No-shows are dreadful for any business. In addition to wasting productive time that could be booked on serving another customer, it also gives you monetary loss. Hence, it is essential to follow the practice that assures the Reduce Appointment No Shows. Have you heard about Appointment management software? It is a solution that you might be looking for! It lets you send text appointment reminders to your customers to remind them of upcoming appointments.
Tips to Reduce Appointment No Shows With Text Message Reminder
Briefing of text appointment reminder
In basic terms, these are the messages that are sent to customers to notify them about future bookings. Despite the business size you have, adopting this is assuredly profitable. The reason is that it has a higher opening rate than voice messages or emails, which, of course, ensures fewer missed appointments.
Using reliable Salonist Appointment Scheduling software, as a business owner, you can send relevant SMS either individually or in bulk. Furthermore, it will save money, and time. What’s more? Your customers will acknowledge your efforts in making them valuable.
Why Text Message Reminders are Essential for Businesses?
The businesses that have opted to use SMS to approach customers for appointments have experienced fewer no-shows and higher attendance.
- It is believed by customers of 78% that text messages are a quick way to approach important information.
- 78% of customers say receiving a text message is the fastest way to reach them for important updates.
- As compared to emails with an open rate of 20%, the text messages open rate of 98%. Usually, it takes only three minutes to read the text messages.
- The age group of 18 to 34 with 77% of customers usually consider receiving text messages a positive approach.
From these statistics, it is evident that you should start sending messages to your customers reminding them of appointments. For that, pick the booking software you find fits best your business size, objective and budget.
After having a brief idea about Appointment Text Message Reminders, let’s find out how it is an asset to your business. Read-on!
How To Eliminate No-Shows With Text Messages
For many, calling is an easy way to pass any information or to convey any decisions. But, in actuality, it is a complicated process. In case, there is no one on another side to pick up the call, or is busy, at that point in time, the information does not get conveyed. Hence, it demands everything to start everything from scratch.
Considering a number of instances, SMS is an effective, profitable and simpler way to approach customers. Especially when quick responses are not needed. Just a text notifying customers about appointments, and interacting asynchronously does not ask for a prompt presence on both ends. These days, the customers are also preferring this practice and a simple interaction in the form of SMS than voice messages is likable among many.
Eliminate Last- Minute Cancellations and No-shows
From the text messages reminder system, you are giving notice to your customers prior to their appointments. It is a gentle reminder system with the ability to reduce Appointment No Shows. The Appointment management software not only gives you the means of reaching customers easily. However, it also lets the customers notify you if they are unable to make their presence and want to reschedule.
Plan Prior and Tailoring Message
How it pleases you more is that it lets you customize the messages to every customer. You can include every single detail related and what they are required to bring in with them. Assuredly, it does not let confusion occur on the booking day. In addition, it even implies that customers can free themselves by checking their schedule and arriving on time. In the same vein, it is permanent data that can be recalled or checked later on, however, the phone calls can be forgotten.
Money And Time Saver Approach
Regardless of the organization or business type you are operating, calling or meeting the customers in person consumes a lot of time, and cost as well. If you use some dialling system, you are not required to call physically, though they should be available and can even communicate to only one person at a time when the call is made. Using the Appointment Text Message Reminder System, sending SMS to a number of users at once is possible. And, yes, you do not require any help to do so. Positively, you can save the resources that can be used in other important operations and save money and time.
Serve Customer Best With Text Messages
Doing many things on the call is sure, though, it implies someone needs to be on the other side and ready to talk. That says, calling many on a daily basis but not being able to communicate properly to some.
Because of the highest growth of spam calls, voice messages have experienced a decline. Or, worse, it is that the customer you are approaching is not answering the calls intentionally.
Comparing this aspect to the appointment booking reminder system enables you to approach customers definitely. It lets customers sense that you are available for them; there is no call to annoy and answering immediately is not needed.
Choosing specific and sending them reminders
You might have an experience that there are some customers who with regular appointment reminders do not show up. Or to the maximum, forget their booking. Certainly, it is irritating!
Hence, to ensure that the customers will appear, it is advisable to send two notifications instead of one. It has to be one day prior or on the same day. Moreover, you can remind or call them on their show-up day. Know if they are visiting on time or if there are some variations. If there is a case that they are unable to visit, just delete their booking and fit in another one from the waiting list.
Ease The Whole Booking Process
Your prime goal is not only to simplify the process of booking and reduce Appointment No Shows. Instead, it has to simplify the process of booking with you.
First thing first, give priority to language. It is not essential that English is the preferred language for every customer. Hence, it is better to personalize the reminder system and ensure that you are serving them with their understandable language. It confirms that the customer has understood the appointment reminder and, hence, boosts their engagement.
In addition, find out if the customer feels comfortable in the chosen interaction medium or not. Believingly, as the mentioned statistics have assured us that texts are more likable. So, it is better to adopt it to capture more attention.
More, confirm that the location and every related detail is right for appointments. It guarantees that they will not be roaming here and there to search the address and are present on time.
Here, one piece of advice is to use the Appointment management software instead of working manually. Usually, the solution integrates all the features that make the process hassle-free and gives customers the convenience they are looking for.
Acknowledge those who never missed
Growing a loyal customer base and meeting their requirements leads to higher business success. Send them “Thank You” texts for visiting you and “Hope you enjoyed the services” to know their feedback. It describes that you respect the effort and time. Indeed, with this, you can have an enduring relationship with the customers.
Also, giving them rewards is a win-win. It will encourage them and confirm that they will visit you next time and on time. Offer them good deals, discounts, offers, Cards, or something related.
Concluding Remarks
For any business, customers are the lifeblood. They can either make or break your ladder to growth. Keep them valued, satisfy and serve them as per their requirements. No-shows are part of appointments- Reduce Appointment No Shows is must. Otherwise, loss is on the way. Choose to send appointment reminder messages to customers to confirm their visit. Pick the best appointment booking software to automate the process.
Instead of sending the reminders in a manual way, integrate the system to send reminders for improving business efficiency. Bid farewell to phone calls and follow-ups, be smart and opt for smart solutions.
