The Art of the Follow-Up: Texts That Bring Clients Back

The best barbers I know have one thing in common.

It's not their fade technique. It's not their shop location.

It's what they do after the client leaves.

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Why Follow-Up Works

The problem:

• Average client visits every 4-6 weeks
• Life gets busy
• They forget to book
• They try somewhere "more convenient"
• You lose them to inertia, not competition

The solution: A simple message at the right time brings them back before they even think about going elsewhere.

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The Follow-Up Framework

Message 1: The Same-Day Thank You (Optional but powerful)

Timing: 2-4 hours after the cut

Template:

"Hey Marcus, great seeing you today! Let me know if the style holds up how you wanted. See you in a few weeks."

Why it works:

• Unexpected (nobody does this)
• Opens the door for feedback
• Makes them feel valued

Message 2: The Rebooking Nudge

Timing: 3 weeks after the cut (for monthly clients)

Template:

"Hey Marcus, it's been about 3 weeks—ready for a cleanup? I've got Thursday afternoon or Saturday morning open. Let me know what works."

Why it works:

• Specific times (easier to say yes)
• Friendly, not salesy
• Catches them before they forget

Message 3: The Win-Back (For clients who've gone quiet)

Timing: 6-8 weeks after last visit

Template:

"Hey Marcus, haven't seen you in a while—hope everything's good! Chair's open when you're ready. No rush."

Why it works:

• No guilt trip
• Door left open
• Sometimes people just need a reminder

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What NOT to Do

❌ Mass blasts that feel like spam "BOOK NOW! 20% OFF THIS WEEK ONLY!"

❌ Too frequent Weekly texts = unsubscribe

❌ Impersonal "Dear valued customer..." (nobody talks like that)

❌ Guilt trips "We miss you! Why haven't you come back?"

❌ Desperate "Please book soon, I have openings!"

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The Timing Sweet Spots

Adjust based on your typical client cycle.

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Automating Without Losing the Personal Touch

You can't manually text 100+ clients. But automation done wrong feels robotic.

The balance:

• Use scheduling tools for timing
• Keep the message casual (like you'd actually text)
• Include their name
• Reference something specific when possible

Good automated:

"Hey Marcus, it's been about a month—ready for a fresh cut? Thursday or Friday work?"

Bad automated:

"Dear Customer, your appointment reminder: It has been 30 days since your last service. Please book at your earliest convenience."

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Special Occasion Messages

Birthday:

"Happy birthday, Marcus! Come in this week and your cut's on me."

Holiday:

"Getting cleaned up for the holidays? I've got a few spots left this week if you want to look sharp."

After a big event (wedding, interview):

"How'd the interview go? Hope the cut helped!"

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The Numbers That Matter

Without follow-up:

• 60% of clients rebook within expected timeframe
• 20% drift to longer intervals
• 20% quietly disappear

With follow-up:

• 80%+ rebook on schedule
• Drift drops to 10%
• Disappearance drops to 5-10%

Translation: 20-30% more visits per year from the same client base.

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Start Simple

You don't need fancy software to start.

Week 1: Text your 5 most overdue clients personally Week 2: Add same-day thank yous for new clients Week 3: Set calendar reminders to follow up at 3 weeks Week 4: Evaluate what's working

Once you see results, then consider automation.

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The Barbers Who Get This Right

They treat follow-up like part of the service.

The haircut isn't done when the client pays. It's done when they book the next one.

That mindset shift alone can add 20%+ to your annual revenue.

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👉 Vinci 26 automates rebooking reminders that feel personal—so your chair stays full without the manual work.

Build something that's truly yours.