A cosmetologist needs a path of three questions: what procedure, is this the client's first time, and when is convenient. The answers are collected in the first message WhatsApp, allowing you to see immediately who to book and who needs a consultation first. Below is an example of such a path in Mate.
Why isn't a 'Message' button enough for a cosmetologist?
Because initial messages in direct messages and WhatsApp are almost always the same: "Hello, how much does a facial cost?", "Can I get a peel now?", "Is there an opening this week?" Each requires a follow-up question, stretching the booking process over half a day of messaging. Some clients get lost while you are in a procedure and can't respond.
How to create a path for a cosmetologist?
First question: "What procedure are you interested in?"
Options: facial, peel, skin-type care, "I don't know, I need a consultation"
Second question: "Is this your first time with us?" with answers "first time" and "I've been here before"
Third question: "When is convenient?" weekdays during the day, weekdays in the evening, weekends
Add a branch for the option "I don't know": "What do you want to improve?"
This branch is for those who come with a goal, not just a procedure name. The options are simple: tone and glow, pores, breakouts, first wrinkles. This is enough to offer the right consultation instead of guessing.
In the end, the client sends a message like: "Hello! I'm interested in a peel, this is my first time. I'm available on weekdays in the evening." You respond with one message listing available slots.
Why ask if it's the client's first time?
The first visit usually takes longer: introduction, skin examination, discussion of contraindications. A regular client can be booked directly for a procedure. This question helps you suggest the right time slot and avoids scheduling conflicts.
What common mistake do people make?
Turning the path into a questionnaire. You might want to immediately know skin type, age, allergies, medications, and past procedures. But every extra question is a chance for someone to close the page, and health information shouldn't be collected in the first message that goes into a regular chat. The path starts the conversation, while the medical history is gathered during the appointment.
Where to place the link to the path?
In the profile header instead of "book via direct message", in pinned stories, and on a card with a QR code by the chair, so the client can book their next visit while still with you. If there are many procedures, create a separate path for the most popular ones: a link to the "Peel" path is convenient to place in a post specifically about peels. You can start for free in Mate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include prices in the response options?
You can indicate "from" next to the procedure if your prices are stable. This filters out those whose budget doesn't fit and removes the initial question about cost. If the final price heavily depends on skin condition, it's better not to include a number in the path, but to mention it in the chat after a couple of clarifications.
How to handle contraindications?
Don't collect them in the path. The first message goes into a regular chat, and medical details are unnecessary there. It's enough to add a phrase in the final text that contraindications will be discussed before the procedure. This way, the client knows you considered it, and you'll ask all necessary questions in person.
What to do if the client chooses "I don't know"?
Offer a consultation instead of a price list. A person who doesn't know what they need won't choose a procedure from a price list. The response from the branch will suggest the topic of conversation: if breakouts are selected, mention the available time for the consultation, how long it lasts, and what will happen during it.
What if clients speak different languages?
Create a second path with questions in another language and select that language for the path: the greeting in the first message will also be in that language. You can place two links side by side in the profile header. It's easier for the client to book in their language, and it's easier for you to understand the request than to decipher a mix of languages in the first message.
How to know if the path is working?
After a month, check the path analytics: how many people started, how many reached the end, and how many started a conversation. If many drop off at one question, rephrase it or shorten the options. The main sign of success is visible without numbers: the first messages come with the procedure and time, not with a question about the price.
