Appointment Schedulers Offer Advisors Increase Productivity

Online appointment scheduling software is both a productivity and client service tool.  It’s one way clients and prospects can schedule a convenient and timely call with you.  But remember,  some people prefer to schedule appointments by phone or email while others enjoy using an online scheduler.

Scheduler technology provide you (and your team) with a secure and private dashboard online to view your entire schedule, and with whom you’re meeting.

What people see, when they want to schedule a meeting with you, depends on how you run your firm and set up the app you choose.  You can show all the days and times you’re available or choose certain times for certain types of meetings at days, times, and a duration you set.

For example:  You can schedule quarterly reviews on Mondays and Tuesdays from noon to 5 pm.  Or new client meetings any time on Wednesdays.

Why Offer An Online Scheduling Option to Clients & Prospects?

1. It is very affordable to use, costing $0 to $150 a year for one person.  Systems for your entire team are also available.
2. Makes it convenient for a client to go online any time that is convenient for them and schedule a meeting with you at a mutually agreeable time.
3. Saves you and your clients a ton of time instead of playing telephone or email “tag” to schedule a meeting.
4. May provide other services such as allowing clients to pay you once they schedule a meeting.
5. Provides you with short-term use of their program for free. Test, set up a trial, or demo with whatever program you’re considering purchasing — but make sure that you are available to use it when you test it!  Most firms don’t give you a 2nd trial run.
6. Syncs with your current CRM or calendar program. Look for a system that syncs with the CRM, calendar, and email programs you already use or are going into such as Salesforce, Redtail, Google, Outlook online, Outlook Desktop, etc. There are few systems that sync with Outlook’s desktop version.

Cons:

• The biggest con I found using scheduling systems came from the lack of, limited, or broken customer service provided by the software firms.
• Some programs are more intuitive than others. I found one or two firms with systems that were too difficult to program and with language that was more geared to IT professionals than to a business owner.

Scheduler companies to review (in alpha order) are:

acuity.com
calendly.com   (their event system does not work with Outlook Desktop version, their appointment system does work)
cvita.com
scheduleonce.com
simplybook.me
supersaas.com  (very good deal when you have a large team and IT person to set it up)
You Can Book Me
Set More.com
timetrade.com
http://appointzilla.com/

Do You Use WordPress?
While most of the above programs work with WordPress, I also found these WordPress plugins, many of which have a free version, that you may want to review, but only if you’re on a limited budget as free often means basic.

How To Use Your New Appointment Scheduler
Of course, each scheduling system provides you with a link for you to use that takes people right to your calendar. Below are a few ways to market your appointment scheduler:

• At your first meeting with a client, explain that you have two ways they can schedule an appointment with you. They can do it by phone or online and explain what online means.
• On your website, create a button (or use one that your scheduling system provides) that says something like “Schedule a Call”.
• Place the link to your scheduler in your email with a link that says “Schedule a Call Now”.
• Put a link to your scheduler on the bottom of your website, for people who are used to seeing a Contact Us link on the bottom of a website.
• Add the link to your Contact Page and even a sub-navigation under Contact Us, that says “Schedule a Call”.
• Something I did, because I didn’t like the format of the main page of the appointment scheduler I purchased for a year, was to create a page on my website outlining the various types of calls people make to me.

Request my Scheduler App Compilation & Comparison

This year I compiled the features of 7 scheduler apps in an Excel Spreadsheet. If you’d like it, join my newsletter and when you get the confirmation email, hit reply and ask me for the Scheduler Compile. . If you’re already receiving my newsletter, hit reply to any email from me and ask for it.

What questions, comments, or concerns do you have regarding appointment scheduling systems?  Tell me below and I’ll answer them for you!