Full Slate Presents Online Scheduling as a 'Critical Tool for Success' at Marketplaces 2010 Conference

SAN DIEGO, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking to a who's who in online search and vertical directories, CEO Bill Lange of relative upstart Full Slate asserted that online appointment scheduling will be critical to the success of marketplaces for personal and professional services. Having co-founded Full Slate in 2008 and completed a successful beta of its software-as-a-service in 2009, Mr. Lange said web-based scheduling is poised to reach an inflection point in 2010.

Mr. Lange spoke Monday morning at the Marketplaces 2010 conference in San Diego, a preeminent event for executives in the local interactive marketing industry. He shared some compelling evidence suggesting that online appointment scheduling is soon to become an indispensable tool for small businesses and consumers alike, along with the virtual marketplaces where they meet.

Consumer demand for online scheduling is growing. According to BIA/Kelsey (who organized the conference) and Constat, 19% report making an appointment online in the past six months - not including restaurant reservations. A large number of Internet users would prefer to make appointments without switching to a different medium, but the high demand for this capability hasn't been answered. "70% of consumers want to be able to schedule appointments online, yet less than 5% of small businesses offer it today," Mr. Lange said. "That's a huge market opportunity for vertical directories."

Mr. Lange further noted that early adopters – both in terms of online marketplaces and small businesses – stand to gain a competitive advantage by offering online appointment scheduling. "It's a unique feature that can drive more traffic and repeat visits." Full Slate recently partnered with GoodTherapy.org to enable users to make appointments online. GoodTherapy.org is the second-largest directory in the mental health vertical, and the only organization dedicated to helping people find therapists who work collaboratively and non-pathologically. Mr. Lange added, "Online scheduling is another way to set themselves apart and differentiate from the competition."

But is it really a critical feature? Mr. Lange thinks so. "Our data shows that when visitors to a website see a list of services they can book online, two thirds click to see available times and half of those ultimately make an appointment in the same session." So clearly online scheduling is a popular feature among consumers.

The question, then, is whether small businesses are ready to adopt online scheduling. "So far, 25-30% of the therapists who have registered with GoodTherapy.org since our partnership began have opted to try Full Slate. We think that shows high demand for online scheduling among SMBs too."

In addition to mental health counselors, Full Slate's online scheduling software has been adopted by massage therapists, hair stylists and salons, tattoo artists, pet groomers, alternative healthcare providers, and a variety of other personal and professional service providers. "I think you're going to see much wider-spread adoption of online scheduling in these verticals over the next year," concluded Mr. Lange.

About Full Slate

Full Slate's mission is to help small businesses use the Web to fill their appointment books. Our easy-to-use online scheduling software is specially designed for businesses offering personal and professional services – anyone who wants more appointments, new clients and repeat business. With Full Slate, clients can go online anytime to make an appointment so you never miss a call or an opportunity.

SOURCE Full Slate