Save Time with One Simple Tool - An Online Scheduler

Does this kind of situation sound familiar?

A client wants to book a session with you, but there’s this frustrating and time-consuming series of email exchanges about possible dates and times. “Oh, that doesn’t work for me. Can we do 3 pm PST instead?”

This happens all the time, and it doesn’t cast you in the most professional light. You want everything to flow smoothly and quickly.

Use an online schedule to put an end to scheduling ping-pong, which can cause you to lose clients and cash.

How to Choose an Online Scheduler

What does your scheduler absolutely need to do?

You want to get clear about your needs right away.

Let’s say that you definitely want something that integrates with your Google Calendar so that you never double-book yourself and can keep track of your appointments on the go.

Maybe you also typically do 15-minute free calls so clients can get to know you. This means that one necessity is a calendar that allows people to book in 15-minute time increments.

You also want your clients to be able to choose a few times that work for them so you can choose what’s most convenient for you.

Finally, you would love to not have to deal with the scheduling thing at all. So, ideally, you need something that keeps track of your calendar for you and allows your clients to book themselves.

Other must-haves might be:

Reminder emails for clients
Widget for your website
Automatic time zone conversion

What other features would you like?

These are features that are nice, but not absolutely necessary.

For example, maybe you often have meetings offline and in person, so it would be useful for your scheduling software to list your top three in-person meeting locations so your clients can choose from them.

Can I use any of the tools I’m already using for scheduling?

This question is important, as you don’t want to invest time and money into new software only to realize that sending a link to your Google Calendar could have been enough to get the job done.

Use an online scheduler to put an end to scheduling ping-pong, which can cause you to lose clients and cash. Tweet this!

What online scheduler is best for me based on what I need?

If the must-haves and nice-to-haves in the above examples are right for you, you might want to consider one of these schedulers.

ScheduleOnce

ScheduleOnce includes all the necessary and nice-to-have features plus it:

Finds time for group meetings
Offers multiple meeting types (phone, video conferencing, Skype call, etc.)
Prevents double booking
Offers multiple calendars for different offerings
Integrates with webinar services

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity includes all the necessary and nice-to-have features plus it:

Sends reminder emails and texts
Accepts payments and deposits
Sells products and packages
Offers coupons and vouchers
Prevents double booking
Offers branded email confirmations
Creates custom forms for clients

FIVE OTHER ONLINE SCHEDULERS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT.

Click here to access these other awesome schedulers.

Can I test this scheduling tool?

Once you find a couple online schedulers that fit your criteria, check to see if they offer free trials.

Use them each for a week or two to see how they feel and how seamlessly each fits into your business. While these free trials might make you feel like you’re backtracking, they’ll help you make a smarter first decision and save you time in the long run.

It’s About Your Business

Remember, it’s about what is best for your business and not what other people claim has worked for them.

Online schedulers offer a clear-cut process for you and your clients, which will save you time, prevent missed meetings, avoid double-booking disasters, and keep you looking professional. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so don’t let email ping-pong ruin your credibility.