed as usefully as possible.
If they’re spending all day answering the phone, arranging appointments with customers, and politely trying to curtail small talk with friendly appointment-makers, they aren’t working for you in a time-efficient manner and helping to grow your business.
With an online appointment system set-up, a huge amount of time can be saved and your staff’s skills can be effectively utilized elsewhere.
2. Manage staff scheduling automatically
Using an online booking system allows you to know exactly where to put your staff members, and when.
There’s no point having five members of staff in for only one appointment or discovering you don’t have enough staff in the office when you have several customer bookings that need dealing with.
An online booking system will let you know when you’ll be busy and when you’ll be quiet, and you can manage your co-workers accordingly, making sure you have the right people exactly when you want them.
3. Generate extra income
An appointment booking system can run 24/7, without your staff having to work 24/7.
And if your co-workers are not manning the telephone or constantly crossing things out and re-writing them in the big appointment book, then they could be doing amazing things generating marketing leads or wowing the customers you’ve already booked through your online system.
Appointments can also be pre-paid for, through the system, helping cash flow, and upsells can be added.
4. Reminders
SMS and email reminders are more effective than a phone call, which may not even catch the customer, or result in an ignored voicemail.
And, of course, making phone calls requires staff time, so it’s a win-win.
“Reminders in writing, which can be attended to at the customer’s convenience, are a big help in avoiding No Shows,” says Florence Greenwood, a business blogger at Write my X and 1 Day 2 write.
5. Use for CTAs on your site
Calls to Action (CTA) are vital to a business and having them as an integral part of your online booking system means appointment booking deals can be closed, rather than the customer drifting off to other distractions.
Clear CTAs like “BOOK NOW” or “DATES AVAILABLE” will seal the deal and get that booking locked into the calendar.
6. Generate leads
You may think that the old system of booking appointments over the telephone fosters relationships with customers, but once that call is over, you have no recorded data.
With an online booking system, you have immediate data from the booking made, and the customer’s details to store and use in the future, especially if you want to run any offers or promotions.
7. Balance your schedule and avoid double-bookings
Double bookings are an embarrassing nightmare and to be avoided at all costs.
With an online appointment booking system, scheduled meetings simply can’t be double-booked with an online system, or duplicate confirmations generated.
Henry M. Tomkinson, a journalist at Origin writings and Brit Student, says, “There’s nothing more likely to result in a customer going elsewhere, the next time, than turning up to an appointment to find they’ve been double-booked. Small businesses are guaranteed to avoid this with an online booking system.”
The appointment book and the telephone have served the small business well, over the years, but if the small business thinks bigger and considers an online appointment booking service, these trusty stalwarts can be consigned to the office cupboard, to make way for a more efficient system that will truly save manpower, time, and money.
ABOUT THE AUTHER
George J. Newton writes for Next Coursework and is a business development manager at Write my essay and Thesis writing service. He has nurtured several small businesses and knows where the coffee machine is.