SMS marketing campaigns
Create SMS campaign, audience, template, sender ID, credit preview
SMS marketing campaigns
SMS marketing's strength is high open rate (95%+ in first 5 minutes). But more expensive than email, and must be concise.
Where to find it
Marketing → SMS Campaigns or + New campaign → SMS.
New SMS campaign steps
1. Basics
- Name (internal, e.g., "Black Friday 2026 SMS")
- Message text (max 160 chars, or multi-segment)
- Sender ID (tenant default, e.g., "Bookinda" or salon name)
2. Audience
- Pre-defined segment (All, New, Returning, etc.)
- Tag-based filter
- Custom customer list
- Recipient preview (how many)
3. Promo code (optional)
- Auto-generated or custom code
- Discount type (% or fixed)
- Validity (days)
- Max uses
- Embedded in campaign text link
4. Schedule
- Send now
- Scheduled (future date + time)
5. Credit preview
- Recipient × SMS segments = total credit consumption
- E.g., 200 customers × 1 SMS (160 chars) = 200 credits
- E.g., 200 customers × 2 SMS (200 chars) = 400 credits
6. Launch
- Send Now or Schedule
- Confirmation dialog (with credit calc)
Sender ID
Use salon name as sender ID (max 11 chars alphanumeric). Customer sees who sent:
- "Bookinda" (default)
- "BeautySalon"
- Abbreviated salon name
Sender ID approval at Twilio/SeeMe takes 1-2 business days (one-time).
Campaign text tips
Concision
- 160 chars = 1 SMS
- 200 chars = 2 SMS (pricier)
- Concise is psychologically better too
Short example
"BlackFri: 30% off ALL services, today only! Book: bookinda.hu/r/bf2026" (70 chars, 1 SMS)
Long example (NO)
"Dear Customer! We hereby inform you that for Black Friday we are offering 30% discount on all our services for today. Book your appointment at [link]!" (160+ chars, 2 SMS = 2x cost)
Tracking
After campaign send:
- Sent
- Delivered
- Failed
- Click rate (link clicks)
- Promo code usage (redemption)
When system sends
Send starts 5-30 seconds after campaign launch (queue-based). A 200-person campaign sends in 1-2 minutes.
When to use it
Scenario 1, urgent promo "Today 50% off all bookings after 18:00. Book now: link." 100 customers, 100 SMS, fast conversion.
Scenario 2, cancellation reminder "Cancel within 24h penalty-free. Confirm tomorrow's booking? Yes/No: link." (Engagement.)
Scenario 3, top-customer VIP promo 50-person VIP segment. Exclusive 25% off. Not public. Via SMS. High conversion.
Scenario 4, event organization Open Day Saturday. SMS reminder Friday evening to all customers.
Tips
- Sender ID should be salon name, not default. Builds trust.
- 160-char limit is serious, don't exceed for fun.
- Use short URL link, plain booking URL is long and ugly.
- SMS marketing requires opt-in, GDPR-style.
- Don't schedule 22:00-08:00, annoying.
- At high cost, click-tracking is ROI measurement basis, always use.