What is i-text?
i-text is a new service in i-salon which sends marketing texts to clients automatically. The system can send booking reminders, birthday messages and lost client promotions at a set time each day.
What are the benefits?
Appointment reminder messages have been proven to dramatically reduce no-shows, and text promotions help maintain a steady flow of clients through your doors. With i-text, you won't need to remember to send your messages each day; once you have chosen your messages and when you want them to send, they'll happen automatically.
And, since i-text is part of i-salon, there's just one place to come to top up your message balance and get help or advice.
Which messages can I send automatically?
i-text allows you to send three types of ‘essential’ salon marketing texts; Booking reminders, birthday messages and lost client promotions. These are the types of messages that salons are likely to use over and over again, in the same format, to stay in touch with their clients. i-text makes it easier to manage these regular messages by sending them for you at the same time each day. You can still send more bespoke text messages and one-off promotions to anyone in your database, whenever you like, by using the advanced marketing features in i-salon.
Who can use i-text?
i-text is available to all i-salon users, although you will need to ensure that you have the latest version of the software to see the features; version 8.4. You can find the version number in the top left hand corner of the screen which appears as you open your i-salon application. If you are using an older version of i-salon, call our support team on 01522 887200 and we’ll send you an update disk to install.
How much does it cost?
There is no set up charge for i-text, and all i-salon customers can access the features completely free of charge. You will need to purchase text message credits from the Integrity Messaging Service website (“IMS Shop”), available through the i-text screen within i-salon. Texts costs from 6p depending on the message bundle you purchase. Discounted rates are available if you bulk buy your messages.
How does i-text compare with other salon message providers?
i-text is the only messaging system that is fully integrated with your i-salon system. It’s also the only one that allows you to see a report showing which of the messages sent were unsuccessful. This way, you can clean up your data by removing any inaccurate mobile numbers. The message credits you buy online from the IMS shop (Integrity Messaging Service) to use within i-text are very competitively priced. They start at 8p, and discounts are available if you bulk buy large bundles of messages. Because the i-text service is a part of your i-salon software, our professional support team are available to answer any questions you have and to help you get the best from the system – we won’t just leave you to it!
How do I set it up?
If you are an existing i-salon user, you will need to make sure you are using the latest version of the software to see the i-text features; version 8.4. You can find the version number in the top left hand corner of the screen which appears as you open your i-salon application. If you are using an older version of i-salon, call our support team on 01522 887200 and we’ll send you an update disk to install. New customers and customers already using the latest version of i-salon will be able to click on the envelope icon at the top of your screen to open the i-text set up page. You can find a video tutorial showing you how to configure i-text in the customer area of our website, click on the purple flag to register or login. Switching on i-text is simple, and should take just a few moments. If you require any assistance, contact our support team on 01522 887200.
Where do I buy message credits?
Once you have decided which of the three message types you want to send and set up i-text correctly, you will need to purchase message credits from the Integrity Messaging Service (IMS) website. A link to the website can be found on the i-text screen within i-salon, and full instructions are provided. Existing customers get their first 200 credits absolutely free and for a limited time, new customers can get 1,000 free messages when they install i-salon for the first time. Before you can purchase credits, you will need to create an IMS account. Our ‘How To’ tutorial will walk you through this if you have any problems. You can find the tutorial in the customer area of our website, click the purple login flag to register or login. Alternatively, you can call our support team on 01522 887200 for assistance.
How do I switch from another message provider?
i-text is not compatible with any other message providers, so you will need to set up an account with the Integrity Messaging Service in order to use it. Your default SMS account will automatically be changed to the Integrity Messaging Service once you have set up i-text and opened an IMS account online. When you open your IMS account, you will be able to claim your first batch of text messages absolutely free.
Who should I text?
There are three types of text message that can be sent automatically using i-text. These are; booking reminders, birthday messages and lost client promotions. We have identified these as marketing essentials, proven to boost appointments, increase loyalty and make a real difference to productivity within the majority of salon businesses.
You can choose to switch on one, two or all three of these messaging options according to your business needs. If you haven’t used SMS in the salon before, you may want to start by switching on booking reminders only before introducing marketing messages (birthdays and lost clients) later. You can still send more targeted text messages to anyone in your database, whenever you like, by using the existing marketing features in your i-salon software. This allows you to choose your own selection of clients, write your message and send it as a one-off; great for promotions or seasonal campaigns.
What should my messages say?
Text messages are limited to 160 characters each, so to be most effective, they need to be straight to the point but without being too blunt. We have included several message templates within i-text that you can choose to use, but if you’d prefer to use your own content our Best Practice guide will help you navigate through some common do’s and don’t’s. Download it on this page.
How do I know when I need more credits?
You can keep an eye on your credits within i-salon and top up at any time. Click on the envelope icon at the top of your screen to open the i-text screen and your message balance will display at the top of the left hand menu bar. To top up, click the IMS shop button at the bottom right of the screen and follow the instructions online to buy credits securely with a credit or debit card.
Who can I contact for help?
Because i-text is part of the i-salon system, there’s now just one number to call when you need help sending texts from i-salon. Our support team are available to answer any questions you may have, and can be contacted on 01522 887200. There is also information online which will help you to get the most from the i-text features. Our Best Practice guide can be downloaded on this page, plus customers can find a helpful video tutorial on setting up i-text and opening an Integrity Messaging Service (IMS) account in the customer area of our website; register or login by clicking the purple login flag.