SMS notifications are a simple, effective way to remind clients about bookings, thank them, or invite them back to the salon. You can also use them to wish clients a happy birthday. Below you’ll find a thorough overview of the different SMS notifications, along with tips on what to keep in mind when setting them up.

If you want clients to show up for their booking on time and feel valued, it’s worth considering SMS notifications. Text messages have an important edge over email notifications, since SMS messages are usually noticed right away and go straight to the client’s phone. That said, keep in mind that sending SMS notifications requires separate SMS credit, which isn’t included in your base or monthly fee.

In this article, you’ll get a clear picture of:

  • Which SMS notifications can be sent to clients?
  • What are they used for?
  • How do you activate them?
  • What should you pay attention to when setting them up?

Types of SMS Notifications

__wf_reserved_inherit
__wf_reserved_inherit

SalonLife can automatically send clients eleven different SMS notification messages. You can set the content and sending time of every one of these yourself, tailoring them to your salon’s needs.

  1. Booking Confirmation
    Sent to the client right after a booking is created. This can be either an online booking the client made themselves, or a time entered by a staff member. The system sends the confirmation automatically, helping the client feel confident about the details.
    ‍
  2. Reminder
    You choose how many hours or days before the booking starts the SMS goes out. A reminder helps reduce no-shows and forgotten appointments, and keeps your schedule more consistent.
    ‍
  3. Thank-You Message
    Lets you send the client a short thank-you note after their visit. This creates a personal, warm feeling and encourages the client to plan their next appointment too.
    ‍
  4. Win-Back Message
    If a client hasn’t booked again within a set period, the system automatically sends them a message directing them back to book at the salon. You can add a small discount code or offer if you’d like.
    ‍
  5. Before the Birthday
    A birthday-week greeting is a chance to delight the client ahead of time. The message can share a special offer, a surprise, or simply a thoughtful gesture that makes the relationship even more personal.
    ‍
  6. Birthday
    A greeting sent on the client’s actual birthday. Perfect for expressing appreciation and offering something special just for them.
    ‍
  7. Prepayment Required
    A notification sent to the client when a booking has been saved but requires a prepayment to be fully confirmed. It helps the client understand what they need to do to lock in their appointment.
    ‍
  8. Prepayment Reminder
    If the required prepayment is still unpaid, the system sends the client a friendly reminder message. Very useful automation if you want to keep bookings secure.
    ‍
  9. Booking Canceled
    Sent to the client if the booking is canceled due to a missing prepayment. This avoids confusion and gives the client a clear picture that the appointment has been removed from the system.
    ‍
  10. Payment Successful
    A confirmation the system sends when the prepayment has gone through and the booking is now fully activated.
    ‍
  11. Send Payment Link
    An option to send the client a separate payment link, letting them pay conveniently and securely with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a bank card. An ideal solution if you want to simplify collecting prepayments and reduce delays.

How Do You Set Up SMS Notifications?

__wf_reserved_inherit
     
  1. Go to Apps → Automatic Notifications → SMS Notifications.
    2.  
  2. Select the SMS notification you want to turn on (e.g. "Booking Reminder"), and open its settings and content-editing view.
    3.  
  3. Update the message content.      
    • You can add automatic fields to the message that fill in based on the client’s or booking’s data (e.g. client name, booking time, service name, and so on).
  4. Turn the notification on.
    • Scrolling down a bit, under the message’s notification setting, you can set whether this SMS notification is active — that is, ready to be sent to clients — or not. Turn on ''Send the client a reminder message by SMS'' by selecting Yes.
    • Set exactly when the message goes out (e.g. an hour before, a day before, right after the visit, etc.).
  5. Save your changes.
    ‍
TIP:
Use automatic fields to reduce manual work and keep your messages always up to date.

Top Up SMS Credit on Your Account

  • Sending SMS notifications requires your salon to have enough SMS credit on its account.
  • You’ll find further options for buying SMS credit on the same Automatic Notifications page, under SMS Credit.
  • Costs are usually calculated per SMS, so make sure you keep a reasonable buffer on your account if you send notifications often or to a large number of clients.
TIP:
‍SMS credit pricing and any extra questions about buying it are explained in detail in a separate article. If any of these topics are new to you, take a look!

Which SMS Messages Should You Definitely Consider?

  • Confirmation and Reminder: these are among the most popular SMS notifications, since they help reduce client no-shows and forgotten appointments.
  • Birthday Greetings: showing attention on a client’s birthday strengthens the client relationship and adds a personal touch.

For every SMS notification, you decide which ones to activate and how detailed to make the message content. SMS notifications help you reach clients directly and offer them a more personal experience.

By using the various SMS notifications, you can send timely
booking reminders, strengthen client relationships through thank-you messages or birthday greetings, and motivate clients to return with special offers. Step by step, this moves you toward happier clients and more efficient time planning.