The other day I was wondering, what is the number one functionality our clients need in their website? And hands down, it’s having a booking system integrated with their website. Am I wrong?
As a wellness business owner, you want to provide the best possible experience for your clients. And having a very easy way of letting your clients make an appointment with you is the way to go.
I know I’m not everyone’s target audience, but if I have to call some place to book an appointment, I won’t do it. Unless my health depends on it badly. And even then, I procrastinate it as much as possible. And I’m not the only one! More and more people prefer to book through their phone or computer, not just to avoid talking on the phone, but also because you can get an easier overview of days available, and integrate it to our calendar right away.
So, let’s explore the benefits of why you, as a business owner, should have an online booking system for your wellness business.
1. Manage your schedule better
An online booking system allows you to manage your schedule more efficiently. You can see all of your appointments and classes in one place, making it easier to plan your day. You can also set up automated reminders and notifications to help you stay on top of your schedule.
No more sticky notes, no more paper-agendas, no more manually putting appointments into your phone. Booking systems nowadays easily integrate with your calendar (whether you are an Apple or Windows person), and that way not only do they add any new bookings to your own calendar, but the system will also block out the time in the online system when your schedule already has other plans in place.
2. Reduce no-shows
No-shows can be a big problem for wellness businesses. They can disrupt your schedule and cost you money.
An online booking system can help you reduce no-shows by sending automated reminders to your clients before their appointments. Our recommendation is to send a reminder a day before, and another reminder one hour before. Depending on your service and how far out people book, you can also set a reminder for a week before. And if the appointment is in person, use the reminder to also remind them of where you’ll meet, so they can take travel time into account!
You can also require a deposit or prepayment to secure the appointment, which can further reduce the likelihood of no-shows. People are much more likely to show up if they already paid!
3. Increase customer satisfaction
An online booking system can make it easier for your clients to book appointments or classes. It’s like the example I gave at the beginning! They can do it from the comfort of their own homes, at any time of day or night. This convenience can increase customer satisfaction and make them more likely to book with you again in the future.
Sometimes people realize they need to make an appointment with their therapist, or get a massage to help their back pain, or tell their doctor about this new, annoying pain, when they are about to go to bed! That’s not time to be calling in to make an appointment. But it’s a good time to check into your website, find a time that works for you, and book. And the next day you’ll find new appointment notifications waiting for you when you start your work day!
Also, as a customer, sometimes you need to cancel because of many reasons. But a booking system not only won’t bother you throughout the process, it can also make sure that the customer reschedules right away, so you don’t lose that lead. It’s just convenient for everyone!
4. Improve communication
An online booking system can improve communication between you and your clients. You can send automated confirmations and reminders, as well as follow-up messages after their appointments or classes. This can help you build better relationships with your clients and keep them coming back.
Earlier we mentioned reminders with directions to where you are meeting. But you can also add other instructions that will improve their experience with you, like a list of things they may want to bring to the appointment, or a guided experience to get them ready to work with you.
You can also send over frequently asked questions in the automated confirmation email, and invite them to ask questions before your appointment as well. It really keeps the communication open and your client will get more out of the experience.
5. Gain insights into your business
An online booking system can provide you with valuable insights into your business. You can track your bookings, cancellations, and no-shows, as well as monitor your revenue and client retention. This data can help you make informed decisions about your business and improve your operations.
You can also send automated follow-up messages asking for feedback, and helping you make sure you understand your clients’ needs and how to serve them better.
It really is a win-win situation for everyone involved!
If you are ready to have a website that is strategic, intentional, and makes it super straightforward for your clients to book an appointment with you, let us know!
In conclusion, using an online booking system can provide many benefits for your wellness business. It simplifies things for your clients, it streamlines your service and makes it more personable, and it really is just more convenient for everyone.
Many of our clients come to us already with systems in place that they just want to integrate better within their website. But if they don’t, these are our go-to recommendations:
Calendly
This software is exclusively for scheduling. But it has everything you need!
- You can create individual appointments or group appointments (like for classes!).
- You can send people to one specific scheduler (for one service or class), or to a menu of schedulers where they can choose what they want (multiple services and/or classes for them to choose!).
- You can integrate payment methods, so people have to pay to book with you.
- It coordinates with your personal calendar.
- It integrates with Zoom, in case you are offering online appointments.
- You can set up reminders and automations.
- They have a free plan where you can have one scheduler to help you start out, and they have low-cost plans that include all the other features.
Dubsado
This software is a client relationship manager, and scheduling is one of the features it offers. It can do all the things Calendly offers above, plus some additional ones:
- Create project proposals and contracts.
- Send invoices with payment plans.
- Send questionnaires to new and existing clients.
- Create more intricate workflows.
- Keep track of statistics, finances, and more!
- Their pricing starts at 20 USD / month, but they have a free trial of three clients with whom you can use all the features.
Integrating these schedulers into a website can be a game-changer–scheduling often is the main goal of a website for a wellness business, so make that step easy for your clients!
