As a calendar scheduling project, Cal.com is aware that not everyone is comfortable sending or receiving a calendar link. There are many reasons for this: it might be because you're unsure of the tone to use or because it feels a little bit mechanical. Humans are social creatures, and our communication must reflect that. When people use calendar scheduling links, they often send the same canned message that's a little cold and impersonal. However, things don't need to be like that. We can use calendar scheduling in a people-first, human-centric, and welcoming way. In this article, we'll go over a couple of things you can do to add a little bit of fun, empathy, and humanity to the calendar scheduling process.
Offer your calendar link as a choice
No one likes to be told what to do; it's crucial that when you send a calendar scheduling link, you offer it as a choice. If someone's uncomfortable using calendar scheduling—either because they've had so-so experiences in the past or because it's the first time they're encountering it—telling them that this is the only way they can communicate with you is very off-putting. Instead, you should present your calendar scheduling link as one in a set of choices. Let them know that the calendar scheduling link is easy to use, but if they would instead communicate and collaborate with you via another method, such as phone or email, you're open to that too. By offering the option of using a calendar schedule link or an alternative way of correspondence, you're empowering the person you're talking to so that they have the freedom to choose something new if they want to, without feeling backed up into a corner.
Use warm language
One of the things that many people don't like about receiving a calendar scheduling link is that it can feel brusque. A lot of times, people just send an email that says, “Here's my link. Book me.” While that might be an efficient use of language, it's not necessarily a welcoming use of language. When sending out a calendar scheduling link, it's important to be as engaging and polite as you would be in person, not less. Instead, consider crafting a message: “Hi, how are you doing? I really enjoyed our earlier conversation and would love to continue collaborating in the future. I don't know your schedule, but I have a calendar link we could use to book a meeting. However, if you're uncomfortable using a calendar link and would like to arrange things by sending a couple of emails back and forth instead, that's fine too. Let me know what works for you, and I hope you have a fantastic week.”
Personalize your profile
One of the easiest ways of adding a personal touch to your calendar scheduling environment, and especially your calendar link, is to take the time to customize your Cal.com profile. Each person's Cal.com profile consists of an area for a bio and an uploadable avatar, in addition to their name and URL handle. These two fields are great for sharing a bit about who you are and helping people connect a face and a personality to the link they're about to click on. When uploading a photo as an avatar for your account, choosing one where you look professional, friendly, and personable is best. This doesn't need to be a headshot taken by a professional photographer or anything; it should just be a picture that lets people know what you look like and that you're affable. Your Cal.com bio section is labeled “About.” This is where you can write a couple of lines, add a link or two, and if you want to, tell a joke. The whole idea is that this is an opportunity to share a snapshot of who you are.
Offer bookings with different durations
Let's be honest: a 60- or 90-minute meeting can be a bit intimidating. Actually, even a 45-minute meeting with someone you've never met before can seem like a lot. This is why it's vital to offer meetings of different lengths. This is easy to do since Cal.com doesn't limit the number of bookable events our users can create. Offering 10- and 15-minute meeting slots is a great way to reduce the pressure people might feel when they look at your booking page. A 10- or 15-minute meeting is a quick chat and a get-to-know-you. If the person feels comfortable after that brief meeting, they can always book a longer one in the future. In addition, If you don't want to have many different event types, you can add a little message to your event description. The message can say something like, "Even though this is a 30-minute meeting slot, it's okay if the meeting ends up being 5 or 10 minutes long."
Install our Giphy app
Another great way to add a dash of fun to the calendar scheduling experience is to install our Giphy app. Using Giphy means the ability to add various stickers and memes as part of your calendar scheduling environment. This is a great way to add a bit of humor to your booking confirmation page. It’s useful because it provides an easy way to share some personality and fun with your prospective audience. It also helps to ensure every booking ends on a positive and memorable note.
Offer different types of meetings
Everyone has different ways of communicating and different communication preferences. Some people may not love using a booking link because they automatically associate it with having to participate in a Zoom call. At Cal.com, however, anyone can use booking links for any type of meeting. Our infrastructure doesn't require you to limit your bookable events to those hosted via video conference. You can meet in person, over the phone, or via chat if you install one of our Telegram, WhatsApp, or Signal apps. You can also take the opportunity to make meeting locations part of the event name. This makes it easier for people to understand that they have choices. For example, you could have a link for people who want to book a chat-based meeting or a conversation over the phone. By calling that event "A quick phone call" or "Let’s chat via text," it makes it easier for people to choose the booking that's right for them.
Use it with Discord
Discord is one of the most popular virtual socialization platforms on the internet right now. People use Discord communities for everything from running game nights to book clubs to playing tabletop RPGs at a distance. One of the great things about Discord is that it also offers text-based chat and built-in capabilities for voice chat and video conferencing. Installing Cal.com's app for Discord means that you can set your Discord server as the location of a virtual meeting. It’s an excellent option for people interested in virtual community building.
Use QR Codes
You may or may not have noticed that Cal.com has a QR code app. Many people use this app to generate QR codes they print on business cards and postcards. However, there are other ways of using Cal.com's QR codes. You can incorporate the generated QR code as part of a web banner or make it part of your email signature. If you want, you can print fun stickers and include your QR code on them, then give them out to friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. When using QR codes, you're only limited by your imagination.
As you can tell, there are many ways to add a personal touch to your Cal.com booking link and events. You might have ideas for tips and tricks that I still need to mention. If you do, we'd love for you to tweet your favorite calendar scheduling tips and tricks at @calcom. Thanks for taking the time to read this article, and we hope your calendar scheduling experience is as fun and personable as it is efficient.
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