No-shows for scheduled appointments are undeniably costly for businesses across all sectors. To fight this issue, sometimes called “no-shows,” the French Senate even proposed a “no-show tax” that would penalize patients who miss medical appointments. Reminder SMS messages are a simple, effective way to reduce no-shows and improve operational efficiency.
What is a reminder SMS?
A reminder SMS is a short, direct message companies send to clients or prospects to remind them of an appointment, an action to take, or a special offer. It’s a fast, low-cost way to nudge people and reduce missed commitments.
Benefits of reminder SMS
Reduce cancellations and cut no-shows
Automated reminders drastically reduce missed appointments, saving time and revenue. They also let you anticipate cancellations early (when recipients confirm or cancel by SMS), so you can reallocate those slots .
Improve schedule management
SMS reminders remove the need for repetitive phone calls and one-by-one confirmations. . Automating reminders leads to better attendance rates and a more efficient schedule.
Strengthen customer loyalty
Most people appreciate useful, timely SMS notifications. Regular, relevant messages build trust and save time for both clients and businesses.
When someone cancels, other clients can take the freed slot— another win for your service and reputation.
How to set up an SMS reminder campaign
Integrating reminder SMS into your communication strategy requires planning and best practices to maximize impact. Follow these steps:
1. Automate your reminders
To truly save time every day, your messages must be automated.
Automation becomes simple thanks to the integration of Zapier. By connecting your SMS platform to Zapier, you can easily automate message sending for many situations: appointment reminders, order confirmations, personalized notifications, etc.
This solution allows you to create automated workflows without coding, making communication with your clients easier and ensuring timely interactions.
A detailed guide is available on our website to help you configure these automations step by step.
2. Personalize your messages
SMS PRO gives you multiple personalization options thanks to variable fields (name, first name, information linked to their last purchase or interaction, scheduling of date and time of sending, etc.).
3. Write clearly and concisely
Every word matters in an SMS. Make sure your message is direct and easy to understand. Remove unnecessary information and focus on the essential content so your recipients immediately grasp the purpose of your message.
4. Choose the right timing
Send your reminder SMS at an appropriate time—not too early so it is forgotten, and not too late so it becomes irrelevant. Find the right balance depending on the nature of the event (medical appointment, specialist consultation, etc.).
Examples of reminder SMS
Healthcare
Hello [Patient Name],
This is a reminder of your appointment with Dr. [Doctor Name] on [date] at [time]. Please confirm your attendance or inform us if you cannot come. Don’t forget your health insurance card. For any questions, contact us at [phone number].
[Clinic/Medical Office]
—————
Hello [Patient Name],
We remind you of your blood test scheduled tomorrow at [time] at [Lab/Doctor Name]. For accurate results, please arrive fasting (no food or drinks except water after midnight). For any questions or changes, contact us at [phone number].
[Medical Team/Laboratory]
—————
Restaurant
Hello [Customer Name], your reservation for XX people at XX:00 is confirmed. If you need to modify or cancel, please call us at XX or use this link XX.
[Restaurant Name]
—————
Beauty / Aesthetics
5 days before
Hello,
You have an appointment at [Salon Name + address] on [date]. Please arrive on time and come alone (no companions, including children). Please confirm your appointment by SMS. Have a great day!
Same day
Hello [First Name], your appointment is today at XX:XX. [Salon Name + Google Maps link]
—————
Automotive
Hello [Client Name], this is a reminder that your technical inspection is scheduled for XX/XX/XXXX. To book your appointment, call us at [phone number] or reserve directly on our website XX.
Create an account and test our SMS solution
Sign up on our professional SMS platform and enjoy 10 free SMS when you create your account. You can test appointment reminders and explore all our features.
Need something more specific?
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