Waitlist management

The waitlist lets clients request to be notified when a slot becomes available, useful when you are fully booked.

How the waitlist works: 1. A client visits your booking page and sees a "Join Waitlist" option (shown when you are fully booked for a given date, or they can request it manually) 2. They enter their name, email, and optionally phone and preferred date 3. They appear in your Dashboard -> Waitlist as "Waiting"

Best-fit ranking when a spot opens: When a cancellation frees a slot, Bontro looks at who is waiting and figures out the best fit, based on who wanted that exact service, who asked for a date close to the opening, and who has been waiting longest. The cancellation alert names the best match so you know who to reach out to first.

Notifying a waitlisted client: When a slot opens, you can reach out to a waitlisted client: 1. Go to Dashboard -> Waitlist 2. Find the client you want to notify 3. Click "Email" to send them an email that a slot opened, or "Text" to send an SMS (shown when they left a phone number). You can also tap "Draft" to have AI write a short, personal message you can copy and send however you like. 4. Review and edit any AI draft before you send it. Nothing goes out automatically.

Texting uses one SMS credit and goes to the phone number the client left when they joined your waitlist. Texts follow the same opt-out and quiet-hours rules as your reminders, so anyone who has replied STOP is never messaged.

Bontro helps you find and reach the right client, but you always choose who gets contacted. This prevents awkward situations where multiple clients receive the same notification.

Waitlist statuses: - Waiting: Still in queue, not yet notified - Notified: You have sent them the opening notification - Booked: The client booked after you notified them. Bontro credits the spot (and its value) to your waitlist automatically.

Spots filled from your waitlist: Once you notify someone and they book within two weeks, Bontro marks that entry "Booked" and adds it to the "filled from your waitlist this month" tally at the top of the page, along with the revenue recovered, so you can see what the waitlist is worth.

Managing entries: You can delete waitlist entries at any time. Notified clients are not automatically moved to booked until they actually complete a booking on your page.

Pro tip: When you have a cancellation, check your waitlist immediately. Reaching out within the first few minutes significantly increases the chance that slot gets filled.