Hi, Not necessary for me but some ideas on the table.
I could be looking for a booking service. Someone to take calls, someone to fill my diary during daytime hours/someone to take messages so I can call back at a certain time but they obtain all the details. There are other issues of having a mobile/landline diverted which i understand can be complicated.
I could also be looking for an online diary where I can access bookings/potentially pupils could book online and or I could book other instructors diarys online.
Some of what I've seen on the market is a little expensive. Realising the costs are not cheap.
I have seen a service called Call angel, where someone in an office somewhere will take calls that you dont pick up, and take booking and / or pass on info for you, but I think it would only be worth while if you had a very high call rate.
What id like to have is a PDA style device which I can use in car to connect to web, linked to an online diary on my website, so I can book lessons in car, pupils can book a slot online, and the two sync together so no double bookings can occur!
Im sure in this day and age this is possible, but finding out what equipment is needed, what web code is needed for a calender, and finding the ins and out of everything is hard to find!
Maybe Adindi could come up with a one stop solution for this, wink wink tina
PS I have found a txt service, free to setup, just choose a keyword i.e your driving school, and then potential pupils can text that keyword to a given number and you get an email with their mobile number to call back!!
Just cost 10p each time its used, and you prepay to buy credits
Ive used it and have already had pupils from it!! I will post full details on here soon
Hey Folks.
Thanks for your ideas Keith and Pocko Vodafone offer an online diary management system as part of their package [VBE]. you can access both calander and emails from a PDA as well as your home computer and the package 'sync's both each time they are connected.
We're looking at a bespoke online diary management system that means you don't have to take a Vodafone contract to obtain one; also a call centre that doesn't cost you a fortune for incoming calls that can also access your diaries when on holiday etc; will keep you up to date on all these as they progress
SMS's are also on the cards
I here what your saying and the system could work well. Especically if people could pay online and receive a discount for using the service.
However.....If someone could not book a lesson this week they may go elsewhere, but normally you may be able to juggle a lesson or two to get that all important new enquiry booked in. You may not have a lesson free next week but at least you have them started. This is where the call handling can help.
If my wifes around I usally get her to take as much info as possible and give them a time i will call back. But she has the same problem of not knowing when Im free.
There are some deals out there advertised, but nothing really catching my eyes.
Hi Pocko, why would you not just get potential pupils to text direct to your mobile and save you the 10p? I'm missing something, no?