Squarespace Basics: Scheduling

I love that Squarespace has a Scheduling tool that is part of Squarespace and works well within the website. I have used other scheduling tools but up until recently I only read about Scheduling.

One thing to note. Squarespace owns Acuity Scheduling. If you have Acuity Scheduling already you may keep that and add to your Squarespace website. If you purchase through Squarespace it is called Scheduler. I will refer to this as Scheduler but know that it is the Acuity Scheduler. The reason there is a difference is that Scheduler in Squarespace is intended for Squarespace, they share the same account system. Acuity Scheduling is intended to be purchased and used with other hosting platforms, but it can also be used within Squarespace.

Squarespace scheduling works 24/7 so that your clients can schedule on their own time. As long as you take the time to set your availability you can stay organized by linking your Scheduler to a calendar and save yourself much needed and appreciated time.

Special note: Squarespace has merged their Squarespace Help Center with Acuity Scheduling Help Center. If you chat or email Squarespace Help, make sure to let them first off know that you are asking a Scheduler question. In chat they will transfer you to their separate help center. Letting them know speeds up the process of getting connected to the right person to answer your question.

Squarespace has a wonderful Knowledge Base help area with articles, videos, and past webinars. This is always so helpful. I try to educate my clients all about their website and will send articles and videos as they become available to teach and show them information that will be necessary to use with their website. It’s a valuable tool in the beginning and even after many months. There is so much information.

For purposes of this article, I will discuss the Scheduler that is built into Squarespace and not the standalone Acuity Scheduler.

What is Scheduler?

Clients book appointments or sessions through the Scheduler. You may set up different types of appointment or sessions and even have an option for packages and subscriptions. Getting started with Squarespace Scheduling and Elements of a scheduler are informative articles by the Squarespace Knowledge Base. There is also a video to watch introducing you to Squarespace Scheduling.

Could I try it before I purchase it?

You can start a Scheduler trial on any Squarespace website. You will have 14 days (about 2 weeks) to try out Squarespace Scheduling.

What languages is Scheduler offered?

• English

• Brazilian Portuguese

• French

• German

• Italian

• Spanish

How to customize for your business?

The Elements of a scheduler highlights customizing your website.

• Colors of your scheduler template

• Calendar name

• Calendar description

• Calendar image

• Calendar order

• Logo

• Business Name

Scheduler does an excellent job of bringing your business logo, colors, and image into Scheduler to customize what the client sees.

Once you decide to purchase or try Scheduler on a trial basis you can start customizing it for your needs.

1. Add appointment types. Read the Squarespace article, Creating and editing appointment types to learn how to customize for your business. Each appointment type allows you to set the title of the appointment and description, duration of appointment, price, category, and customization tools. You can even add padding (extra time) before and after appointments, so you don’t go from one appointment directly to another appointment.

2. Set your availability. You want to make sure that clients are only able to schedule appointments or sessions when you are available. Make sure to set your availability by either setting regular weekly hours or customizing each day.

3. Add custom intake forms. Each time a client sets an appointment they can fill out information for you.

4. Customize scheduler to fit your business. Add your logo and colors. Customize all communication sent to your client.

5. Integrate with other applications. You can sync with calendars, payment processors, and video conferencing.

6. Add scheduling to your business website. You may also send clients a link to your Scheduler and book appointment for clients in Scheduler.

PAYMENT PLANS

This is important. If you connect to a payment processor you do not have to purchase a Squarespace Commerce hosting pricing plan for your website. You may purchase a personal or business package to host your website through Squarespace and add a plan for Scheduling that will meet your payment processor needs. Take a look at Squarespace Scheduling pricing plans. There are three options. Depending on the features you need select the one that most suits your business. As with the Squarespace website hosting plans you can change your plans as your business or grows or if you purchased a plan that you could downgrade you have the option to do that at any time without any penalty. If you do sell inventory from your website, you may have to purchase a business or commerce plan. I talk this through with my clients, so they only purchase what they need.

May Web Design, LLC refreshes and creates affordable websites that enable clients to take ownership and update themselves on a Squarespace platform. I enjoy helping clients increase customer engagement with a website and improve their overall web presence. The most important part of my business is that when I have completed and reviewed the website with a client, I teach the client how to update their website so that they can keep it fresh and new. A website offers a 24/7 welcome to prospective members, showing them what your business or organization has accomplished and what you plan to do. If built correctly it should welcome people to the site and show them around in a comfortable way.   

If you are interested in discussing the needs of a website for your business or nonprofit organization, contact May Web Design, LLC. Starting out with a basic brochure website may be all that your business or organization needs. Your website should grow with you and change as needed. 

I work with my clients so that I may design the website they envision and, most importantly, teach them how to update their website to keep the information fresh and new. While you are busy building your small business or nonprofit, I can create a website to grow with your dreams. I have a list of services on my website as well as a portfolio of my websites and testimonial from past clients. You may even set up a free 30 minute initial consultation call to discuss your website project.