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Understand SMS Message Types

Learn about the different types of SMS messages you can send, including confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups based on your calendar appointments.

Quick Answer

SMS Reminder allows you to send different types of messages based on your calendar appointments.

The three main message types are:

Each message type helps you keep clients informed throughout the appointment lifecycle.

Confirmation Messages

Confirmation messages let your customers know that an appointment has been successfully added to your calendar.

You can configure confirmation messages to be sent:

Confirmation messages include the appointment details so clients can verify the time and information.

Automatic Confirmation Updates

If you change the date or time of an appointment, a new confirmation message will automatically be sent to the client.

This ensures customers are notified of scheduling changes.

However, changes to other fields—such as the Title, Description, or Location—will not trigger a new confirmation message.

Reminder Messages

Reminder messages are sent before the appointment start time.

For example, you might schedule reminders:

If your appointment time includes a range or flexible start time, the reminder will still be sent based on the start time listed in your calendar.

You can adjust your message to reflect a time range.

Example:

Your appointment will start within 2 hours of {time}.

All-Day Appointments

All-day appointments are assumed to start at 12:00 AM (midnight).

If a reminder is scheduled 24 hours before an all-day event, it will be sent at midnight the day before.

Follow-Up Messages

Follow-up messages are sent after the appointment is completed.

These messages are triggered based on the end time of the appointment in your calendar.

Follow-ups are commonly used for:

All-Day Appointments and Follow-Ups

All-day appointments are assumed to end at 11:59 PM.

Follow-up messages will be scheduled based on that end time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many reminders should I send before an appointment?

Most businesses see the best results with one reminder 24 hours before the appointment and a second reminder on the same day.

Do SMS reminders reduce no-shows?

Yes. SMS reminders are one of the most effective ways to reduce no-shows because text messages are seen quickly and are harder to overlook than email.

What is the best time to send appointment reminders?

A common best practice is to send one reminder 24 hours before the appointment and another 2 to 3 hours before the scheduled time.

Should I use SMS or email reminders?

SMS is generally more effective for appointment reminders because it is immediate, visible, and more likely to be opened quickly.

What should an appointment reminder include?

A good appointment reminder should include the client’s name, appointment date, appointment time, location or meeting link, and a simple way to confirm or reschedule.

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