Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media. Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 1

Transcription

1 Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 1

2 Introduction Social media services such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn play an important role in the lives of billions of individuals worldwide. These individuals are not just accessing these sites to communicate with families and friends or to post photos of a family vacation. They re using these sites to research businesses and make purchases, including scheduling appointments and booking reservations. In some instances, these sites can be just as effective as a business, company or organization s Web site for generating sales and attracting new customers. Statistics show that 56 percent of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand to a friend after becoming a fan of the business or organization s Facebook page 1. Additionally, 34 percent of marketers say they ve generated leads through Twitter 2. The above statistics alone demonstrate the growing role social media is playing in the success of businesses and organizations. And with the widespread availability and affordability of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) applications like online scheduling software, these groups can not only market their goods and services through social media outlets, they can also conduct online transactions, like booking appointments and reservations. 56 percent of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand after becoming a fan of the business or organization s Facebook page As more and more businesses and organizations are discovering, appointment scheduling software and social media make the perfect fit for increasing sales and keeping appointment and reservation slots full. Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 2

3 Why Use Social Media Social media is a vast ocean of growing prospects that businesses and organizations of all sizes and scopes of operation can tap into. Facebook alone had over 800 million active users in early January 2012, with 200 million added just in Twitter is estimated to have almost 21 million users in the United States by the end of 2012, with a sizable minority using the service in part to follow brands 4. Adding to these impressive numbers is LinkedIn, which had 64 million North American users in early January Did you know Total worldwide Facebook users: 800 million (Jan 2012) Total U.S. Twitter users: Social media differs from more traditional marketing methods in that it makes the business or organization appear more personal to current customers, prospects and visitors interested in learning more about the 21 million (by end of 2012) Total N. American LinkedIn users: 64 million (Jan 2012) products or services offered. It can create an instant connection and, over time, helps develop a deeper business-customer relationship and trust, which is oftentimes difficult to achieve through a business s Web site, advertising or marketing materials. It s also a more efficient way to communicate messages, such as news, updates, current discounts and promotion, coupons and other information of interest to its followers. Many individuals are influenced by recommendations by their friends, family and colleagues, which makes social media ideal for connecting with them. Most social media services give users the ability to like or recommend a business or organization s page, which gives the provider instant credibility for anyone viewing their social media page. Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 3

4 How to Utilize Appointment-Scheduling Software in Your Social Media Appointment scheduling software is a Software as a Service (SaaS) application that can completely automate the scheduling process for businesses and organizations that rely on appointment and reservation to operate. It does this by allowing individuals to self-schedule their own appointment and reservation dates and times online, without having to call, send an or book in-person. As a cloud-based technology, appointment scheduling software is a perfect fit with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other services that allow its users to add buttons and links to their pages. These software applications typically provide each established account with its own unique URL link, which takes booking individuals directly to its online scheduler. Some also provide button links, which contain such common wording as Book Now or Schedule Now. Either link or button can be added to the business or organization s social media page. There are numerous benefits to adding a scheduling link on a social media page or site, such as: Allowing individuals to instantly book their appointments or reservation right from the social media page, without having to navigate to a business or organization Web site, pick up the phone, send an or book it in-person. Capturing spontaneous purchases made by individuals viewing a discount, promotion or special. Permitting individuals to book their appointments or reservations at any hour of the day, not just during normal operating hours. Greater exposure, especially if the social media page draws a similar or greater number of visitor traffic than the business or organization s Web site. Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 4

5 All of the above benefits make it convenient and easy for individuals to schedule while on a social media site. This translates into more booked appointments and reservations with little or no effort on the part of the business or organization. Conclusion The prominent role social media has in our society affects how many businesses and organizations now operate. Those that take advantage of this opportunity have the potential to operate more profitably, successfully and efficiently. Implementing online scheduling on social media pages can have an immediate impact on the number of appointments and reservations a business or organization books, as it provides another avenue to both promote its services and schedule customers, clients and patients simultaneously. References 1. Mashable 2. AllTwitter 3. Social Media Examiner 4. emarketer To learn more about online scheduling software and how it can improve your booking processes, visit Appointment-Plus, 2012 Appointment-Plus Scheduling Appointments Using Social Media 5