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Read moreAppointment reminder texts that reduce no-shows
A short, well-timed text is one of the simplest ways to make sure customers turn up. Orbis SMS lets you prepare reminders in advance and send them at the right moment.
Why it matters
What goes wrong without it
Missed appointments cost money and time. An empty slot in a dental surgery, salon chair or garage bay cannot be resold once it has passed, and staff are left waiting. Most no-shows are not deliberate; people simply forget, mix up dates or mean to call and cancel but never get round to it. Phoning every customer the day before is slow and often ends in voicemail. A text reminder arrives on the phone people carry everywhere, is read within minutes, and gives them the details and a number to call if they need to rearrange, freeing the slot for someone else.
How Orbis SMS helps
Step by step
- 1
Import your appointment list
Export tomorrow's or next week's bookings from your diary or booking system as a CSV and upload it to Orbis SMS. Map the columns for name and mobile number, and add the customers to a group such as Reminders this week so they are easy to select when sending.
- 2
Create a reminder template
Save a template that includes your business name, a merge field for the first name, the appointment date and time, and a phone number for changes. Keep it under 160 characters so each reminder uses a single credit. Your whole team can then send the same clear message.
- 3
Schedule the send
Choose the group and template, then schedule the reminder for the afternoon or early evening before the appointment. That is usually when people can check their plans and still have time to rearrange. Preparing a full week of reminders in one sitting saves a daily task.
- 4
Check delivery and follow up
Review your message history after the send. Where delivery information is available, look for failed messages, which usually mean an incorrect number. Correct those records and phone anyone whose reminder did not get through, so your contact data improves every week.
Features used
Questions
Frequently asked questions
For most businesses, the afternoon or early evening of the day before works well. For appointments booked weeks ahead, a second reminder a few days before can also help. Avoid very early or late messages.
A genuine reminder about an appointment the customer has booked is a service message rather than marketing, so it does not need a marketing opt-out. Keep it free of promotions; adding an offer can turn it into a marketing message.
Not at present. Reminders sent today are one-way, so include a phone number for changes.
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