How to Build a Mobile-Friendly Booking System

Nowadays, almost everyone has a smartphone. It's common for people to book suppliers and services using their phone, so it's important that your system is compatible with mobile devices. Here are our top tips for making sure that your booking system is mobile-friendly.

Use an external booking website

There are many companies who specialise in creating online booking systems. Using one of these minimises the amount of work required to set up your booking system. As experts in booking systems, many of these companies have built-in mobile-compatible versions.

Aim for simplicity

Customers are more likely to abandon a potential booking if they come up against any issues or don't understand your system. Make sure you use concise language and use clear buttons for navigation. Any options (such as services and add-ons) should be explained clearly so that customers know what they are selecting. Simplicity will also ensure that your system loads quickly, keeping customers engaged.

Consider screen size

With such a wide variety of devices available, your website should be usable across many different screen sizes. This includes small smartphone screens, but also bigger tablet screens. Remember that people will be tapping on buttons with their fingers, so fields should be large enough to avoid accidental selections. A key phrase to look out for is ‘responsive design’ as these templates will auto-adjust to make sure that the system is readable for smaller devices, but not comically large on tablets.

Test it for yourself

The only way to be absolutely certain that your booking system works on mobile is to try it out. Follow the whole process as if you were a customer - start from your homepage, and make sure you can easily make a booking. You should test out multiple different scenarios, putting yourself in the shoes of as many types of customers as possible.

Schedule notifications

By using an online booking system, you can also automate other aspects of the booking process. For example, you could send customers an appointment reminder via text or email, helping them to prepare their home or business for your arrival. You can include reminders of any important information, such as keeping pets away or moving furniture elsewhere.

All roads lead to booking

Once you have your booking system set up, you should ensure that it's easy to get to. Ideally, every page on your website should have at least one link to the booking system. You should also make sure that these links are both visible and usable via mobile. For example, many sidebars do not show up correctly on mobile, which means you'll need to include these links elsewhere in the page.

Join the NCCA

For more tips and tricks for your carpet business, join the National Carpet Cleaners Association. Membership grants you access to forums, training and a mediation service, helping to support your business’s growth. Our members also appear in our directory, allowing new customers to find you easily.

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