What is the best scheduling platform out there? That incorporates the ability to book online, take online payments, and promo codes.
I orginally signed up for Bookafy and was pretty happy with the service until I realized that I could not track how well my marketing campaigns would do. For instance, if I had a groupon or sent mailers, I would like my clientele to type in the promo code for a discount. Bookafy does not have this feature so I would have to charge one price across the board. Is there a platform out there that allows your potential customers to put in a promo code that changes the price of the booking/lesson/session and only they could see? This might not exist but wanted to check with this incredible and resourceful community. Any feedback or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Expert Answers
Sort by Date
Sort by Votes
Aug 4, 2016
Hi Bobby
There are a number of solutions but that really depends on your website, so you need to check if they will intergarte (and how closely) with your CMS (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) or if you have pure PHP or HTML site, then you need to talk to your developer about integration.
Here are the ones we have used for client in the past and they can do what you want:
https://www.setmore.com/
https://wordpress.org/plugins/appointy-appointment-scheduler/
https://premium.wpmudev.org/project/appointments-plus/ (A bit harder to set up if you are not techie)
https://www.bookingbug.co.uk/
These all work on WordPress but if you do not use WordPress, let me know and I can give you some more ideas.
Hope these help.
Aug 9, 2016
We use VCita and demoed several. This company is based in Israel with offices in the US. It lets you book appointments, mini CRM which allows you to have prospects enter information, integrates with Outlook Calendar(one of few that had features we wanted), and is feature rich. It integrates with Paypal for accepting online payments and will deposit there or in your bank account.
We find it very reliable and integrates well with any type of website. You can brand it for your site. We use if for both payable services and for booking consultations and training. Their support is very good. I am not sure about the promo code, but provided some feedback and some changes were already made, so if you need it I am sure others do too, in fact wouldn't mind seeing it myself. I do know you can do some coding with Paypal but just haven't .
It is a very nice product and we demoed and tried many of the ones listed below and found this one the most user-friendly and customizable based on some of our requirements of payments, non-paying, paying, events/groups.
Aug 4, 2016
I'm using Acuity Scheduling and really like it. I tried calendly before, but it was weak in features.
I think that Acuity Scheduling will handle all of your use cases. they have packages and coupons.
They have an affiliate referral program, of which I am a member. here's my link - would appreciate it if you would use this. https://acuityscheduling.com/?kw=YToxMjU0MTg4Mg%3D%3D
HTH,
Mark
Aug 4, 2016
Hi Bobby,
I use vCita. It's a scheduling platform for SMB's that incorporates the ability to book online, take online payments, a CRM. But I don't know if they offer promo codes but I know they have a referral program. I've used vCita for several months now and so far so good.
I can't comment on their online payment which uses PayPal and Stripe because both PayPal and Stripe are not activated in my country yet.
It works on different web development platforms WordPress, etc. And they also have a mobile app. You can see it active on my website at www.mauconline.net using a laptop/desktop. I've deactivated the mobile feature.
Hope this helps.
Aug 11, 2016
Bobby,
Have a look at Timely.
https://www.gettimely.com/
I am not sure that it has all of the functionality that you are looking for, but you may well be able to get an addon that does what you need through shopping cart or web checkout type applications that can usually be integrated without too much trouble
Aug 11, 2016
Thank you Ali Zartash-LLoyd, Mark Lummus, Gary Rissler, Karen Fischer, Sam Busa, Ademola Abimbola, and Ulla Kaaber Christensen for your recommendations I really appreciate it. I was leaning towards Checkfront. But, now will re-evaluate and look at the recommendations listed below.
I am using WordPress as my CMS. Promo codes is the most important feature aside from online payment processing, integration of my website, and booking. So that I could track my marketing initiatives.
Thanks again for the invaluable feedback!
Make it an amazing day!
-Bobby
What's TimeCloclk