By Rikki Tronson, General Manager at Salon Manager
Have you considered online bookings for your salon but you’re unsure of the benefits? There are many! At Salon Manager, we cannot recommend online bookings enough to our salon clients, and here’s just a few reasons why…
Convenience for clients – clients no longer need to call the salon or wait for a reply via social media; they can instantly book an appointment in just a couple of clicks. A booking system is also available 24/7, therefore clients do not need to phone the salon within salon hours, they can book whenever, from wherever!
Reduced errors – when all bookings go through to one system, this keeps everything safe and secure in one place whereby all appointments can be viewed on one calendar, reducing manual errors including duplicate appointments.
Reduced no shows – by having an online booking system, you can use this to take client deposits, reducing no shows and cancellations. At Salon Manager, by implementing deposits on our booking systems, our no-show rate for salons is an average of 0.7%. The booking system can also send automated SMS/email reminders to clients ahead of their appointment and rebooking prompts following their appointment as a bonus to further avoid no shows and keep clients coming back to the salon.
Smart URLs – this may not be available with all salon software providers, however, at Salon Manager, we are proud to offer our salons the addition of Smart URLs, which allow clients to book their chosen services faster with dedicated links to that specific service on the booking system. Smart URLs can also be used to input discount codes for services, which is great if a salon is looking to promote a specific offer they have on e.g. 20% off colour on Tuesday’s. By clicking the URL, clients will be taken through to the booking page where this offer will automatically be selected.
Integrated with POS, client’s records and consultation forms – Having a booking system reduces the need for paper forms, including client records and consultation forms, as these can all be stored digitally within the system.