In the Covid era, salon appointment follow-ups are more important than ever. Here’s what you need to know to make them work for your business.

Anyone who works in the personal care industry will tell you that beauty businesses are, at their core, relationship businesses. Unfortunately, stopping everything for a COVID-19 screening when the appointment begins tends to kill the mood. So what’s the responsible solution for completing necessary paperwork as painlessly as possible? In our humble opinion, salons and spas must embrace the automated follow-up form.

Any attempt to optimize the screening process must account for three key elements:

• Prioritizing the client relationship: Otherwise, what’s the point?

• Collecting data: Not only do we need essential info from clients, but we must also collect it in unobtrusive yet transparent ways.

• Addressing client and stylist needs: The data we collect should make it easier for stylists to do their jobs while keeping clients and staff safe.

The easiest way to achieve each of these goals is to resolve them before clients even set foot in the salon. Texting or emailing an automated follow-up form to clients after booking an appointment gives them a chance to address anything necessary before they arrive.

One way to streamline the info gathering process is a “roadblock warning” system similar to what Boulevard’s salon management software has. As clients fill in booking information, they must answer COVID-19 related questions to ensure they can safely visit the business. This process can let salons and spas know whether a client is vaccinated or recently visited another country, and other essential details.

Automated follow-ups go a step further by helping salons connect with clients before the appointment starts. For example, you can ask clients to complete a short questionnaire the morning before a session, asking if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms before leaving their home. Of course, if clients neglect to answer these questions, you can address them in other ways, such as during an app-based check-in. But creating opportunities to fill in the blanks in advance reduces the time spent in a waiting line or reception, helping clients get right to their stylist.

Boulevard’s salon software includes several client management features that make the most of stylist and client time. One great example is automatically saving client details, making it far easier to recommend new appointment times or to suggest product purchases. You can also connect with clients over social media, create customized accommodation notes, and — of course — deliver automated follow-up forms to collect screening data. Book a demo today to see the full range of services Boulevard offers.