Eight simple tips to get your customers to book even more appointments online

Switching to online booking with TIMIFY has seen a boom in 2020, from companies digitising business models to those needing a system to manage new demand for appointments post COVID-19.

Whatever the driver for the switch, the benefits quickly become clear. Customers love the convenience of booking online any time, anywhere and with any device.

Booking staff see instant efficiency gains as customers begin reserving online instead of by phone.
However, once TIMIFY is launched, customers must be made aware of the range of new benefits in order to increase your booking volumes, store visits and, ultimately, revenue.

So, how to boost that usage? Below we offer eight simple ideas that have proven to be effective.
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1. Add a booking button to key, high traffic pages on your website

Make booking appointments online second nature to your customers by adding an eye-catching booking button to key structural positions, landing pages and touchpoints across your website. Personalise the design and placement of the button to fit with the look and feel of your brand.

If you'd like  more information about the options you have to integrate TIMIFY's booking profile, click here: How to embed the TIMIFY booking widget in your website or CMS
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2. Welcome clients back to your services by assuring them you have implemented all hygiene regulations

Due to Covid-19, many customers are eager to return to your business, but some will change their service providers if they feel that firms aren’t following the government health regulations. 

Your dedicated booking page gives an ideal opportunity to explain how you are making sure all regulations are met and what your customer needs to aware of.

3. Integrate TIMIFY with your Facebook page

If you have a large customer community on your Facebook page, or advertise heavily on the platform, integrating the booking button is simple and highly effective. Customers clicking on the button from Facebook will be taken directly to the booking form. 
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4. Highlight online booking services in your email signature

Add a booking button or link to the booking widget from your email signature, ensuring your availability for online booking is shown in every correspondence. Your customers will only see your current, up-to-date schedule and will be able to pick an available slot directly from your email signature.
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5. Add booking QR codes in your marketing material, stickers for your store or on business cards 

QR codes are a great alternative way for customers to access online booking offline as well as online, particularly for more innovative marketing methods or for customers likely to be browsing your service offerings on the move.

The beauty of a QR code is that a customer only needs a device to scan the code and directly access the service they wish to book online. This makes it perfect for promotional material such as leaflets, business cards, posters, shop windows etc.

It’s not only marketing teams who can benefit. Consider the following scenarios:

• Health services: After an appointment, give patients a booking slip (or send an email or WhatsApp message) with a QR code to take them directly to online booking for the next appointment, with patient and doctor details pre-populated
• Beauty salons: when a customer pays, clip a small business card with a booking code to their invoice, encouraging them to book the next appointment online
• Universities and public organisations: put a QR code on your door directing visitors or students to online booking for a consultation.

With this in mind, TIMIFY has developed the Booking Link App, a native application that enables a range of options for customers to access your online booking service. 

If you want to know know more about our Booking link app click here.
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6. Put reminders about online booking in waiting rooms and the reception area

If you have a waiting room for customers, make the most of it. Add signs or posters reminding them that next time they can simply book or amend their appointment online rather than waiting on the phone or at reception.
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7. Create special offers

One of the most effective ways to introduce customers to an online booking service is to incentivise. With TIMIFY you can create special offers and discounts only available to customers using the online booking service. Promote the offer through your digital and in-store channels to get the word out there.
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8. Update out-of-hours messaging

Add information about online booking to any out of hours customer touchpoints. For example, be sure to update voicemail messages switched on during closing hours with a reminder to book online. Likewise, add links to your booking widget where opening hours are displayed on the corporate website or Facebook page. Promote and link to your online booking service in all your marketing material or customer communications letting people know they can book your services even outside working hours.

While these suggestions have proven effective with many of our existing clients, it can take time for customer awareness to build and the online booking service to thrive. However, given time, and utilising some of the techniques above, we are confident that your customers will soon forget that there was a time before they could book and manage their appointments from the comfort of their own home.

If you wish to discuss how to personalise the optimisation of your online booking service to the specific situation of your business, start a conversation now with our experienced support team via the web chat at www.timify.com. They will be happy to help.