I LOVE Google Apps and use them extensively in my business, and recommend other small businesses consider using the functionality for greater productivity.
My only real issue was the ability to use my Google Calendar as a Booking Calendar. After all, I sync my calendar to my iPod, iPad, Computer and Blackberry – so when people want to book a time to talk to me, it would make sense for them to do so directly into my Google Calendar. To do this, I’ve had to use a third party tool…. and whilst it’s o.k, I really prefer one interface to manage them all.
Yesterday (June 6th), Google announced that they are adding appointment slots in Google Calendar – allowing any individual or business to manage appointment availability online 24/7.
Creating the appointment slots will be as easy as creating a new event – click on your calendar, and select appointment slots. From there you can create a single block of time, or split a larger block of time into smaller appointment slots.
Each calendar will have a separate URL – making it possible to embed the appointment slots right into your website. When someone ‘signs up’ for an appointment, their Google calendar is overlaid showing mutually convenient times – and creating a shared event in both calendars.
Unfortunately, the functionality hadn’t completed rolling out to all Calendars at the time of writing, but through their Blog Google advises it’s just “a matter of days” till it’s rolled out fully.
I am REALLY looking forward to this functionality.
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