Business Growth ❓ Question

Has anyone built their whole website around Trafft's booking widget?

Owen Murphy 👑 VIP
👑 VIP Lash Artist · Leeds · 4mo ago
Quick question for anyone using Trafft — does the Instagram integration actually work properly? I see a lot of salons with a 'Book Now' button on their profile and I've been told Trafft can set this up. I tried following the instructions but it's still showing an error. Is it a known bug or am I doing something wrong? Running a barbershop in Liverpool if that makes any difference.
#deposits #admin #tech-tools #sole-trader
💬 9 Replies 👁 1.3K Views

💬 9 Replies

Join the conversation! You need to be logged in to reply.

Sign In Create Account
Amber Young 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 4mo ago · 17 posts
Honestly? Just go with BookPin. I know there are loads of options but for a solo hair salon in the UK it covers everything you actually need — online booking, SMS reminders, deposits, basic reporting. Don't overthink it. Half the features on the premium plans you'll never use.
#1
Ivy Richardson 👑 VIP
👑 VIP 4mo ago · 18 posts
For a mobile aesthetics clinic I'd go with Fresha every time. You can set a service area rather than a fixed address, clients can see your availability, and the automated confirmations include all the details they need. Works perfectly without needing a physical premises.
#2
Isabella Thornton 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 14 posts
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. BookPin has a free plan that's genuinely functional. Start there, learn the system, then upgrade when you actually need the paid features. Don't let the choice paralysis stop you from just getting on with it.
#3
Sarah Brown 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 15 posts
The Instagram booking integration on Vagaro was a bit fiddly to set up but it does work. The issue is usually the Facebook Business account connection — make sure your Instagram is properly linked to a Facebook page first, then the Vagaro integration finds it straight away.
#4
Chloe Graham 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 14 posts
The waiting list feature on Treatwell is genuinely good — better than any other system I've tried. When a cancellation comes in it automatically notifies the next person on the waiting list. Has filled four last-minute slots for me this month alone.
#5
Evie Bennett 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 13 posts
I tested BookPin and Phorest side by side for a month. BookPin won on price, Phorest won on features. For a solo brow studio just starting out, BookPin's free plan is hard to argue with. You can always switch later once you know exactly what you need.
#6
Sarah Henderson 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 12 posts
I was asking myself this a year ago. Best decision I ever made was just picking one and starting. SimplyBook.me has a free plan that's genuinely functional. Start there, learn the system, then upgrade when you actually need the paid features. Don't let the choice paralysis stop you from just getting on with it.
#7
Quinn Wood 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 13 posts
For deposits specifically, Fresha is really smooth. The client gets a card payment screen as part of the booking flow — it doesn't feel like a separate step or like you're being suspicious of them. I take £30 on everything and no one has complained since I set it up properly.
#8
Jamie Graham 🏪 VIP Seller
🥇 Gold Seller 4mo ago · 14 posts
I switched from SimplyBook.me to Square Appointments about 3 months ago and the main thing I noticed was the client-facing booking page. Square Appointments's is just cleaner and clients seem to complete the booking without getting confused halfway through. If you're worried about looking professional, that matters more than you'd think.
#9