Events, Scheduling & Consult Cal
In this lesson we are going to:
Learn how to input events & how to add them as a block within a section
Set up a scheduler, with multiple appointment types and availability
Talk about consultation calls & button linking
Setting Up Events
So much has opened up for online offerings since 2020, and yes this has meant a lot of over-saturation. Yet, people are still very interested in meeting online, within groups on zoom and 1:1 to seek out sessions with those who would otherwise be location-prohibited.
When you know you have something great to share, don't hold yourself back because you feel like a lot of people are already doing it. Like any brick and mortar business, doing what has already been done, find your niche, your specialty, what makes you shine... and be the best, or the funnest, or whatever it is that your own unique character brings to the table. Whatever that is, knowing how to effortlessly setup events and create their corresponding sales page, removes any barriers to web-presence - now you just need to swirl all the pieces together: web, graphics, marketing, payments... it's on!
Action Steps:
Gather all needed information for your events: copy writing for descriptions and excerpts, social sharing graphic and event graphic (may be the same graphic)
Add all events, copy, images and linked buttons
Create a 'front end' events page and use a 'calendar block' or 'summary block', to display upcoming events or past events
Run through all setting options to ensure the design and display is to your preference
Setting Up a Scheduler & Offering Consultation Calls
Another way to stand out in how you create supportive experience to potential and future clients, is by having a seamless process in how they connect their time to yours AND your availability to speak with you directly about larger programs/offerings, with a consult/discovery/connection call.
Action Steps:
From your general menu in SquareSpace, go into 'Scheduler' and let it walk you through the process of setting up your first appointment type and its corresponding hours of availability
Continue to add your various appointment types and hours
Add any group classes, including those that repeat
Copy/paste the direct links within your scheduler, that need to be linked to buttons on your website pages: consult call buttons, class registration buttons, 1:1 session buttons
Consider setting up a 'waitlist' for an upcoming programs that links and auto-populates to a google spreadsheet (within the storage setting of a newsletter block, re-written as a waitlist block)
Consider setting up an application form that links and auto-populates to a google spreadsheet (within the storage setting of a form)
Note:
You do NOT have to charge for your sessions and classes through you scheduler. It is a matter of preference.
You can choose to simply charge through your website (not scheduler) and just send them to your scheduler link after they have paid (through a redirect link or link sent in an automated or manually sent email). This will give them a link to choose their appointment time, but they will not pay through your scheduler.
Both work. It's really comes down to a matter of aesthetic, except in the case of a recurring class, in which case it may be more efficient to use the scheduler.
