{"id":9483,"date":"2020-12-01T00:00:36","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T08:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=9483"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:46:42","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:46:42","slug":"appointments-digital-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/appointments-digital-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Less Ringing, More Appointments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your clinic\u2019s phone rings again. Email notifications pop up. The Messenger tab flashes. You haven\u2019t checked your app dashboard yet. Everybody wants an appointment. You throw back coffee, take a deep breath and respond to clients by flipping back and forth on the appointment calendar, offering time slots and sending confirmations.<\/p>\n

Client A responds to your email with her choice, right after you booked that time for Client B, who called in. Client C didn\u2019t mention in Facebook Messenger that he can come in only on Tuesday evenings, so you provide other options. Clients D, E and F through Z call for appointments, all before lunch. The phone doesn\u2019t stop ringing.<\/p>\n

There is a better way, and it\u2019s called online booking. By using a multimodal approach, just as you would when managing a complex disease, practices can direct clients to an online booking system. The options (most of them free) from Facebook, Google, Instagram and others can drive clients to make appointments and keep them.<\/p>\n

Why It\u2019s Important<\/h3>\n

Online appointment booking solves the frustrations felt by pet owners and staff members. Clients who visit your hospital\u2019s website, social media channels and review platforms can schedule an appointment at their convenience, even when your office is closed. Your receptionists are freed up for other tasks and your practice can accept appointments 24\/7. Client engagement and satisfaction, along with practice revenue, improve when pet owners can book appointments at their leisure and receive digital confirmation.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t have real-time booking? No problem. Ask your website designer to add a \u201cRequest an Appointment\u201d contact form. Alternatively, create a free online form using Google Forms or JotForm, each of which generates a URL you can use. Be sure to include specific form entries that might decrease the back and forth, such as \u201cDo you have a preferred doctor?\u201d and \u201cTell us your top three preferred appointment days and times.\u201d Or try Facebook\u2019s native scheduling tool, another third-party option. All these provide practices with a clickable web link that can be used on social media, review sites and your mobile app.<\/p>\n

Here are your options.<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/h3>\n

Facebook facilitates multiple ways to book appointments.<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Your Facebook page\u2019s main call-to-action (CTA) button is the blue one just below your cover photo. It redirects visitors in a variety of ways. Choosing the \u201cBook Now\u201d option will allow you to add your appointment booking link, set up appointments using Facebook\u2019s native tool or connect another third-party scheduling software.<\/p>\n

Linking to your online appointment portal or \u201cRequest an Appointment\u201d form is most common. Remember to click \u201cFinish\u201d to save your changes, and test the button by clicking on the CTA button and then \u201cTest Button.\u201d<\/p>\n

BONUS:<\/strong> Facebook will auto-generate a post when you configure a \u201cBook Now\u201d button.=<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Do you hate getting Facebook messages asking for an appointment? Using Facebook Messenger\u2019s automated response feature can save time for you and your clients. It even supports interactive questions and answers. To get started, go to \u201cPage Settings\u201d and then \u201cMessaging,\u201d \u201cAutomated Responses\u201d and \u201cSet Up.\u201d<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong>\u00a0Facebook Appointments is a free tool for page owners. Clients can schedule appointments within their app in real time based on availability and the settings your practice selects.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been using the Facebook appointment scheduler for almost a year now,\u201d said Liza Ledet, DVM, the owner of Mandeville Animal Hospital in Louisiana. \u201cIt\u2019s a great tool, especially for new clients who don\u2019t currently have our customized hospital app, and it also conveniently allows people to book anytime and from anywhere, even using a mobile device.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook Appointments integrates with Google Calendar but not with practice management software systems, so veterinary teams will need to confirm times and monitor Facebook regularly to prevent double booking.<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong>\u00a0With a little marketing spend, Facebook can help you target clients demographically. Consider boosting Facebook posts that are original to your practice. This might inspire pet owners to book an appointment, and it will create a clickable \u201cBook Now\u201d button at the bottom of each post. Practices also can run Facebook ads independent of a post. Just click \u201cPromote\u201d and then \u201cGet More Bookings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Google<\/h3>\n

Claiming your practice\u2019s Google My Business<\/a> profile is essential for search-engine success, monitoring online reviews and sharing basic information about your practice. Also, you can add an appointment link. The option is clickable directly from search results when a pet owner uses Google to find your practice.<\/p>\n

To add it, navigate to your practice\u2019s profile and then go to \u201cInfo\u201d and \u201cAppointment Links.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instagram<\/h3>\n

Are you seeing more traffic on your practice\u2019s Instagram page? Do you hate featuring a great post and then hoping that visitors will figure out how to book an appointment? Here are three workarounds for Instagram-savvy clinics:<\/p>\n