This post has been updated in Feb 2021 with fresh data and insights to make it more comprehensive.
As of June 2019, Facebook had an average of 1.59 billion daily active users.
But a lot has changed since then…
For starters, Facebook now boasts of 1.85 billion daily active users (DAU), making it the most popular social media channel worldwide.
With all those people logging into the site, it’s almost a no-brainer that you have clients using this massive social network. That’s why having a robust strategy to leverage this traffic in your favor through Facebook marketing ( activities that drive traffic to your Facebook business page) is not just essential but critical in today’s day and age. Not using this functionality is like leaving money on the table.
The question is, what should people do when they land on your Facebook business profile? The answer varies from one business to the next, but if your business runs on appointments (i.e., you have a salon, spa, or barbershop), then one of your primary objectives should be driving Facebook appointments through the book now button.
In this post, you’ll learn all about Facebook appointments, why they matter and discover ways to increase them for your business. You’ll also meet other small business owners who are successfully using Facebook to increase their online bookings.
Read along…
Facebook Appointments are a service offered by the social network that enables businesses to schedule bookings on their page. This is typically done by adding a “Book” button to their business profile.
Facebook has a native appointments feature that allows you to collect and manage appointments from your Facebook business page.
According to Facebook, a hair business that used its Facebook page to book appointments saw a 40% growth in appointments in less than 5 months.
Facebook book now button will help your business to cast a wider net— in other words, it will help you connect with a larger audience. Apart from that, it will also help you save time, limiting back and forth of communication.
And while this is a convenient and free option, a big downside is it doesn’t offer real-time availability, nor does it automatically sync with your calendar.
These shortcomings could result in double-bookings, which diminishes the customer experience. Let’s say a client decides to schedule an appointment on your Facebook page. But because the feature doesn’t sync with your salon’s calendar, the client inadvertently books a slot that’s already been taken. In this instance, you’d be forced to cancel or move one of your bookings.
So how can you avoid these scenarios? The key is to link your appointment webpage/booking page to your page’s booking button. By connecting your scheduling tool to Facebook, you can ensure that your schedule is synced across all your booking platforms.
Below, we’ll walk you through the exact steps of how to do just that.
You can get up and running with Facebook appointments in just about the same amount of time it takes to read this post.
All you need to get started is:
Time required: 5 minutes or less
Login to your page as an admin and click the “Add a Button” link right underneath your cover image. Make sure it is a business account and not your personal profile.
Facebook will then ask you where you want the button to send people. As mentioned earlier, you’re better off linking to your scheduling page to keep all your booking in sync. So, select the “Book with you” option, then choose “Book Now” as the button text.
Choose the connect another tool option as the next step.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you will be prompted to choose the scheduling app of your choice. This is the spot where you choose Booksy if you are a user. If not you can take bookings directly from Booksy or use any other service provider.
Once done connect your book now button and sign in to your Booksy account. And that’s it! If you are new to the Booksy integration, you can glance through the steps in this help doc in detail.
Here’s a good example of what the “Book Now” button looks like in action. Kinetic Body Therapy in New York has the “Book Now” button on its Facebook business profile, which leads to its Booksy scheduling page.
Now that you know how to add an appointment button on Facebook, let’s talk about how to increase your bookings. Here are a handful of creative ideas you can try on the site.
A frequent and successful Facebook Page post type we see is the review-share. All you need to do is take a screenshot of a recent review that you receive and then post it an image on your Facebook business profile.
Doing so shows those who are visiting your Page how loved and celebrated your business is. As we know, positive reviews are a major factor in customers’ booking and purchasing decisions. As such, it’s important that you showcase them!
Facebook’s timeline makes it especially useful for filling last-minute availability on your business’s calendar. All you need to do is mention that you have a few spots open on a given day/week, and share the link to your Online Scheduling Page (found in your Booksy account’s Settings tab). Clients can then book those last few openings, filling up your schedule and raising your business’s earnings.
Whether you’re running a daily deal or another type of special, you’ll definitely want to publicize and promote it on your Facebook Page. Deals and specials can bring back customers who are still fans but haven’t visited your business in a while, and they can attract new customers who may have previously been on the fence about trying your services (especially if you choose to boost your post or create an ad).
Not to mention, specials are a great way to reward existing customers for their loyalty.
Speaking of which, if you run a loyalty program, promote it regularly on Facebook. Educate customers on how your program works and the benefits clients can receive from supporting your business.
You can even post photos of your great-looking loyalty cards. Have a look at this example from nouraesthetics, which recently posted a photo of their punch and biz cards.
Don’t forget to showcase the work and results you’ve achieved for your clients. This practice is particularly useful for salons and barbershops. Snap photos or videos of the cuts and styles that you’ve created. When people see the top-notch work that you’re doing, they’ll be more inclined to book!
Here’s a cool example from Razorfade Barber Shop.
Finally, never underestimate the power of being direct. If you want people to book an appointment, tell them.
Check out this example Wisecuts. In it, the Wisecuts team encouraged people to book their VIP cut, and they listed the different services that came with the VIP package. And to make the post more attractive, they added a couple of photos to show what the services look like in action.
Do the same thing on your Facebook page! If your schedule is looking a bit empty, it helps to post promotional content regularly. Just make sure to mix up your content calendar with non-promotional posts, so people still get value out of your page.
Facebook doesn’t just have a massive user base, its appointment functionalities can help you boost your bookings. If you’re not taking advantage of these features yet, it’s high time to do so!
And if you’re looking for a reliable appointment booking software that integrates easily with the Facebook book now button and offers a glitch-free and streamlined experience to both you and your clients, look no further than Booksy. Try Booksy for free.
