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As the New Year approaches, it’s prime time for businesses across various sectors—be it beauty, finance, wellness, or education—to gear up for a bustling season. To thrive in the coming year, think about what you might need to succeed: More consistent earnings? More bookings? Better workflows that help you provide the best possible service?
Consider these expert tips and Acuity features to improve your scheduling strategies and unlock your potential for growth and success.
Elevate your client experience and grow your reach
Keeping the client experience top-of-mind will help you keep your services competitive and ensure you’re giving new and existing clients a top-notch experience. Positive client experiences can extend your potential client base through word of mouth, which you can build on by engaging with your community personally on social media.
Set your time zone preferences
We’ve updated the functionality of our time zone controls to reduce confusion and missed appointments. You can now limit clients’ ability to change the time zone when booking appointments.
Learn how to adjust time zone settings
Revisit and review your services
Stay ahead of the competition by consistently updating your services to meet evolving client needs. Regularly asking for client feedback and keeping an eye on what your peers are offering can help you decide how to update your services. This could be in the form of added services or something as simple as adding the option for longer appointments.
Whether it's introducing new meditation sessions at a wellness center or advanced skincare treatments at a spa, innovation keeps your offerings fresh and engaging.
Learn how to create and edit appointment types
Try strategic upselling
Smart upselling strategies on your booking page can significantly boost revenue while offering clients more comprehensive solutions for their needs. Think of upsells and cross-sells as a way to complement your existing services. That will help you pair the best options together.
For instance, a hair stylist could upsell a scalp treatment to complement a haircut, enriching the client experience and enhancing results.
Learn how to add upsells with booking add-ons
Enhance visibility with reviews and social media integrations
To keep growing your client base, seamlessly integrate with platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram to amplify your online presence. Find your clients and peers on social platforms and make yourself easy to discover via search.
After working with clients, ask them to provide reviews or testimonials using an automated follow-up email. We’re all more likely to trust the recommendation of someone we know, so their recommendation could send people from their network to your booking page.
Boost your online presence with a new or revamped Squarespace website
A website is an ideal place to showcase success stories and client testimonials or launch a new look for your brand.
With Squarespace, you can launch or revamp your site easily with design templates made with service providers in mind. Or you can create a new site with a completely custom template on Squarespace Blueprint AI. Acuity seamlessly integrates with Squarespace, allowing you to add your schedule to your website for a polished, consistent client experience. With Squarespace AI and stock photo libraries built into the website builder, you can get your site content filled out and online more quickly.
Streamline your business and stay protected
Schedules can be unpredictable for both clients and entrepreneurs. But as a small business owner, it’s important to balance empathy and flexibility with protecting your bottom line. Create clear systems for cancellations and appointment bookings now so you and your clients know how to navigate the unexpected in the new year.
Secure appointments
Implement deposit systems and collect credit card information for high-demand appointments to safeguard your revenue stream. If you’re worried that requiring a full or partial deposit upfront will make potential clients hesitate, opt for taking card information instead and add a disclaimer that they’ll be charged for a no-show or late cancellation.
This not only confirms your commitment to be present with your client, but also mitigates potential losses due to last-minute cancellations.
Learn how to reduce no-shows with payment tools
Robust cancellation policies
Establish and communicate clear cancellation policies. Great client relationships require clear expectation-setting for both you and your clients. Write a policy that states what counts as a late cancellation or no-show, your free cancellation window, and any fees. Make sure it’s easy to access on your website and appointment scheduling communications.
To give your clients the same peace of mind, make it clear how clients can reschedule or cancel if their plans change and share steps for what happens if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Learn how to set a robust cancellation policy
Automated appointment reminders
Say goodbye to scheduling uncertainty and minimize missed appointments by implementing efficient automated reminders. On top of a confirmation email, you can send your clients up to three appointment reminder emails and one reminder text leading up to their scheduled time.
Customize your messages and give them the option to easily cancel or reschedule their own appointments with plenty of advance notice.
Learn how to create text reminders
Increase customer loyalty and revenue
Anyone who earns money working with clients knows that their loyalty and the value they see in your services are your bread and butter. To boost your earnings, consider creating value-add packages and services that will keep clients returning.
Craft irresistible service packages
In today's competitive market, enticing service bundles or subscription packages work wonders in boosting bookings and building client loyalty. Imagine a beauty salon offering a "Glow-up Package" encompassing facial treatments, hair styling, and skincare consultations.
These tailored combinations cater directly to client preferences, making the experience more appealing and personalized.
Generate recurring revenue with subscriptions
Adding subscriptions to your scheduler can create a consistent revenue stream and incentivize happy clients to return regularly. Consider which of your services your clients could benefit from receiving on a regular basis when putting together your subscription.
For instance, a nutrition therapist could introduce a "Wellness Membership," offering a monthly subscription for a defined number of counseling sessions along with exclusive benefits, like discounted nutritional supplements.
Learn how to add subscriptions
Send engaging follow-ups
Post-appointment follow-ups are goldmines for maintaining client relationships. Those follow-ups can make your clients feel valued, continue building their confidence in your expertise, and encourage them to make a return booking.
A financial consultant sending personalized financial tips after a consultation or a wellness coach sharing additional meditation resources post-session adds value and strengthens the client bond. Even offering exclusive discounts or rewards for someone’s next appointment is a token of appreciation that fosters a deeper connection.
Learn how to set up follow-up messages
Boost booking rates with SMS
Use SMS to send prompt reminders and even offer exclusive booking benefits. For instance, a spa might extend a 50% discount on your next facial if booking an appointment within a specific time frame. This personalized offer enhances the appointment experience for your clients and makes them more likely to book even more services with you.
Learn more about setting up client texts
Set up detailed intake forms
Prioritize understanding your clients better through comprehensive intake forms. For instance, a photography service could tailor forms to gather specific shoot requirements, while a fitness trainer might focus on noting health concerns and fitness goals.
This information allows you to give personalized and attentive service that sets you apart in your field while enhancing the overall client experience. Plus, a thorough form can help you simplify your workflows by helping you focus your preparation for each client meeting or project.
Learn how to create intake forms
This post was updated on December 12, 2023.