Welcome back to Boulevard’s Best, the series where we spotlight simple, effective ways to level up your business and create the kind of seamless experience that keeps clients coming back.

This week, we’re talking about something easy to overlook but impossible to overvalue: Custom Client Notifications. Those confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups play a vital role in keeping your schedule full and your clients engaged (and as it turns out, spending!). 

In keeping with Boulevard’s Best tradition, we looked at the past 90 days of customer data and compared appointments with at least one Custom Client Notification to appointments in which no such notifications were used. 

While these notifications might seem like small touches, their impact is anything but. Using Custom Client Notifications to bolster the client experience leads to:  

• 22% more revenue per appointment

• 28% higher appointment completion rates

• 22% more retail sales per appointment

• 16% higher client retention

That’s the kind of lift every business dreams about, obtained simply by going the extra mile to keep clients informed, engaged, and feeling loved.

Small gesture, big impact

At first glance, custom confirmations and reminders sound like mere logistics. But in practice, they’re powerful relationship builders. Among its many direct and indirect impacts, using Custom Client Notifications helps:

• Prevent no-shows. Hey, life gets hectic. A friendly reminder helps clients stay on track and protects your team’s time.

• Reinforce trust. Thoughtful, personalized communication before and after a visit tells clients you’re organized, attentive, and invested in their experience.

• Show care. Personalized messages (“Hi Mia, we can’t wait to see you for your haircut tomorrow at 3 p.m.”) make clients feel seen and valued.

• Drive engagement. A short, well-timed reminder can spark retail sales or service add-ons (“Don’t forget to ask your stylist about our new treatment when you check in!”).

• Strengthen loyalty. Clients who you communicate with on a personal level feel cared for on a personal level. When you get communication right, clients don’t just remember their appointment—they remember how you made them feel, and they usually want to feel that way again. 

Building a Seamless Client Journey

Custom Client Notifications work best when they’re woven into every step of your client journey; not as one-off messages, but as part of a consistent, caring rhythm of communication.

• At booking: Send a confirmation right away. Include time, date, service details, and an easy link to reschedule if needed.

• A few days before the appointment: Follow up with a friendly reminder, plus helpful info like parking directions or prep tips

• Day-of: Sets a positive tone for the visit with a quick reminder that you’re looking forward to seeing them.

• After the appointment: Follow up with a thank-you and include a rebooking link, aftercare tips, or product suggestions.

Each message builds confidence and connection. Together, they create a client experience 

Making the most of your messages 

Of course, merely zipping off messages without careful thought and planning is not the idea here.  If you want to get the most out of your Custom Client Notifications, consider the following best practices. 

• Personalize every message. Names matter, so use them!

• Keep it friendly. Make sure your message matches your brand. 

• Be consistent. Automate reminders so nothing slips through the cracks.

• Measure results. Watch how your completion rates, sales, and retention grow over time, and adjust when and where needed.

The Bottom Line

Custom Client Notifications help clients feel cared for, connected, and confident. And when clients feel that way, they come back often and spend more when they do. 

Ready to level up with Custom Client Notifications? Demo Boulevard today to see how we can help.