How to move barbershop and beauty salon bookings out of DMs

Give appointment requests one destination

A haircut request in Instagram, a beauty treatment enquiry in WhatsApp and a phone booking can leave your team checking several places for the day's appointments. Start by choosing one booking page as the destination for new appointment requests.

Keep Instagram and WhatsApp for questions about services or special requests. When someone is ready to book, send the same link instead of exchanging lists of available times. Clients can choose a service and a free time themselves.

Prepare the page before sharing it

List your services clearly, including duration and price, and check your opening hours and contact details. Account for appointments already agreed by DM or phone before offering those times online. Coordinate this with everyone taking bookings.

With Zotview, you can preview a website in about a minute without signing up, then create an account to publish. Free sites use a zotview.com/w/your-name address. Add online booking in the same workspace; the client receives a confirmation email, and your business receives an email and an entry in its dashboard.

Use a short reply and help regular clients switch

Save a short message your team can copy into either app: 'Hello! You can choose your service and an available time here: [booking link]. Please use an email address you check for your confirmation. If you need help choosing a service, reply here.' Replace the placeholder with your actual booking link before using it.

Announce the change in an Instagram Story and WhatsApp status, and put the link in your Instagram bio. Explain it at checkout too. Keep answering messages during the transition; help a regular client who struggles with the page and invite them to try the link for their next appointment.

Ask your team to use the same wording and booking destination. Review questions that keep coming up, then clarify the service descriptions or booking instructions on your page.

Know what the booking link handles

Zotview keeps bookings in one shared business schedule, with no separate calendar per barber, beauty specialist or chair. Coordinate your team's availability before offering slots. Bookings have no commission, and clients come through your own shared link; Zotview is not a marketplace that supplies new clients.

Booking notifications arrive by email. There are no automatic SMS or WhatsApp booking reminders; your team handles any extra messages manually. The reply template above is text for your team to send.

If you request a deposit, use your business's own payment provider link. Clients pay your business directly on the provider's page, where they enter any card details; you verify receipt and mark the booking paid. Zotview never takes, holds or splits the money.

Move bookings to your link step by step

1. 1

   Prepare your website and booking page

   Preview your shop's website, publish it with an account and add online booking. Check services, durations, prices, opening hours and existing appointments before sharing availability.

   Preview your barbershop website
2. 2

   Check the link on a phone

   Open your booking link as a client and review the services, available times and contact instructions. Make sure it is the correct page for your business.

3. 3

   Prepare a reply for appointment requests

   Copy the sample message, replace the placeholder with your booking link and share it with your team. Send it when a client asks to book in Instagram or WhatsApp.

4. 4

   Tell clients where to book

   Add the link to your Instagram bio and announce it in a Story and WhatsApp status. Explain the change to regular clients and offer help when they need it.

   Add a booking link to your Instagram bio
5. 5

   Put the link in your shop too

   Print a booking QR poster for the counter or mirror so clients can open the page for their next appointment. Scan the printed code to check its destination.

   Create a free booking QR poster

Frequently asked questions