Posted by Tess on 7/1/10 6:23pm
Msg #343450

Question/Poll about website scheduling



I am finally getting around to creating a whole new website design and thought of adding a link to my Outlook calendar that updates as I block off days or times, say for vacation times or prescheduled times I can not be available (that is, if my host is set up for this).

I could also do this with my daily schedule; though I am not really sure I would I want to do that, would you???

My question to you is this:

If say for instance, Harry could set up a calendar like this in our profiles that we could update instantaneously, when we are and are not available, would you use it??? Why and why not???

1st Pro for:

Instead of making all the time consuming calls to find someone, the clients can easily see whether or not you are available, so they may check here/your site first!

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/1/10 6:33pm
Msg #343451

I probably wouldn't use it - mostly because I'd forget - I keep my schedule and calendars ...I may not necessarily have the time to get to NR to update my calender here;

Another thought? Not the company's business what I'm doing...so my schedule is not their concern - their concern is merely am I available for THEIR signing...that's it.

MHO

Reply by jba/fl on 7/1/10 6:38pm
Msg #343452

No, not good idea for me. Why?

Sometimes it just seems that everyone wants 5pm, for example. Then, when I call to confirm I discover that they don't get off work until 5pm, or one of them had something come up or a myriad of things. We then juggle and reposition ourselves to accommodate these 'upsets to the timing.'

And then there are the perennial late docs necessitating adjustments everywhere in order to hang on to what we have and to make it all work. Now 5pm is 7:30 and 6 stays ok. Or, heaven forbid, but it happens, 6pm wants to make adjustments and go earlier.

Now, if I take everything - 3 assignments let's say for sake of discussion - I can make a few phone calls and get it all done and everyone is happy. But, if I block out some dead time, then I may only get 2 calls and have no opportunity for the 3rd.

And, because I truly do work 24/7, if I get a late caller who sees my schedule blocked, they may decide, arbitrarily, that I am not able to fill their needs without even asking. It may be that I can't or won't, but gone is the opportunity to decide for myself.

I don't think that my plumber posts his schedule either - and if his 11am is a no show, then he is idle and losing money too. By giving time frames, he can continue to schedule and move around also as he sees fit. I think I like his game plan better for my needs.

Reply by Tess on 7/1/10 6:46pm
Msg #343454

Re: Very good reply against it! Our schedules are subject to

change, and having that flexibility is vital.

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/1/10 6:49pm
Msg #343456

I wouldn't use it. I agree with Linda on this one....criminals would have a field day deciphering whether you're home or not, remember...most of us list or address.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/1/10 6:55pm
Msg #343457

Okay...maybe I was unclear..

I didn't mean criminals...my schedule has no impact on whether someone's here or not - if I'm out...someone IS here...or at least he better be!!!

Anyway...what I meant was XYZ company has no need to know who else I'm working for, or for how long I'm booked, or what I'm doing. Give them just another reason to argue when we say no - 'But your schedule is clear!! What do you mean you're not available??"

For me, too much high maintenance and I agree with Julie - I want the flexibility to juggle at will....

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/1/10 7:13pm
Msg #343460

Re: Okay...maybe I was unclear..

The criminal part was me interjecting/adding to your comments. My comments in no way should be considered as part previously made by Linda. In Fact, I probably shouldn't haven commented. Behind your post, it will never happen again.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/1/10 6:59pm
Msg #343458

I considered do this for my website, but I realized it won't work well. That kind of scheduling is good if people come to you, but as a mobile professional, it's more difficult. It would require constant maintenance of the "unavailable" times to accommodate travel and such.

Reply by taxpro on 7/1/10 7:23pm
Msg #343462

I don't think this would work for me. For one thing, I would have to remember to constantly update my schedule online. Since I usually only log in occasionally, this would create an extra hassle.

Secondly, I don't necessarily want the TCs or SSs to know how busy I am, or how busy I'm not. Also, quite often my schedule is a work in progress, so it's not always cast in stone.

I'm sure most of you know what I mean. TC: "Oh, sorry those docs for your 2:00 won't be done until 3:30, so can you do it around 4:30?" Me: "Sorry, but I already have a 5:00, but I can probably do it after that one, around 7:00-ish. How does that sound?" TC: "Ok, I'll call the borrowers and see if that will work for them."

I keep my schedule in Outlook, but a lot of these last-minute changes are just in my tiny little brain. This might work for those who demand docs by a drop-dead time. I try to be as flexible as possible. However, I never let late docs delay another signing. I will do the late-doc signing later if I can, if within a reasonable time frame and it doesn't interfere with another appointment at the later time.

Anyway, I don't think I'd want to post my schedule online, other than my general availability. I wouldn't even want to block out vacation time, because that tells everyone that I know, and everyone I don't know, that I'm gone. Not a good idea.

Reply by Tess on 7/1/10 7:38pm
Msg #343467

Re: Although taking a vacation and going away, are two

different things, someone might get the idea that you are not home and try something anyway, so having any kind of schedule posted to the public could be a problem for us, as most of us have home offices. As you can see, I am rethinking this. Thank you!

Reply by Michelle/AL on 7/1/10 7:36pm
Msg #343466

Tess, I can see some value in doing this. I have seen

calendars on websites and it is nice to know when someone is on vacation or unavailable. I thought about using something like that on my own website. However, because my schedule can change within minutes or hours, the calendar would frequently be out of date.

Even if I'm not available I like the idea of the scheduler calling me so that I can politely decline and in those few minutes make a positive impression so that he/she will call me again in the future.

Reply by Tess on 7/1/10 7:48pm
Msg #343469

Re: Tess, I can see some value in doing this. I have seen

"Even if I'm not available I like the idea of the scheduler calling me so that I can politely decline and in those few minutes make a positive impression so that he/she will call me again in the future. "

So true!!!

Reply by MW/VA on 7/1/10 7:57pm
Msg #343471

Re: Tess, I can see some value in doing this. I have seen

I agree with that also, Tess. I don't want to lose contact with my clients. I also don't want to list publicly when I'm not available, for many reasons, among which I don't want to give my competitors that advantage.
Thanks for posting your question, though. It's an interesting concept.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/2/10 2:13am
Msg #343512

Re: Tess, I can see some value in doing this. I have seen

"...because my schedule can change within minutes or hours, the calendar would frequently be out of date."

That pretty much says it for me. How often do things actually work out the way we expect. It seems more the rule than the exception to have the "eggbeater" hit my schedule and have things stirred up and moved around.

I'm with those who want the flexibility. Not only that, at times I may be unavailable to one caller but available to the next one, depending on who is calling.

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/1/10 11:20pm
Msg #343503

<<<Anyway, I don't think I'd want to post my schedule online, other than my general availability. I wouldn't even want to block out vacation time, because that tells everyone that I know, and everyone I don't know, that I'm gone. Not a good idea.>>>

Filling in the schedule doesn't mean that you have write exactly why the time is blocked...the word "unavailable" is sufficient. Even if you had a series of days with "unavailable" ....that doesn't necessarily mean it's a vacation or even that you're gone.....could mean you're home studying for an exam and you've blocked off three hours for this. I've done that....and when I get a call for notary service for that time my answer is "I'm booked". Then I ask if they'd like a referral. Could also mean you're recuperating from surgery and blocked off a week for this.

"Unavailable" is too relative a word for anyone to know what you're doing, where you're doing it and with whom.

I agree with the others who said it wouldn't work for them due to the randomness of when docs are ready, cancellations, and new calls, etc.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/2/10 7:10am
Msg #343524

I use GenBook.com...very reasonable monthly fee

free 30 days to use and if you don't like you can cancel! Its also very easy to add their 'button' to your website!

I was using Book Fresh, but Gen Book has so many other great options!

Good luck...