Templates and channels
Per-channel template (email/SMS/WhatsApp), variables, multi-language
Templates and channels
An automation communicates via channel based on template. Template has variables that swap with real data.
Where to find it
/manager/automations → open automation → Channels section.
The 3 channels
- HTML + plain text fallback
- Subject + preheader + body
- Branded template (logo, color)
SMS
- Plain text (no HTML)
- Max 160 chars (or multi-segment)
- Sender ID
WHATSAPP (future)
- WhatsApp Business API
- Similar to SMS but richer (image, button)
Per-channel toggle
An automation can activate channels:
- ☑️ Email on (template: ...)
- ☑️ SMS on (template: ...)
- ☐ WhatsApp off
Customer gets the channel they opted in to + you activated.
Template variables
Templates have dynamic variables:
Customer variables
{{client_name}},{{client_first_name}},{{client_last_name}}{{client_email}},{{client_phone}}{{client_birthday}}
Booking variables
{{appointment_date}},{{appointment_time}}{{appointment_duration}}{{service_name}},{{service_price}}{{staff_name}}{{cancel_link}},{{reschedule_link}},{{confirm_link}}
Salon variables
{{salon_name}}{{salon_phone}},{{salon_email}}{{salon_address}}
Package/membership variables
{{package_name}},{{package_sessions_remaining}}{{membership_name}},{{membership_renewal_date}}
Promo variables (with deal block)
{{deal_code}},{{deal_discount}},{{deal_expiry}}
Variable list available in template editor (dropdown).
Multi-language
Every template in two languages:
- Hungarian (HU): default
- English (EN): alternative
Picked by customer locale. If no locale set, Hungarian.
Template editing
An automation → Channels tab → Email (or SMS) → Edit:
- Subject (email)
- Preheader (email)
- Body (HTML for email, plain for SMS)
- Test send
- Variables panel (variable insertion)
- Save
Edit applies to future automatic sends only. Past sends unchanged.
Email vs SMS template strategy
- Detailed (customer's email allows longer content)
- Visual (image, deal-block)
- Multiple links
SMS
- Concise (160 chars)
- 1 link (short URL)
- Clear CTA
Example "Birthday" automation
Email:
Subject: Happy birthday, {{client_first_name}}! 🎂
Body: Dear {{client_first_name}}, happy birthday from us!
Our gift: 20% off all services until {{deal_expiry}}.
Book: {{booking_link}}
SMS:
Happy bday, {{client_first_name}}! 🎂 20% gift:
code {{deal_code}}. Book: {{booking_short_url}}
Same automation, two channel styles.
When to use it
Scenario 1, brand-consistent email "Appointment created" template uses salon brand color, logo, footer address. Customer sees it's from salon.
Scenario 2, correct variable use "Happy bday, {{client_first_name}}!" → "Happy bday, Anna!" NOT: "Happy bday, {{client_first_name}}!" (unrendered variable, embarrassing).
Scenario 3, multi-language salon HU + EN template both. Hungarian customer in Hungarian, foreign in English. Auto-locale-detection.
Scenario 4, email only, no SMS Email activated, SMS toggle off. Customer gets no SMS (credit savings).
Scenario 5, template iteration "Appointment reminder" template: low open rate. Rewrite subject, A/B test. Two months later, stable 35% open.
Tips
- Copy variables from panel, don't type. Mistyped
{{client_first_name}}leaves blank. - Email template HTML should be responsive, mobile tested.
- SMS template should fit under 160 chars, otherwise pricier.
- Multi-language template maintenance is 2× work, only if you have foreign customers.
- Test send is precondition before going live, don't send without verification.
- Frequency cap and cooldown at template-level context: don't send same customer twice a week.