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Help Guide

SMS Notifications

Keep anglers informed with automated text messages. From booking confirmations to day-of reminders, SMS ensures nothing gets missed.

4 min read

Why SMS?

Emails get buried. Text messages get read — 98% of them within 3 minutes. For time-sensitive information like booking confirmations and day-of reminders, SMS is the most reliable way to reach your anglers.

Less no-shows, fewer "I didn't see the email" calls, and a more professional experience overall.

Plan Requirement

SMS notifications are available on the Professional plan and above. SMS credits are included in your plan, with additional credits available for purchase.

Setting Up SMS

  1. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Notifications
  2. Find the "SMS" section and toggle it on
  3. Verify your business phone number (a verification code will be sent)
  4. Choose which events trigger an SMS (see below)
  5. Customize your message templates if desired
  6. Save your settings

Pro Tip

Keep your SMS templates short and actionable. Include the key details — date, time, and a link to manage the booking — and skip the marketing fluff.

SMS Events

You control which events trigger an SMS to your anglers. Each can be toggled independently:

  • Booking Confirmation: Sent immediately when a booking is confirmed. Includes date, time, and a link to the booking details.
  • Reminder (24 hours): Sent the day before the trip. Includes what to bring, where to meet, and weather conditions if applicable.
  • Reminder (2 hours): A final heads-up shortly before the trip starts. Great for reducing no-shows.
  • Cancellation: Sent when a booking is cancelled, with refund details if applicable.
  • Schedule Change: Sent when you reschedule a booking. Includes the new date and time with a confirmation link.

Operator Notifications

You can also receive SMS notifications when a new booking comes in or when a angler cancels. Enable these under Settings → Notifications → Operator SMS.

Opt-In & Compliance

SMS regulations require that anglers opt in to receive text messages. Guidewinds handles this automatically:

  • A phone number field with an SMS consent checkbox is included in the booking flow
  • Anglers can opt out at any time by replying STOP
  • Opt-out requests are processed immediately and logged for compliance
  • Your message templates automatically include the required opt-out language

Compliance

Never add anglers to SMS without their consent. The built-in opt-in flow keeps you compliant with TCPA and other messaging regulations.

Angler Preferences

Anglers can manage their notification preferences through the Customer Portal:

  • Choose email only, SMS only, or both
  • Opt out of reminder messages while keeping confirmations
  • Update their phone number
  • View their SMS history

Respecting preferences keeps your messages welcome rather than annoying, which means better engagement and fewer opt-outs.

SMS Credits & Usage

Your plan includes a monthly allotment of SMS credits. Each message sent uses one credit (or two for longer messages). You can track your usage from Dashboard → Settings → Notifications → SMS Usage.

  • View credits used this billing cycle
  • See a breakdown by message type
  • Purchase additional credit packs if needed
  • Set up low-credit alerts so you never run out unexpectedly

Pro Tip

The 24-hour reminder is the highest-impact SMS you can send. If you're watching your credits, enable that one first and add others as your volume grows.

What's Next?

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