The benefits of using a waitlist in the hair and beauty industry, especially around the busy times of the year are endless – it helps you stay fully booked, maximises your time, helps manage your demand and also negates the stress of last minute appointment cancellations.
But are you getting the message across to your clients? Communicating not only that you have a waitlist, but also how your clients can go about being added to it, is an effective way to ensure you’re maximising the potential of this important feature to keep your appointment book full.
In this short article, you’ll learn three simple techniques for letting your clients know about your waitlist so you don’t miss out on future bookings.
Learn more about setting up and using Kitomba Waitlist here: Fill last minute cancellations with Kitomba Waitlist.
Direct emails
A great way to get information across to your clients is by emailing them. Not only does this form of communication help to notify your clients about upcoming events, specials, or in this case how to get on your waitlist, it can also be a great reminder to book an appointment if they don’t already have one coming up.
You can send these emails directly to your regular clients (or anyone who has signed up to your database) to let them know you will be running a waitlist to help manage the demand. You could tie this in with a general email around special opening hours (for example at Christmas time), prompt them to get in quick to secure their ideal appointment time, or any special offers you might currently offer or have upcoming.
Be sure to inform your clients about the best way to get added to the waitlist – be it calling, emailing, or whichever your preferred contact method might be.
See how your Kitomba can help you send out direct emails to your clients: Create a marketing campaign in Kitomba.
Social media
Social media is a powerful tool to use when communicating – especially in the hair and beauty industry where clients and potential clients will often find your Instagram or Facebook profile to check out some of your work before booking!
Communicate with your clients through semi-regular posts about contacting your salon directly to be added to the waitlist (again, be sure to be clear on HOW you would like them to get in touch), or if you know you have a week or day upcoming when you’re already full, it could be a good idea to post in advance about only having a waitlist available.
Use the stories function on Facebook and Instagram for last minute cancellations if you don’t have anyone on your waitlist already – there’s a high chance you have potential clients already following you who could easily slip in. Make it a live story and talk about the appointment type and time yourself to add a personal touch, or simply use a great photo showing off your services.
Online
If you have online booking available at your salon there’s a chance you might not have the option to let clients add themselves to the waitlist! Not necessarily a bad thing when you consider all the information on appointment type, length and more you need to ensure waitlisted clients are slotted in easily.
What you can be doing, is to add a simple message to your online booking platform asking clients to contact your salon directly to be added to the waitlist. Something along the lines of; “Is your ideal appointment time or favourite therapist currently unavailable? Contact us directly to be added to our running waitlist.” Sending the message out to clients about the waitlist means they’re not deterred when they can’t immediately get the appointment they wanted.
If you’re not running an online booking platform, or even if you are, you could add a similar message to your website, informing clients that you’re running a waitlist. Somewhere near your bookings button, or contact page would be ideal!
The waitlist function on your salon and spa software can be an incredibly effective tool to use when running your busy periods, managing demand, and keeping your appointment book full. See more about how Kitomba Salon and Spa Software can help you easily manage your waitlist and communicate with your clients!
Or if you’re a Kitomba customer already, see how to manage your waitlist here, or contact our support team directly to learn how Kitomba Waitlist can help you manage your appointment time more effectively throughout your busy times.
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