An integrated, efficient booking system can help supercharge your business sales. But even more, it can grant you peace of mind by removing the stress and overwhelm of your sales process.
This is because a good booking system empowers your leads to book a call or service with you directly from your website. Aka: less legwork for you!
But have you ever tried to set up one of these booking systems for yourself? If you have, you probably know how complex and technical it can quickly become.
We describe down below how to get your booking system up and running the right way.
What Exactly Is A Booking Software & What Does It Do?
A booking software is a system that allows visitors to your website to book in a session with you. There are a few obvious advantages to this:
- Saves you time by not having to call the leads yourself
- Leads can book in with you when you’re out of the office or even sleeping
- You can be very confident that anyone booking with you of their own volition is very keen on yoru service
Now, before you get all excited, there are a few things we have to clarify:
1. What they book in is up to you to decide. It can be a service, such as a plumbing repair, dog grooming or a dental check-up – it depends on your business.
2. Usually, this takes the form of a single button click on your website, labelled something helpful like “Book A Quote Now.”
3. Booking in typically leads a customer to a calendar page, where they pick a day and time for their service, session or call, and then another page that asks for further information from them.
All in all, this system is designed to help you generate more customers without having to do the legwork yourself.
So…Is A Book System A Part Of My Website?
Yes and no.
Yes – your booking system will be integrated into your website and that’s where leads will find it to book in with you.
No – in most cases, your website will not come with a booking system already in place. They are separate and you will have to install your booking system yourself, or hire someone else to do it.
This is because booking systems are a third-party application, and entire companies are built specialising in them.
When we use the word “third-party application”, what we mean is that you’ve approached a separate party for a booking system that is different from your website builder or designer.
Will A Booking System Cost Me?
Yes, in most cases you will have to buy a booking system. There are a great many providers, but they will all charge you.
Various pricing packages exist, meaning you can pay more for additional features or less for restricted, straightforward booking functions.
On average, you can expect to pay around $120-$200-ish per month, depending on your needs. And no, set-up is typically not included from booking system providers.
What’s The Difference Between My Website Form & A Booking System?
Website Form
Your website form will collect contact details and an enquiry from your lead, and then email these to you. It unfortunately doesn’t “book” them in for anything, and it’s then up to you to reach out to that person based on their contact details to create a booking or meeting.
Online Booking System
On the other hand, a booking system will still collect all of their details like a contact form, but go one step further and book them in for a session time and date.
Furthermore, you may miss the email from your contact form or take a while to respond due to being out of your office. Booking systems, however, typically send you a notification you can’t miss, and in any case, can book someone in for a service without needing your approval.
What Makes A Good Booking System?
Although most booking systems are for all intents and purposes the same, you can search for a specific niche system that fits your industry, such as dentistry, tradespeople, vets, etc.
Booking systems specialising in a specific industry will likely have functionalities that fulfil your needs. They will also have been tested on hundreds of other businesses similar to yours, resulting in increased efficiency.
You’ll also want to ensure your booking system is easy to understand for yourself, so stay away from complicated, tech-y systems. Simple is always best.
And in addition, you’ll want to be able to track bookings made from multiple platforms, ad channels, etc, so you can tell where your leads are coming from.
Now, How Do You Integrate Your Best Future With Your Finances?
So, your booking software is sorted, but what about your finances? Thankfully, with a chartered accountant and a qualified bookkeeper (hey, just like us at The A Firm!) by your side, finances can be much simpler than the technical nitty-gritty of a booking software.
Call us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve financial peace of mind and make regular, meaningful progress towards your business goals.