HOW TO REDUCE NO SHOWS
January 19, 2018
by Appointment Reminder TeamWhen a business mainly depends on appointments for its income, a single missed appointment can create financial issues. Now, try stacking one missed appointment on top of another! All of those missing clients suddenly make the difference between making payroll and being forced to dip into savings or even having to take out a short-term loan to keep your business afloat.
Some may think that following through with appointment reminders can be pushy, but its just one additional step in the sales process. Here are some tips to help keep your reminders on track.
Try Not To Schedule New Customer Appointments Too Far in Advance
It might seem like a large accomplishment if you have to schedule appointments a couple of weeks out, and in a way it is. It shows your service is in demand and your hard work is paying off but it also gives your customers time to talk themselves out of doing business with you!
They can also spend the money earmarked for your product or service on something else or talk to your competition and get a similar deal faster.
If you are really busy because of a special promotion or sale, then scheduling that far in advance is acceptable for a quick solution. However, if you are scheduling appointments like this all of the time, you should consider bringing on an associate who can help with the increased demand.
Repeat Business with Existing Customers
Loyal customers already know how great you are, but they still might need a nudge to keep them coming back on a regular basis. Make sure to ask them if they want to schedule their next appointment and give them a reminder card before they leave the appointment.
It’s not a big deal if they say no, but in many cases with services that typically require repeat visits, customers are willing to book in advance and just make it part of their routine. (Think hair salons or dental visits) They will have a reminder in their pocket or purse already, and you’ll have a steady customer coming back
Charging A Skipped Appointment Fee
Some offices actually follow through with no show fees. It may seem unfair, but looking at their point of view, by setting an appointment, you agreed to be there. When customers miss appointments, they cost you money and keep you from helping someone who would have actually shown up.
Charging a fee for that kind of inconvenience isn’t too much , just as it isn’t too much to expect people to keep their appointments.
Reducing No-Show Appointments with Appointment Reminders
Adding a bit of automation to your strategies will reduce no-show rates. Sure, you can actually pick up the phone and call your customers and remind them of their appointment, but who has time for that?
You can use a system such as AppointmentReminder.org to easily send reminders to your customers. Once you’ve connected your contact list from your Excel or CSV sheet into the system, the software takes it from there. Plus, Appointment Reminder has many more integrations on the way such as Google Calendar!
Forget the awkward conversations with customers when they are considering canceling an appointment. Each customer will just receive a reminder through a phone call, an email, or a text. Easy!
Reducing no-show appointments is an important part of doing business. Let’s face it, If people don’t show up, then you can’t close the sale which means… lost profits. If a slight push from you a day or two before the appointment can help remind your customers and get them in the door, then simply asking them to book in advance or sending a reminder is worth it.