Mastering the Art of Online Appointment Booking with Squarespace
Are you a service based business looking to kick you appointment booking process up a notch? If so, this blog post is for you! Today, I’m giving you an easy breezy tutorial to add online booking to your Squarespace website. Let's get started!
Step 1: Ensure You Have a Squarespace Plan that Supports Appointment Scheduling
The easiest way to add online booking to your website is with Acuity Scheduling. Acuity Scheduling makes it super easy for your clients to book appointments or classes online in a clear and concise way. You’ll notice that when you add a scheduling block to your website you will be prompted to select an Acuity scheduling plan that best fits your online booking needs.
Here’s a link to help you Get Started with Acuity Scheduling
Step 2: Enable the Scheduling Feature
Once you're on the right plan, navigate to the Pages panel on your website and click on Scheduling. From here, select your preferred page layout for visitors to “Book an Appointment”.
Step 3: Configure Your Scheduling Settings
Click on the "Scheduling" option to configure your settings. Here, you can set your availability, appointment duration, and even add buffer times between appointments to avoid overlap. Squarespace makes it easy to customize these settings based on your business needs.
In the “Scheduling” panel you’ll find several tabs. The “Sync with Other Calendars” tab is where you can sync your Acuity Scheduling to your Google Calendar, your iCal, or your Outlook calendar. I LOVE this feature, because any appointments you make with your personal calendar will automatically block off that time on your Acuity Scheduler.
Step 4: Create Your Services and Appointment Types
Further down the panel, you’ll use the “Availability” tab to select the days and times you are available to book.
From there, click on over to “Appointment Types”. If you’re offering services, use the “New Type of Service” or “Type of Group Class” for yoga studios, group fitness classes, artist workshops, etc.. For each appointment type, set the duration, price, and any other relevant details.
You will also have the option to include Add-Ons to your appointments. This is especially helpful for spas, salons, and massage studios! For example, when booking a manicure, clients will have the option of adding an Extended Hand Massage, or a Deep Conditioning Treatment if your website if for a hair salon or spa.
Step 5: Design Your Booking Page
Click on the “Customize Appearance” tab to select fonts, colors, and add your logo so that your booking page is streamlined with your brand identity. You can also add images for each appointment type!
Step 6: add intake form questions
Your clients will automatically be asked to fill in their name, phone, and email when they make an appointment, but you’ll also have the opportunity to ask clients questions when they schedule an appointment. For example, as a website designer in the Santa Ynez Valley, I offer Free Consultations.Because most of my clients are local, when they book their free consult they are prompted to give me their preferred method of contact. Potential clients are given the option to talk over the phone, over Zoom, or meet up for coffee!
You can also create a private form to use internally to track appointment information, create a SOAP Notes form (great for counseling and therapist websites), or require your users to read and agree to your Terms and Conditions.
Step 7: Test the Booking Process
Make sure to test your booking process before launching to ensure that your appointment booking process is smooth and user-friendly. This step helps you identify any potential hiccups and ensures that your clients will have a seamless experience.
Step 8: Promote Your Online Booking System
Once you have all your appointments set up, it's time to let the world know about your new online booking system! Promote it on your social media, e-newsletters, and any other marketing channels you use. Encourage your clients to take advantage of the convenience of booking appointments with just a few clicks!
Conclusion
And there you have it! A step-by-step guide to setting up online appointment booking with Squarespace. You're not just simplifying your scheduling process; you're also providing a more convenient and efficient experience for your clients, and bringing your website into the modern age. So, go ahead, dive into Squarespace, and let the appointments roll in!
Happy scheduling!