How to get appointments on WordPress? The exact method I used myself.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to set up appointment bookings on WordPress for free. I will show you the exact method I used for my own blog. And I’ll explain why this feature works wonders for your website.

Before I show you how you can do it, I’d like to explain why your website needs appointment scheduling. If you are already familiar with the upsides of using this feature, use the table of contents above to get to the tutorial section; if not, follow along.

why your website needs appointment scheduling

1. Convenience:

Happy customer, happy life! That should be your motto, too, if you want growth. How you can make that happen? Make the whole process of using your services/products convenient and easy. Using an online appointment system allows your clients to schedule services at their convenience, 24/7, without needing to call or email. This flexibility can lead to increased customer satisfaction and Improved User Experience. A seamless booking process encourages visitors to engage with your services, leading to higher conversion rates.

2. Increased Efficiency:

Automating the appointment scheduling process reduces administrative tasks, allowing you and your team to focus on delivering services rather than managing schedules. This efficiency can lead to better resource management and improved service delivery.

3. Reduced No-Shows:

Many appointment-scheduling plugins come with features like reminders and confirmations, which can significantly reduce no-show rates. By sending automatic reminders via email or SMS, you can ensure that clients remember their appointments.

4. Better Organization:

Managing appointments through a digital system allows for better organization of schedules, services, and client information. This organization can be beneficial for tracking service history and managing client relationships.

How to Get Appointments on WordPress, the exact method I used for my own blog, Digital Zarin.

Step 1: make a button!

The first thing we should do is to make a button for the users. So that they can click and enter another web page where a calendar is waiting for them. You don’t need not to worry about the process of making this button at all. Because WordPress, as always, has made the whole process easy. Here’s what you should do, if you’re using a page builder (like Elementor, WPBakery, etc.) or the Block Editor (Gutenberg):

a. Add a Button Block:

– In your post or page, click the “+” icon to add a new block.
– Search for “Button” and select the Button block.

b. Customize the Button:

– Enter the button text.
– Add the URL for the button link. It should be linked to a new page where you’re supposed to set up a calendar.
– Use the block settings to customize color, size, and alignment. I’m using WP Bakery, so I could easily use a special pre- made style, and you can do it, too.

c. Publish or Update:

– Once you’re happy with the button, click “Publish” or “Update” to save your changes.

Step 2: Install the Plugin “easy appointments”, I love this plugin!:

To install this appointment booking plugin, follow these steps:
a. Log into your WordPress Dashboard.
b. Navigate to “Plugins > Add New”.
c. In the search bar, type ” easy appointments”
d. Click Install Now, then Activate it.

Step 3: Configure the Plugin Settings:

After activating the plugin, you’ll typically find a new menu item in your WordPress dashboard. Click on it to start configuring your settings and set up time zone and currency.

Step 4. Set Up Locations, Services, and Workers:

– Locations: Go to “Locations” and add the places where appointments can occur.
– Services: Navigate to “Services” and define the services you offer, including duration and pricing.
– Workers: Click on “Workers” to add team members who will handle appointments.

Step 5. Create an Appointment Form:

– Go to Appointments > Forms.
– Click “Add New” to create a new appointment form.
– Customize fields (like date, time, and services) based on your needs.

Step 6. Add the Form to a Page or Post:

– Copy the short code provided for your appointment form.
– Go to the page or post where you want the form to appear.
– Paste the short code in the content area.
– Publish or update the page.

Step 7. Test the Appointment Booking:

– Visit the page where you added the form to ensure everything is working correctly.
– Complete a test appointment to verify notifications and scheduling.