The #1 way you're losing clients: not allowing people to book from your website
In this episode, I dive into the crucial role that optimizing your website plays in attracting and converting clients for your business. Discover the number one reason potential clients hesitate to book appointments and how you can overcome this hurdle to see increased profitability. Join me as I explore the benefits of implementing online booking systems and the pitfalls of relying on phone calls or emails. Learn practical strategies to handle intake questions, streamline forms, and create a seamless client experience. so you can position your business at the forefront of your industry.
Timestamps:
[00:00:19] The #1 reason someone won't schedule an appointment with you
[00:01:32] The simple way to increase your client conversions directly on your website
[00:02:17] What to do if scheduling softwares won't work for your business
[00:03:26] How to handle intake questions without a phone call
[00:04:26] Make it easy for people to hire and pay you
[00:05:40] What you can do today to convert more clients from your website
Key Takeaways:
Complaints about booking appointments on websites
Using scheduling software for online booking
Simplifying the intake process for clients
Utilizing your website effectively to attract clients
Increasing profitability through improved processes
Action to attract clients and increase profitability
[00:00:00] If you want to use your website to bring more clients into your business and get them onto your client calendar, there's one thing you can do to make that entire process easier and to see more profitability in your business.
The #1 reason someone won't schedule an appointment with you
[00:00:19] I have had so many conversations with people over the past couple of weeks and months, as I have talked about the types of clients that I serve, especially those who are in the health and wellness space and work with clients one-on-one through appointments and consultations.
[00:00:39] And the number one complaint that I hear, and the number one reason that somebody will not book with a provider, even if they're recommended by somebody that they know, is because they cannot book an appointment on their website.
[00:00:55] If you are still having people call your office. Sit on hold, talk with your receptionist, and then schedule an appointment, you are losing out on clients.
[00:01:10] As business owners, we have a responsibility to meet our clients where they are and where people are right now is they want to be able to go to your website, learn about your business, and book an appointment with the click of a button. They never wanna have to get on a phone call. They don't even wanna have to send you an email.
The simple way to increase your client conversions directly on your website
[00:01:32] So the thing I recommend that you do right now in your business is take down that phone number for calling to schedule appointments, and instead sign up for some kind of software that allows people to schedule directly online.
[00:01:51] Now, I know that might seem like it's a big investment or a big change, but here's why it's so important and why it's worth it in your business. If you have more clients who are willing to book with you because they can do it just through a website link, then you are going to be making back the investment you have made in any kind of scheduling software.
What to do if scheduling softwares won't work for your business
[00:02:17] If you don't have something that works for your business, maybe you haven't found something that's HIPAA compliant, whatever it may be, let me at least recommend this: the next best thing you can do is still take that phone number off. Don't expect people to call your office and instead have a very simple form on your website that lets them request a specific date that they would like to see you on, and then it goes to your email so that you can then email them and tell them if that date and time is available or give them some options if it's not.
[00:02:58] What we don't want to do is end up going back and forth over email multiple times. And so if you are going to take this approach where you do need to approve when somebody gets on your schedule, you need to make sure that it's going to work. If the time they are suggesting doesn't work for your schedule, give them specific days and times that are available and let them choose which one works for them.
How to handle intake questions without a phone call
[00:03:26] The next piece of this that's so important and a reason why I think so many businesses are still holding onto that phone call is because there are intake questions that you need to have answered before somebody comes into your office.
[00:03:41] And I'm not saying that you can't get those answered, but that is why you need to have some kind of software that can help you with this.
[00:03:49] So for online entrepreneurs like me who are serving one-on-one clients, we use a client management system, I use Dubsado. When somebody books a VIP Day with me, I then send them a questionnaire that they have to complete. They submit it before their VIP Day. I can see when it's submitted, and then I can pull it up whenever I need it.
Send any forms and questionnaires before an appointment
[00:04:12] If you don't have something like that in your business and you still need them to complete forms, you at least need to email them those forms. They shouldn't have to show up 30 minutes early to your office to complete everything.
Make it easy for people to hire and pay you
[00:04:26] Please, please make it easier for people to book your service, get on your schedule, give you the information you need, and then get into your office.
[00:04:38] That's going to benefit your business immensely because it's working with what your clients want and how they want to go about finding a service provider in your industry.
[00:04:50] And because so many businesses have not done this yet, you will be the forefront in people's minds because it was such a simple process.
[00:05:01] If somebody is looking for a chiropractor or a naturopathic doctor or a massage therapist, and they go to multiple websites, they are most likely going to book with the one where they do not have to make a phone call. They do not have to send an email. All they have to do is book, pay their deposit, answer their questions, and then they get a reminder in their inbox.
[00:05:26] Your client's goal is to show up the day of, have everything already settled so that they can just get from you the service you're providing, so that they can see the transformation in their own lives.
What you can do today to convert more clients from your website
[00:05:40] So as you are listening to this short episode today, take a look at your website. Are you still promoting that phone call as the number one action somebody needs to take?
[00:05:52] If you are, think about a way to make that so much simpler for you and for your clients by getting some kind of online booking system set up so that all they have to do is click a button, choose a date, and they are ready to show up and give you money for your expertise.
