What I wish I'd known before switching to Setmore
🥇 Gold Seller
Freelancer · 3mo ago
I want to share my honest experience of introducing online-only booking to my barbershop in Sheffield, because I was terrified about how my clients would react and the reality was nothing like what I feared.
Background: I'd been running my barbershop for 2 years, all bookings via phone and text. Lovely clients, very loyal, but the admin was killing me. Evenings spent confirming appointments, chasing people, answering 'are you free on Tuesday?' messages at 9pm.
I switched to Fresha and gave myself three months to phase out old-style bookings. Here's what actually happened:
Week one: About half my regulars booked online immediately with zero fuss. These were the ones who'd always been organised about appointments anyway.
Weeks two and three: I gently redirected phone enquiries to the booking link. 'I don't take bookings by phone anymore but here's the link — it takes about two minutes and you can pick your exact slot.' Almost everyone was fine with this.
Month two: I turned off WhatsApp booking entirely. Had about five complaints, all from clients who'd been occasional no-shows previously. Decided I was okay with that.
Month three onwards: Fully digital, deposits on every booking, no Sunday evening admin sessions. My actual take-home time increased by roughly three hours a week. I wish I'd done it years earlier.
Background: I'd been running my barbershop for 2 years, all bookings via phone and text. Lovely clients, very loyal, but the admin was killing me. Evenings spent confirming appointments, chasing people, answering 'are you free on Tuesday?' messages at 9pm.
I switched to Fresha and gave myself three months to phase out old-style bookings. Here's what actually happened:
Week one: About half my regulars booked online immediately with zero fuss. These were the ones who'd always been organised about appointments anyway.
Weeks two and three: I gently redirected phone enquiries to the booking link. 'I don't take bookings by phone anymore but here's the link — it takes about two minutes and you can pick your exact slot.' Almost everyone was fine with this.
Month two: I turned off WhatsApp booking entirely. Had about five complaints, all from clients who'd been occasional no-shows previously. Decided I was okay with that.
Month three onwards: Fully digital, deposits on every booking, no Sunday evening admin sessions. My actual take-home time increased by roughly three hours a week. I wish I'd done it years earlier.
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The bit about re-engaging lapsed clients is something I hadn't thought of using Phorest for. Going to set that up today. I've got loads of clients I assumed had just moved on who might just need a gentle nudge.
#1
Been using Treatwell for 18 months and I'd echo everything in this post. The one thing I'd add: set up the automated follow-up message asking for a review. I get six new Google reviews a week without doing anything. Massive for local SEO.
#2
Just want to add for anyone reading this who's worried about the tech side — I am not a tech person at all. I set up Acuity Scheduling by myself in one afternoon by just following their setup guide. If I can do it, genuinely anyone can.
#3