Get More Nail Salon Past Clients Bookings with Automated Nail Salon Gift Cards & Coupons
Why You Should Focus on Past Clients
What Is a Nail Salon Gift Card?
Types of Nail Salon Gift Cards:
What Is a Nail Salon Discount Coupon?
Why Gift Cards and Coupons Work for Client Retention
Software Tools That Make It Easy
Make Sales Easy: Automate the Process
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Gift Card & Discount Automation for Your Nail Salon
Step 1: Choose a Smart CRM Tool
Step 4: Choose the Right Channels
If you're running a nail salon, you already know the hustle it takes to get clients through the door. But what if we told you there’s a simple, automated way to bring back your old clients without constantly chasing them?
That’s where nail salon gift cards and discount coupons come in, and when done right with automation, they can skyrocket your bookings with minimal effort on your end.
In this complete guide, we’ll break it all down: the benefits, how client retention works, the best nail salon software tools you can use, and how to create a smooth, automated system to keep your salon busy year-round.
Why You Should Focus on
Past Clients
Let’s start with a fact: it's 5x more expensive to get a new customer than to bring back an old one. Your past clients already know your work, they’ve visited your salon before, and they trust your services.
But here’s the catch, people get busy, distracted, or they might just forget to rebook. That’s where strategic re-engagement with gift cards and discounts helps.
What Is a Nail Salon Gift Card?
A nail salon gift card is a digital or physical card loaded with a value (say $20, $50, or more) that a client can use at your salon. You can sell them, or even better, send them out as a surprise “thank you” or limited-time promotion.
Types of Nail Salon Gift Cards:
Prepaid gift cards for specific services (e.g., "Free Gel Polish Upgrade")
Dollar-value gift cards (e.g., "$25 off your next visit")
Referral gift cards ("Bring a friend and get $15 gift card")
What Is a Nail Salon Discount Coupon?
These are limited-time deals that encourage clients to book fast. You can offer:
10% off your next booking
Buy 1 service, get the 2nd 50% off
Free add-on service with a manicure
Coupons create urgency. And when clients feel like they’re getting a deal, they’re much more likely to book.
Why Gift Cards and Coupons Work for Client Retention
Retaining clients means more consistent income and less time spent on outreach. Here’s how these tools help:
1. Makes Clients Feel Valued
When clients receive a gift card or discount “just because,” it creates an emotional connection with your brand. They feel appreciated and are more likely to return.
2. Increases Loyalty
Rewarding past clients keeps them loyal to your salon rather than going to a competitor offering the same service.
3. Drives Immediate Bookings
Limited-time coupons create urgency. Clients are more likely to book soon instead of putting it off.
4. Encourages Word-of-Mouth
Happy clients talk! A client who gets a surprise $20 off might bring a friend next time, or at least post about it online.
Software Tools That Make It Easy For Nail Salons
Here are a few tools (including your own!) that can help you automate all this:
Make Sales Easy: Automate the Process
Now here’s where the magic happens, you don’t have to manually send gift cards or coupons one by one.
With the right automation system by Exterly.io, you can:
Automatically identify past clients who haven’t booked in a while
Send a personalized message with a gift card or coupon
Track redemptions and follow-ups
Save time while increasing revenue
Let’s walk through how it works:
Step-by-Step: How to Set Up Gift Card & Discount Automation for Your Nail Salon
Step 1: Choose a Smart CRM Tool
To automate properly, you’ll need a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system. One of the best platforms for salons is Exterly.io, it allows you to:
Other options include Go High Level, Mailchimp (for basic email), or Square Marketing if you’re using Square for payments.
Step 2: Set Your Triggers
A trigger is what starts the automation. Examples:
A client hasn’t visited in 60 days
A client booked a certain service
A client’s birthday is coming up
Once the trigger is hit, your system sends out the coupon or gift card automatically.
Step 3: Create the Offer
Make it enticing. Examples:
“We miss you! Here's $20 toward your next mani-pedi ”
“Happy Birthday! Enjoy 15% off this week”
“Book in the next 3 days and get a FREE gel polish upgrade”
Use clear wording, and always include a call-to-action, like:
“Click here to book your appointment now.”
Step 4: Choose the Right Channels
You can send offers through:
SMS (most effective!)
Email
Facebook Messenger
WhatsApp
Pro tip: SMS gets the highest open rates. If your message is short and sweet, use text first.
Step 5: Monitor & Improve
Track how many clients opened your messages, redeemed their gift cards, and rebooked. Use this data to:
Adjust your offers
Send follow-up messages
Test different wording or discounts
Tips to Maximize Your Results
Segment your audience: Send different offers to VIP clients vs. one-time visitors.
Keep messages short: SMS should be under 160 characters.
Add booking links: Always link directly to your booking page.
Use urgency: “Limited time,” “Expires Friday,” and “Only 10 available” drive action.
Make the client feel special: Use their name and past visit info if possible.
Conclusion
If you're serious about growing your nail salon, don’t sleep on your past clients. They’re the easiest sale you’ll ever make, if you know how to reach them the right way.
With automated gift cards and discount coupons, you’re not only keeping clients happy, you’re creating a reliable stream of bookings without lifting a finger every time.
And with platforms like Exterly.io, setting it all up is simpler than ever.
So what’s stopping you?
Start automating your client re-engagement today, and watch your appointment book fill up.
