Overview

This guide helps you set up an Online Booking website for your business, enabling clients to book appointments that sync with your software. It covers how to add the booking feature to your website and social media profiles, allowing easy client access. Additionally, clients can create logins to view and manage their appointments, and once CardConnect is set up, credit card processing can be integrated into your system.

Create an Online Booking Website

These instructions will help you create and set up an Online Booking website for your business that allows clients to book and request appointments that sync directly and automatically with your software.

Get Started

To begin setting up your booking website, please follow the instructions provided for the software you are using.

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There are two methods to navigate to Online Booking...

Creating a New Booking Website:

Log into the cloud software and navigate to Settings ( More > Settings)
On the left, click Add-ons and select Online Booking
Click Sign Up, log-in to your account management page.
Under Services, select +Add On under Online Booking to get started

Edit an Existing Booking Website:

Log into the cloud software and navigate to your name in the top right.
A dropdown will appear, select Manage Online Booking.
- Once your website appears, skip to "Editing Your Website" of this article for next steps.

Set-Up Booking Website Feature

When you're ready to sign up for the feature, you can begin building the basics of your website.

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Choose an account name for your website address. Most businesses use their name (all one word) at the beginning of the website address. Click on Check Availability to verify that your account name is not already taken by another business. If it's already taken, you must choose a name that is available.
You will be given an opportunity to change your selected name or continue the setup process. If you are satisfied with your website URL, click Continue Setup. Otherwise, choose Change Name to pick something else.
Pick a theme for your site. Everything on your site can be customized to match your style, but selecting a pre-designed theme will help get you started. Use the magnifying glass icon to see a preview of any available theme. If you will be doing a lot of customization, it may be best to choose a theme like Simplicity since it's very basic.
Click on Finish! Create Website. This may take a couple minutes. This completes the setup of your website. Click the Continue to Edit Your Website button if you would like to start making changes and modifying your preferences now. Otherwise, your site is live with all the default settings and clients can start requesting appointments. The next section provides some helpful starting tips for getting started with your website.

Editing Your Website

Now that your website is setup, you can then begin to edit its appearance and make it more of your own, along with adjusting the booking process settings.

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Website Options

When you are signed into your website, you will be taken to the behind the scenes options.

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Change Your Website Appearance

Website Themes - This will allow you you to customize the theme of your website by selecting one of the available templates
Pages an Navigation- This will let you control what pages customers can view and in what order the will appear.

Manage Business Information

Update:

You can now include an employees nickname by inputting it under Display Name.

Business Details - Input the businesses information, hours, services offered, the amenities that you offer, and social media Integration. You can also enable the Google Analytics website tracking
Service Listing - Edit which of your services will be listed on your website. You can change the display name of each service and its description that will appear on your website. You can also select of you want your website to show your prices.
Employee Profiles - Edit which employees will be included in your online employee list, and modify the information that is shown in the online profile for each employee.
Appointment Request Log - Search previous or current appointment requests using client name, phone number or request ID.
Online Gift Cards - If you would like to sell online gift cards, turn on this feature and clients will be able to purchase gift cards through your website.

Set Your Preferences

Update:

Under Booking Preferences, you can now include an employees nickname by inputting it under Display Name.

Booking Preferences - Customize your booking settings, client notifications, employee notifications, client settings, and theme color for the booking experience.
Booking Plugin Setup - If you are hosting your own website, you can allow your clients to book appointments directly through your site by using our plugin. Check out the Add to an Existing Business Website section for more details.
Facebook Integration - You can allow your clients to book directly through your business's Facebook page by connecting your Online Booking account to your Facebook account.

Manage Account Settings

Account Overview - Easily navigate to your account overview to make any business updates
Manage User Access - Add or edit who has access to your business account
Add Custom Domain - Upgrade your booking website by creating a custom domain.

Edit Website

When you are done editing the behind the scenes options, select Edit Website on the navigation bar along the left side to start customizing your booking website.

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Site Styles

This will give you access to editing the overall theme of your website. From this section, you will be able to edit the text font, size and color that will be used for the entire site by default. You will also be able to adjust the site background, menus and heading options from here.

Edit Layout

This option will let you add additional content sections. You can also rearrange the order of your content sections when this option is selected.

Edit Content

This will allow you to add information into the sections that you create with the Edit Layout option. You can choose to include text, video, images, a map for where your business is located, and info cards. Info cards will give you the option to include your contact info, address, operation hours, features & amenities, and other services that you offer. You can adjust all information that will be included on the info cards by selecting Website Options and then Business Details.

Website Options

This will take you back to the behind the scenes options that will let you control what pages a customer can navigate to, what information appears on your website, and when customers can book appointments.

Add HTML Code

Make use of some simple HTML code in order to customize elements of your booking page to truly make it yours.

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To edit your booking web page, go to your online booking website and sign in.

Select Add More Content from the bottom of the page.
Select the section style you wish to use and press the Check mark when you have your decision.
Select Save Changes.
In the content section you created, click on the Text option.
Select the icon for </> as shown in the picture below.
You can then enter your HTML code, by cutting it from your local file and pasting it into this input box. Make sure to press Update HTML when you are finished in order to save your edits and make your changes public. Be sure to "proof your post" by checking your booking page right away to ensure that this HTML is doing what you expected.

Helpful Website Tips

To maximize the effectiveness of your booking site and enhance your business practices, follow these helpful tips.

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Modify Employee Schedules

Client bookings are linked to employee schedules in your software. If a time is available, clients can book it. Ensure the schedule matches employees' exact working hours.

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Website Instructions

Click on More and then the Schedule icon on your cloud website.
Click on the blue square next to the employee and under the date that you would like to modify.
Select if the employee will be working or not in the upper left. If you choose that the employee will be off that day, you can also choose a reason as well.
To enter the hours an employee will work, enter the start and end times in the boxes in the bottom right, and then click the Add button.
If an employee will be taking a scheduled break in the middle of the day, you can include that by entering multiple start and end times for the first and second halves of the day when the employee will be working.
To copy this schedule to other days, you can click the Repeat button and check the days of the week that this schedule applies to, and select the end date to indicate how far from the start date you want to copy this schedule.
When you are done, click the Save button in the lower right.
Your employee will have gray time blocks on the appointment book when he/she is not scheduled to work and the column will be white when the employee is available.

Mobile App Instructions

Go to More.
Under the scheduling section, select Employee Schedules.
At the bottom of the screen, you can adjust what employee’s schedule to look at.
Click on the day you wish to edit the schedule.
Select whether the employee is working or not that day.
Select Start Time and enter the employee’s start time
Select End Time and enter the employee’s end time.
To copy this schedule to other days, you can click Make Recurring Schedule and select the days of the week that this schedule applies to, and select the end date to indicate how far from the start date you want to copy this schedule. Press OK when you are done.
When you are done, click the Save button in the top right.
Your employee will have grey time blocks on the appointment book when he/she is not scheduled to work and the column will be white when the employee is available.

Requests

Manage all requests from the new "Requests" button at the top of your software. Online Booking requests appear as translucent "ghost appointments" in the requested time slot until accepted or rejected, preventing double-booking. You'll receive a pop-up alert for new requests, and double-clicking a ghost appointment shows the accept/reject screen with details.

Add Online Booking to...

Easily add the booking feature from your Online Booking page to your existing website and social media profiles, allowing clients to book appointments seamlessly from anywhere.

Existing Business Website

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Log in to your Online Booking website with your authorized DaySmart account.
Select Website Options in the Navigate panel on the left.
Choose Booking Plugin Setup in the Set Your Preferences section.
If you'd like the plugin to have the same appearance as your selected Online Booking page theme, click the Generate Plugin Code button. Set the width of the frame and click Generate Plugin Code. Skip to Step 6. (NOTE: The height of the frame will be sized dynamically with each step of the booking process, so it's only necessary for you to choose the width.)
If you want to alter the appearance of the booking plugin, select Design Booking Plugin. Make the desired changes and see a preview with the Open Preview button or click the checkmark icon to save changes. Expand the Booking Plugin Setup menu with the arrow in the upper right and click Generate Plugin Code. (NOTE: The height of the frame will be sized dynamically with each step of the booking process, so it's only necessary for you to choose the width.)
Copy the code and paste it where you would like the plugin to appear or send it to your web developer to have it added to your existing website. Please note that this code will not work if pasted into a text box meant to modify the front end of your site. It will need to be copied directly to the code for your site or through a back-end webpage editor.

Instagram

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Use Instagram to get more business for your business! You can now add a "Book Now" button to your Instagram profile which will direct customers to your online booking website where they can request or schedule an appointment with you.

Open up the Instagram app.
Go to your business profile in the bottom right of the screen.
Tap Edit Profile.
Under Public Business Information, tap Action Buttons..
Tap Book Now.
Select the action button for DaySmart under Add a Book Now Button.
You will then be prompted to enter your login credentials for DaySmart. Once you have entered your e-mail address and password, tap Log In.
The following screen will confirm the Instagram business profile that you want to connect with Salon Iris. If the Instagram page is correct, select Continue as [Instagram Username].
Confirm settings on the following page and tap Continue.
Salon Iris Book Now button will be added. You can tap Done and return to your Instagram Page.
Press the Book Now button to confirm that it opens your online booking website so your clients (and maybe some new ones!) can begin booking appointments from this popular social media app.

Upgrades for Online Booking

Enable Client Online Account Access

With the online booking service, you can allow your clients to create logins for your business. With these login accounts, your customers will be able to view their upcoming appointments and change their contact information as needed from your website.

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Set-Up:

From your online booking website, select Manage Site at the bottom of the page.
Login with your email and password.
Select Booking Preferences.
Scroll down to the section labelled Client Settings.
Move the slider for Allow Client Online Account Access from NO to YES.
Click Save Changes to save your settings.

Now that you have enabled account creation, you customers will be able to setup a login so that they can view their upcoming appointments and change their contact information. Customers will be able to create their account during the appointment booking process.

Email Customers to Create an Account

Email your customers to inform them they can create an account on your online booking site. This ensures the account is linked to the correct client and prevents duplicates.

From your software, go to Clients.
Click on the client's name that you would like to invite.
Click on Personal Info at the top.
Click Invite Client to Make an Online Account.
An email will be sent and this will allow them to make an online account for your Online Booking

Require Credit Card Information

If you are a CardConnect customer, you can securely collect credit card information from clients during the booking process, ensuring that you have their details readily available when needed.

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Please Note:

To require credit card information for online bookings, you will first need to sign up with CardConnect to set up credit card processing.

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Hardware Requirements

Merchant Account: To process credit card transactions, you need a merchant account to route funds to your bank. Businesses with multiple contractors can set up several accounts. For help, email [email protected].
Credit Card Reader: A credit card reader connects to your computer and lets you swipe cards for transactions, eliminating the need to manually enter card details. Only use hardware from CardConnect.
Printer: A receipt printer prints two copies of a transaction receipt—one for the customer and one for their signature. Epson printers are supported, or you can use a regular full-size printer.
Internet Connection: A modem connects your computer to the merchant account provider. For faster transactions, a cable modem or DSL is recommended.

CardConnect Instructions

Setting Up Credit Card Processing from the Cloud Website:

From the Cloud website, select More -> Settings.
Select More Features along the left side.
Select Credit Card Setup.
Click Enter My Settings or Sign up Now.
Select CardConnect from the Processor drop-down menu.
For CardConnect customers, enter in your merchant ID provided to you by CardConnect. If you need help obtaining this info, contact DaySmart Payments at [email protected]
- If you have a credit card reader press Add Device. Select the device that you have and enter the Serial Number showing at the top of the device. The Display Name can be set to whatever you would like. Press Save Device when finished.
Press Verify & Update Settings.

You are now all set to process credit cards through the Cloud website. Now when you go to check out a ticket you will have the option Card when you are selecting the payment type.

Setting Up Credit Card Processing on the Mobile Apps:

From the mobile app, Select Settings.
Scroll down and select Credit Card Processing Signup.
If you have already set up your account with the Credit Card Processor, press Enable.
Select CardConnect from the Processor section.
If you are a CardConnect customer, enter the Merchant ID provided to you by CardConnect. Press Verify Merchant ID to make sure that your information was entered correctly. If you need help obtaining this info, email [email protected]
Press Save.

You are now all set on your mobile devices to accept credit cards. Now when you go to check out a ticket you will have the option to process credit cards when you select to add a payment. The first time you try to process the software will ask for permission to access the audio jack, you will want to allow access. If you would like to use a card reader with your device, you can email DaySmart Payments at [email protected] for assistance.

Then, to ensure clients enter payment details when submitting requests, you must enable client account access to your booking site.

Go to your online booking website and select Manage Site at the bottom of the page.
Sign in with your email and password.
Select Booking Preferences.
Scroll down to the Client Settings Section.
For the Require Credit Card When Booking an Appointment option, change the slider from No to Yes.
If desired, check the box for Include service prices when booking an appointment.
You can adjust the Online Booking Policy. This will display on the website when the customer is entering their credit card information.
Press Save Changes at the top of the Client Settings section.

You are now setup to have your customers be required to enter their credit card information when making online booking requests. This credit card information will be stored with CardConnect, but you will be able to charge the card when checking a customer out through your software.

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