What this page is for
SMS & WhatsApp gives your studio its own mobile number, connects your WhatsApp Business number and sends booking updates to members automatically. This is where you manage your message credits, WhatsApp templates and sending rules. Replies arrive in Inbox.
- Who it's for
- Studio managers
- Plan
- Enterprise plan, or Pro plan with the Messaging add-on
- Section
- Studio settings
Before you start
- Members need a mobile number on their profile to receive texts.
- For WhatsApp, use a number that isn't in use on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app. Meta sends it a code to confirm.
Step by step
Check your credits
Open SMS & WhatsApp. Under Message credits you'll see Included left this month, Top-up balance and Total available. One credit is one SMS of up to 160 characters or one WhatsApp message, and replies from members are free.
Get an SMS number
Under SMS number, click Get an SMS number. Your studio gets a local mobile number that members can text back, and their replies land in Inbox.
Connect WhatsApp
Under WhatsApp, choose Use my SMS number (recommended) or another number, and check the Business name on WhatsApp members will see. Then click Continue with Facebook or Connect WhatsApp and follow the steps. Meta reviews your business name, which usually takes 1 to 3 days.
Choose your automatic messages
Under Automatic messages, switch on the updates you want members to get. Each member gets one text per event, by WhatsApp if it's connected and approved, otherwise by SMS.
- Booking confirmed
- Waitlist spot open
- Class cancelled
- Payment failed
Add WhatsApp marketing templates
Once WhatsApp is connected, go to WhatsApp templates. Under New marketing template, add a name and the message, using {{1}}, {{2}} for details you fill in when sending, and click Submit for approval. Each template shows its approval status from Meta.
Set your sending rules
Under Sending rules, set Quiet hours start, Quiet hours end and Replies per member per day, then click Save rules. Broadcasts pause during quiet hours, but booking messages and replies still send.
Top up when you run low
Choose one of the top-up packs under Message credits. Top-up credits are used after your included credits run out and never expire.
Send broadcasts and replies
To text an audience, go to Marketing and click New broadcast. To reply to members, use Inbox.
Common questions
Why can't I see SMS & WhatsApp in the sidebar?
It only appears once your studio has messaging access. Enterprise includes it, and Pro studios need the Messaging add-on. You can also reach this page from Marketing with Set up SMS & WhatsApp.
Who receives my broadcasts?
Only members who turned on SMS or WhatsApp offers, and only one broadcast a day. Members change this in Privacy & Data, and replying STOP to your text turns offers off for that number.
Who receives automatic booking texts?
Booking texts by SMS are on by default once a member adds a mobile number. WhatsApp booking updates are off unless the member turns them on. Members can switch either off in Privacy & Data.
Do my included credits roll over?
No. Included credits reset at the start of each month and unused ones are lost. Top-up credits never expire and are only used once the included ones are gone.
What happens when I run out of credits?
Broadcasts and Inbox texts stop until you top up. Booking texts can carry on for a short while by going a few credits below zero, which are taken from your next top-up.
A booking template was rejected. What do I do?
Click Resubmit booking templates under WhatsApp templates to send them to Meta again. Until they're approved, members with SMS booking texts on get their updates by SMS instead.
Related guides
Ready to try it?
https://moveya.io/studio/messaging