SMS Reminders in Bookify

SMS reminders reduce no-shows significantly. Here's how they work in Bookify and what they cost.

What Bookify Sends

Appointment Confirmations:

• When client books online
• When you create an appointment manually
• Sent immediately with appointment details

Cancellation Notifications:

• When client cancels
• When you cancel an appointment
• Includes confirmation of cancellation

Reminders (you choose timing):

• 1 day before appointment
• 2 hours before
• 1 hour before
• 30 minutes before

Pick the timings that work for your business. Most use 1-day + 2-hour reminders.

How It Works

• Buy SMS Credits: $0.17 per SMS
• Enable SMS: Turn on SMS notifications in settings
• Choose Timing: Select which reminders to send (1 day, 2h, 1h, 30min)
• System Sends Automatically: Bookify handles the rest

Each SMS includes:

• Client's name
• Service name
• Appointment time
• Staff member (if assigned)
• Your business name

Example:

Hi Maria! Reminder: Haircut with Ana tomorrow at 2 PM.
Salon Bella

The Cost Math

Example Scenario:

• 20 appointments daily
• Send 2 reminders per appointment (1 day + 2 hours)
• 40 SMS daily
• 800 SMS monthly

Monthly Cost: 800 × $0.17 = $136 If You Prevent Just 3 No-Shows Weekly:

• Average appointment value: $50
• 12 no-shows prevented monthly
• Revenue recovered: $600/month

Net benefit: $600 - $136 = $464/month

SMS Credits Are Optional

You don't need SMS to use Bookify. Email notifications work great and are free. SMS is optional for businesses that want to reduce no-shows further.

When Email Is Enough:

• Established clients who always show up
• Low no-show rate already
• Budget-conscious

When SMS Makes Sense:

• Higher no-show rates
• New clients
• Last-minute appointments
• High-value services
• When the ROI justifies the cost

Managing SMS Credits

Buy Credits:

• Go to Settings → Notifications Settings → SMS Settings
• Purchase as low as 20 credits ($3.40) and up to 1000 credits ($170)/transaction
• Credits never expire

Track Usage:

• See remaining balance in dashboard
• Get low-balance alerts
• View SMS history (Settings → Notification Logs)

Auto-Refill (optional):

• Set minimum balance threshold
• Automatically buy more when low
• Never run out mid-month

Best Practices

Start Simple: Use just 1-day reminders first. Add 2-hour reminders if needed. Monitor Your Balance: Check credits weekly to avoid running out. Track No-Shows: Compare before/after SMS to see if ROI justifies cost. Keep Messages Short: Bookify's default messages are optimized for clarity. Don't Overdo It: Sending 4-5 reminders annoys clients. Stick to 1-2.

Common Questions

Can clients reply to SMS?

Currently, SMS are one-way notifications. Clients cannot reply directly via SMS.

What if I run out of credits?

SMS stops sending. Email notifications continue working. You'll get an alert when credits are low.

Can I customize the message?

Message content is standardized to ensure clarity and deliverability. You can choose which types to send and timing.

Do I pay for failed SMS?

No. You're only charged for successfully delivered messages.

What about international clients?

SMS works internationally at the same $0.17/SMS rate.

Can I turn off SMS for specific clients?

Not yet. It's all-or-nothing per business. Use email-only if you want selective messaging.

Getting Started

• Sign up for Bookify (free plan)
• Create a few appointments using email only
• Buy SMS credits when you're ready ($17 for 100 SMS to start)
• Enable SMS reminders in settings
• Choose your timing (1 day + 2 hours recommended)
• Monitor results for 2-4 weeks

See if no-shows drop enough to justify the cost. You can always turn it off if it's not worth it.

The Bottom Line

SMS reminders cost $0.17 each. They reduce no-shows. Whether they're worth it depends on your current no-show rate and appointment value.

Do the math for your business:

• Current no-shows per month × appointment value = lost revenue
• SMS could prevent 50-70% of those
• Does the recovered revenue exceed SMS costs?

If yes, turn on SMS. If no, stick with free email reminders.

Get started with Bookify for free. No credit card required. Get Started Free →

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Questions about SMS? Contact support or check pricing details.