In a world in which time is money, scheduling software is a small tool that can pay big dividends to your business, says Stephanie Holmes-Winton, CEO of the Money Finder in Halifax.
And “difficulty of use” is no excuse. If you can use email, she says, you can use scheduling software.
“You don’t have to be tech savvy,” she says. “It is very intuitive and is one of the easiest tools I have ever used.”
Scheduling software puts your entire schedule on your web page, so clients, prospects and team members can see when you will be available, and book time with you.
The biggest barrier to adopting this technology is your fear of change, Holmes-Winton says. Once you do, you will be communicating with clients, prospects and team members in a more productive way.
To help you click your way to newfound efficiency and profitability — and improved client experience — Holmes-Winton offers the following suggestions:
> Set positive boundaries
One of the benefits of using scheduling software is that it allows you to set boundaries regarding when you can and cannot be contacted by clients — without feeling guilty.
For example, if you need to devote an entire day to a particular client file or some other activity, you can simply block off those times in advance in your schedule. Anyone accessing your schedule will see that you will not be available at that time.
The benefit of this approach, Holmes-Winton says, is that you maximize the time you devote to a specific task, rather than being interrupted and taking longer to get back into “the zone.”
> Build a stronger team
Scheduling software is a helpful tool to enhance communication between team members. You and your staff can check each other’s schedules for availability.
Scheduling software removes time-consuming scheduling work from your assistant’s plate, so you can engage his or her talents more efficiently.
Instead of spending hours each day on mundane scheduling tasks, administrative team members can spend more time on marketing or improving your clients’ overall experience.
“You haven’t downgraded their job,” Holmes-Winton says. “You’ve upgraded their job by relieving them of something that technology can do for them.”