This is Part 3 of our 5-part blog series on ways marketing can help your shop enhance customer engagement and bring in more business.
Part 3 – Online Appointments
No one knows your customers better than you! For some you realize that making an appointment with a “high-tech” online appointment form is not going to be their preferred way of contacting you. Just keep in mind that while you must cater to your current customers’ preferences, they don’t necessarily represent the future customers that you would like to attract to your business.
It’s a good reminder that Millennials (25 to 40 years old) and Gen-X (39-54 years old) don’t typically use their phone to make traditional phone calls, but rather as a tool to avoid making those “antiquated” calls. Meaning that without the ability to avoid a phone call and conveniently make an appointment online you likely will not earn their business.
If you happen to be a Mitchell 1 SocialCRM auto repair marketing customer using the Manager SE shop management software, you can actually turn on Online Appointments for instant appointment notifications. You’ll appreciate the ability to confirm and drop requests in the calendar without ever picking up the phone. It even keeps you from over-booking by looking at your existing work and only allowing consumers to request appointment times that are not already scheduled in ManagerSE.
Expert Tip: You can preview your Manager SE Online Appointment form by navigating in Manager SE to Scheduler > Settings > Online Appointment Options > Preview Form. And remember, customers are only making appointment requests. You can always respond by offering other appointment time options, which can be done by email, text message, or even phone call.
Missed Part 1 or 2? Read them here:
- 5 Ways Auto Shop Marketing Has Become More Important Than Ever – Part 1
- 5 Ways Auto Shop Marketing Has Become More Important Than Ever – Part 2
