How to Move from Instagram DMs to Online Booking

Before you switch

The most common mistake is announcing the switch before the booking page is ready. Before you tell a single client or update your bio, your booking page should be complete, tested, and working exactly the way you want it.

Setting up your booking page

Your booking page is the thing that needs to do the work your DMs were doing — show your services, let clients pick a time, and collect their deposit. The key is making it feel like you, not a generic system.

1. 1

   Choose a platform and create an account

   Start with Nelsy, Fresha, or another nail-tech-focused platform. Most offer a free trial without a credit card requirement.
2. 2

   Set up your service menu

   Add every service you offer with accurate prices, durations, and descriptions. If you do nail art, add it as an add-on to base services rather than a separate service — this gives clients accurate time estimates.
3. 3

   Configure your deposit

   Set a deposit amount between £10–25 or 20–30% of the service price. This should be collected automatically at booking, not requested separately.
4. 4

   Write your confirmation message

   Customise the automatic confirmation message to include your address (or studio directions), parking info, and what to expect. Make it sound like a message from you, not a corporate system.
5. 5

   Test the full flow on your phone

   Do a complete test booking as a client. Find the booking link, choose a service, pick a time, pay the deposit (use a test card if available). Note anything that feels confusing.

What to tell existing clients

Existing clients need to know the booking method has changed. The most effective approach is a combination of a story announcement plus a personal message to your regulars:

For regular clients you see frequently, a brief personal message works well:

Updating your Instagram

Your Instagram bio is the most important place to put your booking link. Three things to update:

1. Bio link: Replace whatever's currently in your link-in-bio with your booking page URL. If you use a link-in-bio tool (Linktree etc.), make the booking link the first and most prominent option.
2. Bio text: Add "Book via link in bio" or "Online booking: link below" to your bio. This tells new visitors exactly what to do.
3. Highlights: Add a "Book" or "Bookings" highlight with a story that explains how to book and links to the booking page.

Handling DM enquiries during the transition

For the first few weeks after switching, clients will still DM you to book. That's expected. The key is to redirect them consistently rather than booking some through DMs and some through the booking page — that way lies confusion.

Save this as a quick reply on Instagram:

After 2–3 weeks of consistent redirects, the habit shifts and most clients will go directly to the booking page without DM-ing first. For more reminder message templates: free appointment reminder templates.

Common issues

"Clients say they can't find availability" — check your calendar settings and make sure your working hours are set correctly. If you blocked out time for something but forgot to unblock it, you'll show as unavailable.

"Clients complain about the deposit" — some will. Explain it simply: the deposit secures their slot and comes off the final price. Most clients accept this quickly, especially if they've been waiting for last-minute cancellations in the past.

"I'm still getting DMs from people wanting to book" — this is normal for the first 2–3 weeks. Redirect consistently. If you accommodate DM bookings during the transition, the transition takes longer.

See also: What your nail tech booking page should include.