The new reality of the world has pushed us to quickly adapt in order to continue doing the things we love. Booksy recently launched the option to provide Online Services for you to take your skills to the screen and connect with clients while staying safe at home. This may be something you were doing before the COVID-19 crisis, or this may be something totally new to you and your business. Whichever stage you're at, Booksy's got you covered. In this article, find the tips and the tools you need to pull off a successful Online Service!
A Strong Internet Connection
The essentials to produce a successful online service may seem obvious, but an extra reminder won't hurt. While not every tool you use has to be top-notch, your internet connection should be. Don't you hate it when you're trying to connect with a friend over FaceTime and you hear every 5th word? You definitely don't want this to be the experience your client has when tuning in for their online service. A few simple steps to take to ensure a solid internet connection are:
Make sure your router is off the ground (contrary to popular belief) and located somewhat centrally in your living space
Things like microwaves, home phone lines, or other wires can affect your wifi performance. Declutter the area around your router!
Are you the type to have more tabs open than you can count? This may not help the speed of your connection. Close some out before you jump on the call with your client.
Lighting
Being in the beauty industry, you know better than anyone that lighting is everything. When you're connecting with your client, having a clear photo of your face is key, not only for better communication purposes but also to maintain that professional feel. A few tips for prime lighting are:
Natural lighting - Find a spot in your home where you can utilize natural light coming in through a window. Natural light is the best way to achieve an evenly-lit frame of your phone or computer camera.
Try to avoid having the light behind you. This will create a silhouette effect, making it difficult for your client to see you and/or what you're demonstrating.
If you're limited on window space, or it's a gloomy day outside, having a ring light for added brightness helps tremendously. On most of them, you can adjust the intensity to fit your setting.
Audio
What good is an Online Service if your client can't hear what you're saying? The software that you are using to host your call will come into play here. A few tips to ensure good audio from your side of the call are:
If you are using Zoom, who Booksy has partnered with to make Online Services possible for you, just make sure to turn on your audio properly depending on the device you're using. If you're on your phone, you'll have the option to "Call using Internet Audio" or "Dial in." For best quality, and if your internet is solid, you'll want to "Call using Internet Audio." If on desktop, your Zoom call should connect to audio automatically.
Make sure you're in a quiet space, without added background noise
Sometimes a delay from the other end of the call is inevitable. When you're finished talking, expect to wait a few seconds until you hear your client's response.
If you're talking to many clients at once, the mute button can be a beautiful thing! While everyone can be listening to you instead of speaking, you can't control the background noise of each one. Don't be afraid to mute all of your clients while you teach or instruct. See how to do so here.
If you run into other nuances within the Zoom tool, check out their article on how to join a meeting.
Other Helpful Tips
A Phone Tripod: If you don't have a laptop and are using a video app from your phone, a tripod can help to position and stabilize your phone. These can vary from $3.99 to $60.00, but don't think you need to buy the most expensive one to get great quality. Here's our pick on Amazon.
Touch up my appearance: Zoom has a feature that comes to the rescue for when you don't feel like putting on a face full of make-up to sit in your house, even when servicing clients. In Zoom's video settings, you can select "Touch up my appearance" to give you that extra glow if you're feeling like you need it that day.
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Testing...Testing
There are a lot of factors that go into a successful Online Service. Before going live with your first client, try jumping on a call with your mom, a co-worker, or a friend to test all of the above elements at the same time. This will give you the confidence you need to take on the Online Service world like a champ!Interested in getting your business set up with Online Services? Learn more and register!
