How can I let customers book appointments directly on my website?
If you’ve ever lost a lead because your customer didn’t want to call or wait for an email back, you already know how important it is to make booking appointments as easy as possible. Today, most people just want to click a button, choose a time, and move on with their day. So, how do you give your customers that convenience right on your website—and why does it matter for your business growth?
Why do customers expect online booking now?
Let’s face it: We all want things fast, easy, and on our own schedule. According to recent studies, over 70% of customers prefer to book appointments online rather than by phone or email [source]. People have grown used to booking everything from dinner reservations to car repairs and dentist visits online. If your business still relies on phone tags and email threads, you might be missing out on bookings simply because you’re not available 24/7.
Online booking isn’t just a nice extra anymore—it’s a basic expectation. Customers are far more likely to choose a business that lets them book instantly, especially on their mobile device. And when you offer self-service scheduling, you remove a huge friction point that could be turning hot leads cold.
What are the steps to add appointment booking to your website?
Getting started is easier than you might think. Here’s a straightforward process any small business owner can follow:
- Pick a scheduling tool: Choose a reliable appointment booking platform that works with your website. It should be easy for your team and your customers.
- Connect your calendar: Integrate with your Google, Outlook, or iCal calendars to keep your schedule in sync and avoid double bookings.
- Customize your booking form: Ask for the information you need—like name, service, and preferred time—but keep it simple.
- Add the booking widget to your website: Most platforms provide a code snippet or plugin you can quickly drop onto your site, whether you use WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or a custom-built page.
- Automate confirmations and reminders: Set up automatic email and SMS notifications so your customers remember their appointments—and you reduce no-shows.
- Track and manage your leads: Use CRM integration to ensure every booking turns into a potential sale or follow-up.
With Surge by Thrive, this entire process is streamlined for you. The Calendars / Appointment Scheduling feature lets you add a booking calendar to your site in just a few clicks, connect it to your existing workflows, and manage everything from a single dashboard.
Which features should you look for in an appointment booking system?
There are dozens of booking tools out there, but not all are created equal. When you’re picking the right platform for your business, look for these must-haves:
- Mobile-friendly design: Over half of appointments are booked from a phone or tablet [source].
- Customizable availability: Let customers pick from your real openings, block out time for breaks or meetings, and avoid after-hours requests.
- Automated reminders: Reduce no-shows with SMS and email notifications.
- Easy rescheduling and cancellations: Life happens—let customers make changes without calling you.
- Integration with your website and CRM: Keep your bookings, leads, and follow-ups organized.
- Payment processing (optional): If you want to collect deposits or fees up front, make sure your tool supports secure online payments.
Surge by Thrive’s appointment scheduling checks all these boxes and more. You can even combine bookings with Custom Forms, AI Chatbots for instant answers, and our built-in CRM/Lead Capture to follow up with every prospect.
How does online booking help your business grow?
Letting customers book appointments online does more than just save time. Here’s what else it can do for your business:
- Capture more leads from your website, Google, and social media, since you’re always “open” for bookings.
- Reduce administrative workload—your team spends less time on the phone or checking emails.
- Increase customer satisfaction with faster, easier scheduling.
- Minimize no-shows with automatic reminders.
- Collect valuable data for follow-up, reviews, and future marketing.
Businesses that switch to online scheduling often see a jump in conversion rates and fewer missed opportunities [source].
Can Surge by Thrive handle my unique scheduling needs?
Absolutely. Whether you book single sessions, group classes, or multi-staff services, Surge can be tailored to fit. Want to let people book consultations, demos, or follow-up calls? Need different forms for different services? Prefer to automate workflows so each booking triggers an email or reminder? Surge Workflow / Automations makes it easy to create all kinds of booking flows.
Surge also helps you gather reviews after appointments (Reputation / Review Management), automate email or SMS follow-ups (Email & SMS Marketing), and keep every contact organized for future outreach (CRM / Lead Capture).
Frequently Asked Questions about online appointment booking
Can I let customers book from social media?
Yes, Surge lets you share booking links on your Facebook, Instagram, or Google Business profiles. Customers can click and book instantly, boosting your reach.
Will this work on my phone or tablet?
Definitely. Surge booking forms and calendars are optimized for all devices, so you’ll never miss a lead—even on the go.
How do I track where my bookings come from?
With Surge, every booking is tracked in your CRM, showing exactly which channel brought in each lead. This helps you double down on what’s working.
Can I connect bookings to my Google Calendar or Outlook?
Yes, Surge syncs directly with popular calendars to prevent double-booking and keep your schedule up to date.
Do I need a developer to set this up?
Nope! If you can copy and paste, you can set up Surge appointment scheduling. And if you need help, our team is just a click away.
Ready to let customers book appointments right from your website?
If you want a simple way to turn more visitors into bookings, request a live demo of Surge by Thrive or contact our team to see how easy it is to get started.