In our modern world, where we are increasingly being asked for our attention from every angle, attending appointments in a timely fashion can seem to lose its importance. This certainly can be the case when it comes to the appointments that we book with prospects and clients.
So how can you improve the attendance rate for the appointments you book in business, especially if you are in sales?
At Trill Marketing, we book and attend many appointments for either a presentation or an intro call (obviously nearly all online or by phone these days). Often these can be arranged well in advance, and therefore, we use multiple tools to ensure the best possible attendance rate.
To help you consolidate more of your booked appointments, here's what we do:

1. Always try and book the appointment as soon as possible - the longer the gap, the more likely a no-show.
2. When arranging the appointment - book a calendar appointment using your online diary setting up the email reminder function, and inviting the attendees. Set reminders the day before, an hour before and 5 mins before.
3. Confirm straight away after booking using either WhatsApp or text - WhatsApp is excellent as you can see if they've read it.
4. Reminder by email the day before, directly from you with a personalised message (as well as the automated one) - "looking forward to our meeting tomorrow…".
5. Reminder by text and automated email an hour before - automated email reminders can be set up within your calendar (see point 2) plus use manual WhatsApp reminder or text message "just checking you are good for our appointment shortly".
6. 5 mins before, the automated email from your calendar will send - as point 2.
7. Attend the appointment on time! - If they don't answer the call or attend the screen-share - call twice, text/WhatsApp. "Just checking you're still okay for our call, or do you need to rearrange?".

This process should significantly increase your show up rate as well as create good habits. It may seem overkill to some, but consolidating a sales appointment with someone who may be busy or not consider a sales appointment an essential thing in their lives is not always easy!
Finally, remember, don't take no-shows personally. Try to have empathy when people don't attend and never hold a grudge or point out their mistake when you finally get hold of them. It is, of course, a gauge of where they are with their enthusiasm for your product or service, and sometimes it's not until we get a chance to talk to them that we can get the excitement moving, so we must keep trying!
There are also some great tools out there that you help; we use Calendly to help manage all our bookings and appointment. They do have a free version available and is more than adequate for most small businesses.