A client finds your website at 11 PM. She likes your work, she wants a gel pedicure on Saturday, and the only way to book is to call tomorrow. By tomorrow she has booked somewhere else.
Online booking fixes that, and adding it to your website is easier than it sounds. The harder part is picking a booking page that understands how a nail salon works: add-ons, a tech for each service, hands and feet at the same time, and friends who want to come together.
This guide covers both: how to get booking onto your site, and what to look for in the page clients land on.
Button, widget or Google booking link: what’s the difference?
There are three common ways clients reach your booking page:
| Option | What it is | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| A Book button on your website | A button that opens your booking page | Paste your booking link into a button in your website builder |
| An embedded widget | Booking that opens inside your website, from code your booking app gives you | Copy the code from your booking app and paste it into your site |
| A booking link on Google | A link on your Google Business Profile, so clients can reach your booking page from Search and Maps | Add the link in your profile, or use a booking provider Google works with |
A Book button is the simplest. It works on any website that lets you add a button, and the same link works everywhere else: Instagram, Facebook, a QR code at the desk.
A widget keeps the client on your site, but you need a booking app that offers one. Some do. Square Appointments lists a Book Now button or an embedded booking widget for your own site. Booksy has a website widget: you copy the code from the “Your Website” tile and paste it into your site’s HTML. Vagaro lists a booking widget you embed on your own site.
Hayven uses the button. Your booking page gets its own easy link, and you put it on your website as a Book button. Hayven’s booking page always opens on its own, not inside another site.
How do I add a Book button on Wix, Squarespace or WordPress?
The steps are almost the same in every builder: add a button, write “Book now” on it, and paste your booking link as the button’s web address.
- Wix: add a button, click its Link icon, choose Web address, paste your booking link, and click Done.
- Squarespace: add a Button block, open it from the pencil icon, enter your button text, choose Attach Link, and enter your booking link under URL.
- WordPress: add a Buttons block, select the button, use the Link option in its toolbar, and paste your full booking link.
Menu names change from time to time, so check your builder’s help page (linked in the sources below) if a label looks different.
A few small things make the button work harder:
- Put it where people look first: the top of your home page, your menu or services page, and your contact page.
- One clear label. “Book now” or “Book an appointment”. Not “Click here”.
- Test it on your phone. Many clients book from theirs.
How do I add booking to my Google profile?
Clients often find a nail salon on Google Maps before they see its website, so your booking link belongs there too.
Google’s help page explains that in your Business Profile you can open the Booking section in Search, or Edit profile in Maps, choose Add link, enter the address and save. Google also works with select booking providers whose links can show on your profile on their own.
If you use Hayven’s marketing (an optional add-on), adding your booking link is one of the fixes Hayven suggests for your Google profile, and you approve it. Clients then book on your Hayven booking page, not inside Google itself. See Google ranking.
What should a nail salon booking page handle?
Many booking pages are built around one person booking one service with one provider. A nail salon books in a messier way. Here is what to check before you put any booking page on your website:
- Add-ons where they belong. A client booking a Gel-X full set should see the add-ons for that set right after she picks it, with the price and time updating as she taps. Hayven asks right after the client taps a service.
- A tech for each service, or Anyone. Some clients want Helen for nails and don’t mind who does the pedicure. Each service in Hayven can get its own tech, or Anyone.
- Hands and feet at the same time. A manicure and a pedicure with two techs, side by side, so she is in and out sooner. In Hayven, clients choose on the Time step: one after another, or at the same time. It is off until you turn it on.
- Groups. Girls’ day, a bridal party, a mom and daughter. Hayven takes up to five guests in one online booking, each with their own services, add-ons and tech, at one start time that works for everyone.
- No account. Every extra step is a chance for a client to give up. Hayven asks for a name and a phone number. No account, no password.
- Respect for requests. A client who asked for a tech should keep that tech. Hayven never moves a client who asked for a tech. Only online Anyone bookings can move, 2 or more hours ahead, before check-in, if your team hasn’t changed them, and their time, price and length stay the same.
You can see how these work on the online booking page, including group booking and Anyone.
What happens after a client books?
The booking should land on the right tech’s calendar, and the client should hear from you right away.
In Hayven, every booking lands on a real tech’s column. A client who said yes to texts gets a confirmation right after booking, then reminders 2 days before, 1 day before, and about 3 hours before on the day. A reminder whose time has already passed when she books is skipped. Every booking text and reminder has a link to reschedule or cancel, inside the window you choose, and reminders move with the new time. Clients who did not say yes to texts get their confirmation by email, if they gave one. See what happens after a client books.
Should clients pay when they book online?
That is your call, and booking apps differ here. Some take deposits or prepayment at booking. Square Appointments lists deposits and prepayment, and Booksy lists deposits at booking.
Hayven doesn’t. There are no deposits and nothing to pay online. Clients pay for their services at your POS, the way they do today, and Hayven runs beside it.
When does another tool fit better?
- You want booking to open inside your own website. Square Appointments, Booksy and Vagaro all list a widget you can embed. Hayven’s booking page opens on its own, from a button.
- You want clients to pay or leave a deposit when they book. Square Appointments and Booksy take deposits. Hayven doesn’t.
- You want clients to book from Apple Maps or from the booking app’s own site. Vagaro lists online booking on Vagaro, Instagram, Facebook and Apple Maps. Hayven gives you your own booking page and one link for your website, Google profile and social pages.