It was one of my pet sayings from my corporate days as well. If you embrace technology and don't run from it, there are many times when it can be your friend, saving you a lot of time and making you look really good.
You are in front of new clients all the time and if you can get the WOW effect - they will want to keep working with you too.
But to create a long lasting impression you need to create a miracle for them, within moments of them encountering you.
The best place to impress them is before they even come to see you.
If people get a good impression as they visit your value filled website, get drawn to click on the "book now" link and like magic find themselves booked in with you - then their first impression is good. If you WOW them in the session, it will make it incredibly easy for them to want to book with you again.
This is where technology can be your friend. Imagine how you would stand out from the crowd if you have an automated booking system that allows people to book with you anytime of the day or night. It automatically emails them a confirmation when they book. And then sends them a text to remind them of their appointment 24 hours before their treatment is due.
The lovely thing for you is, this can be going on while you are in a treatment with another client.
There is nothing more frustrating about wanting to book with someone and they have to get back to you.
This year I trialled three automated booking systems
The best place to impress them is before they even come to see you.
If people get a good impression as they visit your value filled website, get drawn to click on the "book now" link and like magic find themselves booked in with you - then their first impression is good. If you WOW them in the session, it will make it incredibly easy for them to want to book with you again.
This is where technology can be your friend. Imagine how you would stand out from the crowd if you have an automated booking system that allows people to book with you anytime of the day or night. It automatically emails them a confirmation when they book. And then sends them a text to remind them of their appointment 24 hours before their treatment is due.
The lovely thing for you is, this can be going on while you are in a treatment with another client.
There is nothing more frustrating about wanting to book with someone and they have to get back to you.
This year I trialled three automated booking systems
Clickbook won because it did everything I wanted it to and I qualified for the f*r*e*e service - gotta love that price.
Flash Appointments also did everything and was slightly easier to use, but was $10 a month
TimeDriver did a nice job of working in multiple time zones but wouldn't allow me to set the changeover time between sessions.
All these systems offer a free trial period and there are many other great products on the market and as always discern for self if they are right for you.
I'd have to say it took a little while for me to set it up and test it but the long term benefits have far outweighed that initial investment of time.
Flash Appointments also did everything and was slightly easier to use, but was $10 a month
TimeDriver did a nice job of working in multiple time zones but wouldn't allow me to set the changeover time between sessions.
All these systems offer a free trial period and there are many other great products on the market and as always discern for self if they are right for you.
I'd have to say it took a little while for me to set it up and test it but the long term benefits have far outweighed that initial investment of time.
- No more naughty forgetful clients
- No to-ing and fro-ing of emails to get times set up (this used to drive me nuts!)
- Great reports in my inbox each day to remind me what I am doing
The system will only book people in the times I specify but I can over ride anything that is set up and book people whenever I like.
The challenges I see for someone who is a bit frightened of technology
Seriously you wouldn't think the last point would be a problem, but there is a blog post on clickbook from someone who trialled the system for free but didn't go ahead because they got too many new clients and couldn't cope. Good problem to have I would have thought!
The challenges I see for someone who is a bit frightened of technology
- Trusting it can work for you - you won't know unless you try
- Letting go of your old systems - you can try before you buy
- Keeping your paper diary and forgetting to update it when you get a new booking
- Managing demand!
Seriously you wouldn't think the last point would be a problem, but there is a blog post on clickbook from someone who trialled the system for free but didn't go ahead because they got too many new clients and couldn't cope. Good problem to have I would have thought!
Automation can also stave off the need to employ someone to answer your phones and take your appointments. One of my clients has put a message on her answering machining telling people they can either leave her a message or book online right now. She finds most just go and book themselves in online.
Clickbook offers people the next available appointment so you can fill gaps in the day while you are working with clients, maximising your takings for the day and not letting people down because they can't get hold of you to book.
People often comment on the ease of the booking process, which means they have been impressed.
An automated system has the potential to give you a competitive advantage over people who cling to their paper diaries.
People often comment on the ease of the booking process, which means they have been impressed.
An automated system has the potential to give you a competitive advantage over people who cling to their paper diaries.
Most who do automate, report clients loving the system and they find in most instances that people prefer the online option.
So why don't you consider making use of some downtime over the holidays and create miracles in your practice, simply by letting a machine do the work.
Full disclosure: NONE of the companies mentioned in this article pay me a commission for my recommendations - I mention them because they are quality providers
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