Tip of the Week #20- How NOT to Scare Leads Away

Hey, it’s Jordan! This week, I’m diving into a quick but powerful tip on adjusting appointment durations in Gym Lead Machine. If your appointments look too long, they could be intimidating your new leads before they even step foot in the gym! Let’s walk through how to make your appointments look more inviting, without losing any time you need on the backend.

Why Shorter Appointments Attract More Leads

Recently, I was on a call with a gym owner and noticed that his No-Sweat Intro (NSI) appointment was set to last 75 minutes. This can (not always) be a red flag for some new leads, as they may see that duration and worry about the time commitment. For many people, an hour and fifteen minutes can feel like too much, and it might discourage them from booking at all.

When I asked the gym owner why he set it up this way, he mentioned that he wanted some extra time after each appointment to handle post-appointment tasks. While that’s a great idea, there’s a more effective way to set this up that won’t scare away potential clients.

Here’s How to Adjust Appointment Times in Gym Lead Machine

If you want to make your appointments appear shorter to leads but still give yourself the buffer time you need afterward, follow these steps in Gym Lead Machine:

  1. Go to Your Calendar Settings

    Head over to the Calendars section and select your No-Sweat Intro (NSI) calendar (or whatever your sale calendar is named).

  2. Edit the Appointment Duration

    Click on Edit and then go into the Availability settings.

  3. Set a Shorter Meeting Duration

    Scroll down to find the Meeting Duration setting. Here, reduce the duration to a more lead-friendly time, such as 15 or 30 minutes. This shorter time frame is more inviting and manageable for new leads.

    Add Buffer Time for Your Tasks

    Further down, you’ll see an option for Buffer Time. Here’s the key: add 60 minutes of buffer time. This means once someone books a 15-minute or 30-minute appointment, Gym Lead Machine will automatically block off extra time after it for you.

    This approach ensures you still get the 75 minutes you need for both the appointment and any post-session tasks, without displaying the full length to the client. So, for example:

    • 30 minutes of lead-facing appointment time

    • 60 minutes of buffer time

      Together, they give you the 90 minutes you need without showing the full duration to potential leads.

The Result? Happy Leads and More Bookings

By setting up a shorter appointment duration and using buffer time, your calendar will look much more appealing. Leads will see a manageable time commitment, and you’ll still have the necessary time to prepare or follow up as needed. This simple adjustment can make a big difference in converting new leads into booked appointments.

Hope this helps!