Are you the manager of a busy hotel, a beauty salon or a popular Pilates class?
No matter which service industry you’re in, I recommend building a website to set up your own booking page. From this website, you can streamline the booking process by keeping all of your reservations and customer contacts in one place.
Not sure where to start? I recommend a platform such as Wix or Squarespace. These builders can help you create a professional website from scratch and come with some of the best scheduling tools on the market. If this has caught your interest, continue reading to find out how to create a booking website in seven simple steps.
Before You Start Creating Your Booking Website…
Here are some tips:
Have you established your brand identity?
Your brand’s unique identity covers various elements like your name, logo, color palette, and copy. These elements must set you apart from competitors, so consider how the visual aspects of your website can create a cohesive and recognisable experience for users.
Do you know your target audience?
Establishing your target audience will help you attract the right crowd to book on your website. If you’re struggling with this task, imagine your audience’s age range, gender identity, interests, lifestyle, and location. Will your service resonate with the kinds of people you’ve envisioned?
What kind of bookings are you taking?
You will need different booking options on your website depending on the services you offer. For instance, if you hold monthly classes, you’ll need to be able to take recurring bookings. Or, if you offer workshops that are in popular demand, you’ll need to have a waitlisting function. These factors will influence the website builder you opt for, so keep them in mind!
1. Choose Your Booking Website Builder
The number of website builders on the market can feel overwhelming. For that reason, we’ve narrowed your options down to two platforms. Both Wix and Squarespace have excellent booking integrations. They are our top choices for beginners. Either platform can help you create a professional website for bookings.
The Best Booking Website Builders
| Builder | Summary |
|---|---|
| Wix | The best website builder on the market, Wix comes with brilliant features you can use when creating your booking website. Its Wix ADI tool can generate an AI-driven website template based on your needs, while you can also add a number of integrations to your booking page through its bustling app store. Wix is also a suitable platform for hotels with its new hospitality solution Wix Hotels. |
| Squarespace | Squarespace is a brilliant fit for design-conscious business owners. Boasting the most stylish templates on the market mixed with great design tools and a drag-and-drop editor, this builder makes it easy to look professional online. It also comes with Acuity Scheduling, a built-in booking system, so you can set up appointments as soon as you choose your template. |
Wix
The Wix ADI tool generates an AI-driven template based on the needs of your website. You can also add a variety of integrations to your Booking Page through its bustling App Store. Wix is also a good platform for hotels. In Wix’s April Review, it unveiled its new hospitality solution Wix Hotels. If you own a hotel business, you can now accept payments and reservations in one place, or connect your business with popular websites like Booking.com.
Squarespace
Squarespace is the perfect choice for business owners who are design-conscious. Boasting the most stylish templates available on the market mixed with great design tools and a drag-and-drop editor, this builder makes it easy to look professional online. It also comes with Acuity Scheduling, a built-in booking system, so you can set up appointments as soon as you choose your template.
Because Squarespace is also the easiest website builder to use, I recommend this platform for one-person businesses. Even if you have limited time or resources to dedicate to your booking website, setting up won’t be difficult due to its user-friendly interface, and you’ll also encounter some useful onboarding tutorials along the way.
What Are the Features of a Booking Website Creator?
If you need help selecting a website builder, spend some time evaluating each platform and exploring their features. Do these features fulfill your unique needs? Here are some things to look for:
- Calendar syncing – If you anticipate plenty of bookings, then you’ll need a way to showcase your availability. Many scheduling integrations, including Wix Bookings, offer ways to sync your Google Calendars with your website.
- Streamlined payment systems – To watch the money roll in, look for scheduling tools that let you accept payments online via credit cards, digital wallets, and invoicing.
- Automations – If your schedule is jam-packed, automations can help you manage it. Look for automations that can speed up the process, like automatic emails that remind customers of upcoming bookings or payments.
- Staff management tools – If you’re part of a larger enterprise, you’ll need a booking system that can integrate multiple staff members with your website.
- Video conferencing – If you will be face to face with plenty of remote clients, your website builder must allow video conferencing.
Which Pricing Plan Do I Need?
Wix Pricing
| Plan | Price (Annually) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $29/month | Install Wix Bookings app, offer unlimited services, sync personal calendars to dashboard, send 50 SMS notifications/month. |
| Business | $36/month | Send 100 SMS notifications/month, connect multiple social channels. |
| Business Elite | Higher pricing | More SMS notifications and additional features. |
Once you’ve bought the Core plan or above, you’ll be able to download Wix Bookings from the app store and integrate it with your website!
Squarespace Pricing
| Plan | Price (Annually) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $16/month | Basic website features. |
| Business | $23/month | Professional business website, Acuity Scheduling tool. |
| Emerging | $16/month | Ideal for one-person companies. |
| Growing | Higher pricing | Additional features for growing teams. |
| Powerhouse | $49/month | Set up multiple time zones, suitable for multiple locations. |
For more information on pricing, check out our Wix Pricing or Squarespace Pricing pages.
2. Create a Domain Name
A domain name might seem small at first, but it is much more. It’s the main way users will find you online. You need to create a memorable domain name to ensure that your page is available to the public. Though most website builder plans come with a free domain, these typically last for one year only. Once your plan has run out, the domain will be charged. These prices can range from $20-$70 per year, depending on the platform you’re using.
For more flexibility with your pricing, you can research different domain name registrars to see who offers the best deals. Domain.com is a great example. On its website, I found offers for various domains that would suit a variety of businesses. For instance, a classic “.com” domain is $11.99 for your first year, but rises to $21.99 per year at renewal.
How Do I Create a Strong Domain Name?
Now that you know where to get a domain from, it’s time to choose a strong domain name. This section is most relevant if you don’t have a business name. If you already have one, it’s best practice to make this your domain too, since you most likely have an existing customer base who are already familiar with it.
Here are four tips for creating a strong domain:
- Is it short? Think of iconic brands like “ebay.com” or “levis.com” – short, sweet, and memorable.
- Is it catchy? Make sure your domain is memorable, like “pinterest.com” which blends “pin” and “interest”.
- Is it easy for users to type out? Avoid numbers, hyphens, and too many similar characters to ensure easy typing.
- Does it have a keyword? Depending on your industry, adding a relevant keyword can help. For example, include “yoga” if you’re a yoga instructor.
3. Pick and Customize Your Template
Now for the fun part: your website’s unique design. According to our landing page statistics, your landing page will have a 160% higher conversion rate than other areas of your website. To keep users on your page, ensure that its design is both attractive and easy to navigate.
Here’s what every strong website design needs:
A strong tone of voice
Your website’s voice should reflect your brand’s identity. Whether it’s sophisticated, playful, authoritative, or friendly, think about your target audience and how they’d like to be spoken to.
An eye-catching font
Choose distinctive fonts that suit your brand. Research current typography trends and see what other brands are using to find a style that best fits your brand.
Evocative colors
Colors evoke emotions. Choose colors that best represent how you want your visitors to feel. For example, black can evoke luxury and sophistication for fashion consultations, while blue can represent trust and security for business consultations.
For more design ideas, read our how to design a website guide.
On top of your website’s visuals, you need to add elements to your website that’ll help users find what they’re looking for. If you’re browsing a website builder’s template library, here are some key booking website features to watch out for:
- Navigation bars – If your booking website has multiple pages, such as “about us”, “services”, and “contact us”, ensure that users can easily switch between them.
- Booking widgets – Decide how you want users to book services on your website. Look for platforms with a variety of booking widgets.
- Video Hosting – Add videos that introduce, explain, or showcase your services. Ensure your website builder allows video hosting.
If picking a template feels overwhelming, some website builders have AI tools that’ll build your website for you! I used Wix ADI to create a booking website and it generated a unique page that fit my unique requirements.
4. Upload Your Website’s Content
Once you’ve chosen your template, you can start filling your website with content. But what should you include? Think about your target audience’s needs and ask yourself whether these features will be useful to them.
Here are some pointers:
- About Us Page – Add background information on your brand’s story and mission statement.
- Services – Showcase your services by creating a bookings page. Include important details like location, pricing, and dates.
- Social media links – Add social media icons to allow users to access your Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok profiles.
- Automated chat box – Add a chat box that can respond to messages, especially if you can’t monitor your website 24/7.
- Testimonials – Add genuine reviews to build trust. Include customer quotes, star reviews, and photos (with permission).
- Privacy Policy – Comply with website regulations by adding a Privacy Policy to inform users about data usage.
- SEO targeted copy – Ensure your website copy targets appropriate keywords related to your services.
5. Install the Booking Integration
Depending on your website builder, there are different ways to add appointment functionalities to your page. Since we’ve mentioned Wix and Squarespace already, here’s how you can add bookings to both platforms.
Wix Bookings
Setting up Wix Bookings was easy – I went onto the app store and installed the tool in one click. Afterwards, Wix redirected me to my dashboard, where I could now access a new “catalog” section. Here, I was able to add new services onto my website, from private appointments to group sessions. For my fitness bookings website, I could add new classes from scratch or by editing the different kinds of services listed on the page.
Once I had added my services, I could explore a myriad of other features. I could click on the “bookings calendar” tab to see my work schedule, set up and manage the work hours of staff members, and edit my default hours so customers know when I’m available each week. All of these features will help you manage your business effectively, so you can run each service without a hitch.
Acuity Scheduling
In contrast to Wix Bookings, Acuity Scheduling is already built into Squarespace. You don’t need to install an app to set it up. After choosing your template, locate the “Scheduling” tab from the left sidebar and begin to fill in details such as your scheduling page URL and first appointment type.
Acuity Scheduling makes it easy to set your availability. You can fill in which days and times you’re available to ensure visitors only book classes on those allocated days. The process is straightforward, from naming your scheduling page to entering your weekly availability.
All key features, such as appointment invoicing and client lists, are kept in one area of your website, making it easy to organize and maintain your business over a long period of time.
Is There Anything Else I Should Set Up?
Before you dive into testing and publishing your website, double check to see if you also have these key features installed:
- Do you have payments enabled? If you’re offering paid services, you need a way to accept payments online. Both Wix and Squarespace offer their own all-in-one payment solutions, letting you accept payments from major credit and debit card companies. Wix offers the widest variety of payment options, with over 80 payment methods worldwide.
- Are you offering gift cards? If you sell gift cards, Wix Bookings lets you sell gift cards directly from your website. Customers can purchase custom amounts and send them to friends and family, enabling the recipient to book one of your services. Squarespace does not offer gift cards, but you can offer special packages for clients instead.
6. Test and Publish Your Website
So you’ve spent hours putting your website together and it’s almost time to hit publish. But before you do, there’s one step you can’t avoid: testing your website. This will help you spot any website errors that could negatively impact users and give you time to smooth these problems out before going live.
Here are some areas of your booking website to keep an eye on:
- Is your website slow? According to our website load time stats, 82% of consumers say that slow loading times impact their purchasing decisions. Optimize images to help speed up your website.
- Are your pages mobile optimized? With a third of customers preferring to book appointments via mobile, ensure your pages are mobile-friendly by removing excess plugins or pop-ups, refining your design, and using tools like mobiReady to test mobile performance.
- Does your bookings system work? Test your booking system to ensure all dates and prices are accurate, payment options work, and the booking experience is seamless from start to finish.
- Have you thoroughly tested your website? After testing, go ahead and publish your website!
7. Market Your Website Online
Congratulations on publishing your booking website! However, you can’t just stop there. You’ll need to use an array of marketing tools to grow your business’ online presence.
Here are three tools that can help you promote your website:
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is crucial for ensuring your website appears on search engines. When creating website copy, target the right keywords to match what your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Keyword Surfer, a free Google Chrome extension, to find related keywords and their search volumes.
For an in-depth look at SEO, refer to our SEO basics guide.
2. Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to keep customers informed. For example, if you’re in hospitality, set up hotel newsletters to notify contacts about upcoming events, loyalty schemes, or seasonal discount codes. Both Wix and Squarespace offer built-in email marketing tools, and you can also use third-party services like Mailchimp.
Want to know more about emails? See our guide to email marketing best practices.
3. Blogging
If you have expertise in your industry, consider adding a blogging platform to your booking page. This allows you to showcase your knowledge and build trust with new website visitors. Most website builders, like Wix and Squarespace, come with built-in blogging features. Enable commenting and social media sharing to increase engagement.
For more information on blogging, refer to our guide to starting a business blog.
How We Tested Booking Website Builders
This article is backed by hands-on website builder research. Our in-house research team compiled information from over 200 hours of data collection. The findings were split into six key criteria weighted based on what users are looking for most in a website builder:
| Criteria | Weight |
|---|---|
| Website Features | 30% |
| Design Functionality | 25% |
| User Experience | 17% |
| Help & Support | 10% |
| Value for Money | 10% |
| Customer Score | 8% |
Since website features are most important to users, I delved into Wix and Squarespace’s respective booking features to show you what they offer and how they could accommodate your needs.
How To Make a Booking Website: Conclusion
After covering the seven easy steps, you’re now ready to create your own booking website. But if you’re still hesitant about getting stuck in, here’s why you should take the leap:
- You’ll save time by streamlining the booking process. You will no longer need to juggle multiple tasks at once, from managing reservations to constantly sharing your availability with clients.
- Customers can easily book your services. With all of your bookings kept in one place, customers won’t have difficulty booking and paying for a class, consultation, or service.
Open your booking website today by reading our guide on the best website builders.
