Allow a booker to opt-in to SMS reminders

In some cases, you want to get your bookers' consent before sending SMS reminders about their bookings. Follow this guide to add an "opt-in" option to your booking form and YouCanBookMe will only send SMS reminders when the booker has agreed to receive them.

This feature is available on All plans, SMS credits do have an extra charge.

In this article:

• Add a phone number question to your booking form
• Add a checkbox for opt-in
• Use conditional statements in your SMS reminders

Add a phone number question to your booking form

1. Navigate to Additional options - Booking form. Click Add question.
2. Select Phone number as the Question Type. 
3. Modify the question label, as this is how the field will appear to your booking on the booking form. 
4. Set a shorthand code for this question, ie PHONE or MOBILE.
5. Check the box "Mobile phone." This allows YouCanBookMe to validate that the number entered can receive SMS. 
6. You can decide to make this question required or keep it optional. 

Save changes, and go back to your booking form questions.

Add a checkbox for opt-in

Staying on your booking form, you'll now add an additional question.

1. Click Add question again. 
2. This time select Checkbox as the Question Type.
3. Modify the label, such as "opt-in to SMS reminders" or whatever language you want to indicate to the booker that by checking this box they agree to receive SMS reminders about the booking. 
4. Set the shorthand code for this question OPT-IN.

Save changes, and navigate to Additional options - Notifications. 

Use conditional statements in your SMS reminders

Before you create your SMS, ensure you have sufficient SMS credits on your account.

Navigate to Notifications Actions and select the section of the Notifications workflow where you want to send an SMS reminder. 

1. Click + to add a new notification, and then select Confirmation SMS to booker. 
2. Edit When will this SMS be sent? By default, it will be sent immediately
3. Edit the SMS name for internal use
4. In the Send to field, click Edit and select "Enter a custom phone number."
5. In the Telephone number field, enter your conditional statements, based on the shorthand code you used for the phone number question. 

These conditional statements are saying If the booker has checked yes to opt-in to SMS reminders, then send the message to the phone number on the booking form. If they have not checked yes, no message will be sent. 

Repeat these steps in any other section of the Notifications workflow where you want to send SMS to your bookers who have opted in.

For further questions, contact our team at support@youcanbook.me.

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