Chat with your customers directly through Vagaro by initiating a two-way chat session using your Vagaro Text Messaging plan to send messages about scheduling changes and special promo codes, remind them about upcoming appointments, and allow chat back and forth with them. When you send a message to a customer, they will receive a notification in their Vagaro app and an SMS.
Customers can reply to any messages you send directly through text or from the Vagaro website and app. They can also start a chat with your business by selecting the Chat button on your booking page or replying to one of your Text Campaigns. All chats initiated by your customers through your booking page will not use your Text Messaging plan.
When you send a message to your customer for the first time through Connect by Vagaro, a vCard will be sent to your customer with your name and contact information. This helps avoid confusion and lets the customer know who's contacting them. The vCard is only sent when the business hasn't contacted the customer through Connect by Vagaro and will use up two credits from your plan.
Prerequisites: While Connect by Vagaro does not require a Text Messaging plan, we recommend at least a Small messaging plan to utilize all of Connect's functionality. Connect by Vagaro is not yet available for the Vagaro Pay Desk.
There are three scenarios for when a Text plan will be required to send or receive messages:
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Customer receives or sends a message as a text message (Uses text plan): A creditwill be deducted from your plan for each message you exchange with your customer, including any messages they send you. All messages initiated by the business will be sent as text message and will use your text plan.
Note
More than one message may be deducted from your text plan, depending on the length of the message sent/received, if any emojis or unsupported languages were used, or if any images were added. See here to learn more.
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Customer starts a chat through Vagaro (Free): Chats initiated by your customers through your booking page will not incur charges or require a Text Marketing plan. Once the customer ends the chat and closes the page, a messaging plan will be required to continue chatting with them.
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Customer receives a message through Vagaro (Free): Any replies or chats to your customer while they are active on the Vagaro website or app will not use your text plan.
Businesses without a text messaging plan will see a popup if a text plan is needed to continue messaging the customer. However, having a Vagaro Text Marketing plan lets you message your customers all the time instead of needing them to be active on Vagaro.com or the Vagaro app.
To start a 2-way chat:
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Go to Connect by Vagaro:
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On a Phone or Tablet: Download or open the Connect app.
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On the Web: Log in to your Vagaro business, then select the Chat Bubble button.
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Start a new chat:
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Connect by Vagaro App: Select the Create tab at the bottom of the screen, then select the Customers tab.
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Web Version: Select the Customers tab, then select the + button.
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Select a customer.
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Write a message for your customer.
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Connect by Vagaro app: Select the Plus icon to:
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Use Camera: Take a picture on your phone and send it to the customer.
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Photo Library: Select an image from your phone and send it to the customer.
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Send a GIF: Select a GIF from the built-in library and send it to your customers.
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Vagaro Links: Send a direct link to your booking page, services, gift cards, promo code, or more.
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Web Version: Select one of the following buttons to:
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Emoji
: Add emojis to your chat.
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Image
: Add files and images to your chat.
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GIF
: Add GIFs from our built-in library to your chat.
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Link
: Add a direct link to your booking page, services, gift cards, or promo code.
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Optionally, you can send customers reminders for upcoming appointments and pending invoices or tell them you'll need to reschedule:
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Connect by Vagaro App: Select the Action
menu in the top-right corner, then select View Details.
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Web Version: All chat details will appear on the right side of the screen.
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Send the message:
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Connect by Vagaro App: Select the Send button.
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Web Version: Select the Send or SMS button.
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React to customer replies with emojis:
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Connect by Vagaro App: Select and hold the message to display available reactions. Select the Additional Emoji
button to view more available reactions.
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Web Version: Hover over the message to display available reactions. Select the Additional Emoji
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