Scheduling Appointments Online???

[Bob Loblaw]

Anybody has any experience with having clients schedule their appointments themselves with online services like web-appointments.com and booked100.com? Perhaps there are others as well.

It seems like a very good idea, but I wanted to see if other people have tried something like this already.

 

[to the end.Hello Good Bye]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I use Lattiss.com. There is a free version and a paid version with more features. Lattiss gives you the code for a "Book Now" button that you can put on your website, and you have a link you can put on marketing materials "xxxxxxxxx.lattiss.com." For example, mine is http://bellelunemassage.lattiss.com.

 

[yars63]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I use genbook.com and it seems to be working great... All clients who have used it love it, even my uncle who is self-admittedly internet illiterate :

 

[ginta]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I just heard about Unispeck and wondered if anyone had used it and what they thought of it?

 

[SkyXVll]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

We use and really like Genbook as well.

 

[thathingg]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I may have missed it but genbook doesnt seem to have templates where your booking system looks like a web page? Thats why I was looking at Unispeck coz with the template I felt it could double as my web page

 

[sissy]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

You can put your logo on the genbook page(s); we have our own web site already (such as it is, lol) , and weren't so worried about having it "match". our clients don't seem to care in the slightest.

 

[sh5353]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

The issues we have had with online booking is either one of twofold:

1. You end up telling everyone when you are in sessions or NOT in sessions. So people can see how busy of a therapist or how busy you are NOT. This is not good for many reasons. This happens because if a client CAN pick a certain time, then that tells them that time is open. So if they can pick anytime on any day, that tells them you not very popular. If all times are booked, that tells them and the IRS how many sessions you are likely doing and that's not good either

2. If it doesnt show when you are booked, as some systems dont, then what value does it provide that a simple free "request appointment" form couldnt achieve? All those bells and whistles are great, but the "idea" of online scheduling is much more practicle than the reality of it. In the end, we would have to call to verify the appts anyway, so a simple appointment form works for us.

 

[Kasey]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

The issues we have had with online booking is either one of twofold:

1. You end up telling everyone when you are in sessions or NOT in sessions. So people can see how busy of a therapist or how busy you are NOT. This is not good for many reasons. This happens because if a client CAN pick a certain time, then that tells them that time is open. So if they can pick anytime on any day, that tells them you not very popular. If all times are booked, that tells them and the IRS how many sessions you are likely doing and that's not good either

2. If it doesnt show when you are booked, as some systems dont, then what value does it provide that a simple free "request appointment" form couldnt achieve? All those bells and whistles are great, but the "idea" of online scheduling is much more practicle than the reality of it. In the end, we would have to call to verify the appts anyway, so a simple appointment form works for us.

When you put your schedule online, you tell people when you are WILLING to book appointments. If you don't have any availability, it can mean you are booked solid, but it could also mean you manage your time well or that you have a life and do other things besides sitting at the office all day waiting for people to book a massage. We book online. I am very busy with massage, my associate is not so, but she has limited availability, she has another part time job and life in general. This does not mean she is cheating the IRS. The IRS does not care how you are spending your time, they look at how you are spending your money.

 

[syph]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

The issues we have had with online booking is either one of twofold:

1. You end up telling everyone when you are in sessions or NOT in sessions.

Maybe true for some, but there are online scheduling services (shameless plug) out there that can allow you to "fake it until you make it". And that's great if you are starting out or just have a slow week. You can block times and they appear booked to clients. So you can seem as popular as you want. =) Maybe they'll even mistake you for a rockstar!

2. What value does it provide that a simple free "request appointment" form couldnt achieve?

A lot more value I would say. The best value being the automatic client reminders via texts and emails. How fun would that be doing it by yourself? Also, your clients get instant online confirmation and a confirmation email, so there is no point to call them back. Unless you want to tell them how much you love them. That's always a good reason to call!

 

[Cake.]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I use "schedulingwizard's" soft ware (TimeCenter) and love the program. I use it only for email notifications and 24 hour prior to visit reminders. The reminders have my cancellation policy spelled out. This program has vastly cut down on no-shows and you've already warned them what to expect if they do. All new clients are plugged into this system. As a benefit to me, most of these newer clients communicate directly to me via email, in the event of a appointment change or to schedule another one. Reduced phone time is always a plus. TimeCenter folks have worked in some minor modifications to meet my quirky needs as well. Kudos to them. And no, I do not receive any benefit from them for making these comments.

 

[pseudonym]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I use "schedulingwizard's" software (TimeCenter) and love the program.

I am glad that you are enjoying TimeCenter!

 

[kid dynamite]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I had a link to genbook on my site but I did not like the idea of people I didn't know booking their own appointment, and I don't have internet service at my office too. So instead I post the openings I have for the week on my site people really seem to like that instead.

I still use genbook to send email reminders of your appt. that part I really like

 

[AsUwish]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

If it doesnt show when you are booked, as some systems dont, then what value does it provide that a simple free "request appointment" form couldnt achieve

Well, it can save you a bunch of time without having to go back and forth with clients over phone and email to schedule and confirm and appointment.

Re: booking calendars, if you've got a clinic with lots of practitioners, I've heard good things about both Genbook and Bookfresh. (SHameless plug) I'm building a web booking calendar for self-employed massage therapists that's a lot simpler and easier to use than those built for larger clinics.

 

[Joseph Taylor]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

If it doesnt show when you are booked, as some systems dont, then what value does it provide that a simple free "request appointment" form couldnt achieve

Well, it can save you a bunch of time without having to go back and forth with clients over phone and email to schedule and confirm and appointment.

Re: booking calendars, if you've got a clinic with lots of practitioners, I've heard good things about both Genbook and Bookfresh. (SHameless plug) I'm building a web booking calendar for self-employed massage therapists that's a lot simpler and easier to use than those built for larger clinics.

The more the merrier, but I would not make my first post ever on a forum to promote my service.

 

[~Mia~]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

We're using SpaBooker for all our online and offline scheduling. And despite a few idiosynchrocies that are different than the other half-dozen packages i have used over the years, it is a great piece of work and does everything we need and a bit more. If anyone would like an intro to the consultant (read salesrep) drop me a note and I'll send you her way.

 

[ishes]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

Been hearing some buzz about Genbook, what is different in comparison to others?

 

[illuzion30]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I actually ended up using booked100.com for my practice. It is very easy to use, and I think they are the best fit for a solo practitioner like myself. The most important aspect for me was the fact that booked100 allows you to control your availability (you don't appear too available if you don't want to, etc.) in a very flexible manner. The only downside I see with them is that they limit you to 6 services only, but it is about as many as I need.

 

[stars.stripes.soccer.]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I am look for a scheduling service. Does anyone know of a scheduling service that automatically submits your info to search engines? I had heard that TimeCenter does but I can't confirm it. Also is there aa advaneforum.xxxe in choosing a service where clients can pay on-line (as well as pros and cons for that feature)?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Scheduling Appointments Online???

I know genbook does this