Tech blog

Doctors, attorneys and dentists have largely missed the e-commerce boom. So have other service-based businesses like salons and interior design shops.

Sure, your website be possible to provide information about your business. But it can’t make a sale. That’s because your clients can’t book appointments online.

Your clients still must call or e-mail to schedule an appointment. And you probably can’t handle client requests 24/7. This means wasted time calling back clients for scheduling.

New sites are offering solutions to the problem. They make it possible for clients to schedule appointments online.

Stop the phone cue

You can eliminate the back-and-forth and reduce the time spent on scheduling. And your clients have a mind appreciate the simplicity, too.

Appointments can be scheduled day or night. This is particularly beneficial for luxury services. A customer can book a dinner reservation or spa day on an impulse.

with a view to other businesses, online scheduling is better as being repeat clients or referrals. Sure, it be able to draw in new clients. But potential clients will have questions for doctors, dentists and other professionals. You may prefer to speak with new clients prior to an appointment.

But you can make things easier for first-time clients. Your site should include answers to common questions. You should also tell people what to expect at an appointment.

Let’s look at three sites that handle online scheduling.

HourTown

HourTown’s site handles your personal and work schedule. You can designate certain blocks of time as available.

Next, you place a link to your HourTown schedule on your website. Clients will see your available appointment slots. They can then request an appointment.

You’ll receive an e-mail notification of appointment requests. You can confirm or deny a request.

HourTown has several levels of membership. The most basic is its Freebie account. It allows two appointments per month. It also provides a customer contact book.

Business subscribers get many more features. For $20 monthly, you get unlimited appointments. You can schedule repeating appointments. And customers can leave reviews.

But the biggest draw may be the HourTown Advertising Blasts. HourTown will combine your scheduling with online advertisements. It places ads on major sites probably Yahoo and Google.

If you want premium phone support, sign up for a Business Pro account ($30 monthly).

Genbook

Like HourTown, Genbook hosts your schedule on its position. A link onward your site directs clients to your schedule on Genbook. Clients see your open slots. You and the client receive notifications of appointments.

Genbook’s free account offers unlimited appointments. You can also use it to horsemanship other staff members’ appointments. Appointments can be made up to six weeks in advance.

If you want text message alerts, you need the Standard account ($40 monthly). It also provides a customer database and 12-month advance scheduling.

You can also require credit card numbers to book appointments. This will help you price for cancellations.

Booking Angel

Finally, there’s Booking Angel. It currently only serves restaurants. It plans to expand to contractors, spas, doctors and other appointment-based industries.

You can place a Booking Angel icon on your website. Or, Web directories can put a booking step nearest to your business listing.

Booking Angel notifies you of reservations via phone. There’s no monthly subscription. Rather, charges against confirmed reservations start at $1.

Kim Komando hosts the nation’s largest oral intercourse radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit: www.komando.com/be all ear. To subscribe to Kim’s free e-mail newsletters, sign up at: www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at gnstech@gns.gannett.com.