Cut no-shows without being pushy
The four settings that reduce no-shows, in the order to switch them on.
No-shows are mostly forgetfulness and friction, not bad faith. Fix those two and the number falls.
1. Reminders with a reschedule link (free, do this first)
Keep Ask for phone number on so reminders go by WhatsApp or SMS as well as email. The reminder the evening before carries a reschedule link, so the people who cannot make it move the booking instead of ghosting.
2. A clear cancellation policy the Secretary can quote
In the knowledge base:
CANCELLATIONS
Please give 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or move your booking. You can move it from the link in your confirmation.
The Secretary tells customers when they book and when they try to cancel late. The policy is yours to state: the reschedule link itself has no cut-off.
3. Prepayment where it hurts most
Set Pay online on the services with the biggest cost to you when someone does not show: long appointments, anything you prepare for, Saturday slots. Where the full price up front would put people off, ask for a booking fee instead: part of the price online to hold the time, the rest at the visit. See Booking fees, full payment, or pay in person. Leave cheaper or regular services on Customer's choice.
4. Mark appointments complete
It sounds unrelated, but the thank-you and review link that follow a completed appointment are what make customers feel expected next time.
Measure it
The Completed card in Appointments shows your completion rate across all your bookings so far: completed ones out of every booking that has ended, cancellations and no-shows included. Ask your Secretary: "How many no-shows did we have this month, and which services?"