How to
How do I send customers text reminders?
On Pro, open Booking page and the Reminders tab. Choose how the reminder the day before goes (email, text or both) and when, add a reminder on the day, ask customers to confirm they'll be there, and tick any confirmations, moves and cancellations you'd like texted too. Each month includes 200 texts.
Which plan
Pro and Team. Texts go to UK mobile numbers from UK businesses. On Plus, the Reminders tab has the email the day before, and the rest is shown as Pro.
What customers see
A short text from your business's name, such as "Reminder of your Fine tuning tomorrow at 10am", or from "CalMov" with your name in front when your name doesn't fit (11 letters and spaces at most). With a confirm link, the text ends with a link to a page where they press "Yes, I'll be there". They can't reply to these texts, and that page and their booking's own page let them stop texts from you.
Set it up
Step 1: Open the Reminders tab
Go to Booking page and open the Reminders tab. Nothing new is sent until you press Save reminders.
Step 2: Choose the reminder the day before
Under Reminders, tick "Send a reminder the day before", then choose How (Email, Text, or Email and text) and When: about 24 hours before, or at 6pm the evening before.
Step 3: Add a reminder on the day
In the same section, tick "Send a reminder on the day" and choose 2 hours before, 3 hours before, or at 7am. It never goes before 7am, so a 7:30 visit's reminder goes at 7.
Step 4: Ask customers to confirm
With a reminder ticked, tick "Ask them to confirm they'll be there". It goes on every reminder that's on. When a customer presses the link, the booking shows "Customer confirmed they'll be there".
Step 5: Nudge anyone who hasn't confirmed
Under the confirm box, tick "Send a nudge if they haven't pressed Yes, I'll be there" and choose when (4, 8 or 12 hours after the reminder), once or up to twice, and how.
Step 6: Text confirmations and changes too
Under Confirmations, changes and cancellations, tick any you'd like texted. They're always emailed as well, because the email has the details, the calendar file and the change links.
Step 7: Bring customers back
Under Bringing customers back, tick "Send it's been a while" and choose from 4 weeks to 12 months after their last visit. It's off until you tick it.
Step 8: Keep an eye on your texts
Under Texts you see about how many texts a month your choices come to at your pace, and how many you've used this month. More texts can be added in Settings, Your plan.
Common questions
What happens when my texts for the month run out?
Nothing is missed: each text that doesn't fit goes by email instead, until the month ends or you add more texts in Settings, Your plan. A text is never sent past your number.
Who doesn't get a text?
Customers without a UK mobile number, and anyone who has asked not to be texted. They get the email instead.
Can customers reply to a reminder?
No. Reminders come from your name, which can't take replies, like most appointment reminders. Customers can use the change links in their email, or contact you as they normally would.
Can customers stop the texts?
Yes. The link in a text and their booking's own page both have Stop texts from your business, and texting STOP to CalMov's number stops texts from every business. Emails still come.
Where do I see what a customer was sent?
On the customer's page, under Messages: every email and text CalMov sent them for you, when, whether a text was delivered, and any reply.
Who gets an it's been a while message?
Customers who have booked with you before, whose last visit was the time you chose ago (4 weeks to 12 months; 8 weeks unless you change it), with nothing booked since. Each gets one per gap, Monday to Saturday between 10am and 7pm. Only customers who reached the gap in the last four weeks are included, so switching it on doesn't message everyone who has ever booked. Customers sent a rebooking reminder for that visit are left to it.
Can customers stop it's been a while messages?
Yes. Every email has Stop these messages, and every text says Reply STOP to opt out. Texts asking customers back come from CalMov's number with your name first, so replies reach you by email.