subject: Appointment Plus Helps Clients Communicate With Customers Through Icontact [print this page] Appointment-Plus, a leader in online business calendar software, announced a strategic relationship with e-marketing provider iContact that allows its clients to expand their communication with customers through a seamless integration of the two services. Clients who subscribe to the new benefit can create and send newsletters and other online messages, as well as quickly upload a customer e-mail list, right from their Appointment-Plus scheduler. This can help them keep their online scheduling calendars full and quickly communicate "last-minute" deals with their customers.
The integration with iContact is the first of several planned by the online appointment-scheduling provider to help small business owners and operations create a platform of essential services accessible right from their Appointment-Plus online scheduler caledar.
"E-marketing has become a necessary part of a successful business operation, but creating newsletters and managing e-mail distribution lists can be time-consuming and tedious," says Bob La Loggia, president and founder of StormSource Software, the developer of Appointment-Plus online business calendar software. "Our new relationship with iContact lets customer easily upload current customer e-mail addresses right from their scheduling software and into their iContact account.
"And these e-newsletters and messages are the perfect spot to include an appointment or reservation button for your customers to quickly and easily schedule their services."
Clients subscribed to iContact will have access to all available applications, including newsletter templates and design tools, mass e-mail solutions, and client list management. It's a quick and easy way for businesses, organizations and professionals to communicate discounts, promotions and other information to their customers, which, in turn, keeps their service appointment calendars full.
Additionally, iContact manages all "opt-out" and "unsubscribe" e-mail addresses automatically, saving clients the time and effort of manually removing these from their mailing lists.
Because of the integration with Appointment-Plus online appointment-scheduling software, customers can schedule their appointments and book their reservations right from the newsletter or e-mail message without having to access the scheduler separately or take any additional steps.
Feedback from Appointment-Plus clients reveals the importance e-marketing can have to a service-oriented business. For example, Molly Kerns of Tsubo Massage in Williamstown, Mass., relies on e-marketing for announcing discounts on new services and therapy sessions. After sending an e-newsletter to clients, she then identifies which individuals have not opened the message and then contacts them with the incentive of a free massage if they open the second message and register online. She also offers promotions and discounts for customers who schedule their massage appointments online.
