Letting customers book an appointment

Instead of agreeing on a time over the phone, you send the customer a link. They see the free times and book themselves; the appointment then sits on the record and in the calendars.

A link belongs to one record

Each invitation is for one record and one guest and is used up after booking. Passing the link on gives away no further appointments. Once it has expired, the page names the account's address.

It offers whoever is free

The page shows the union of the free times of all hosts who can take it. More people means more times. Appointments already set, days off and the notice period are taken out.

The host is chosen at booking

If the record's assignee is free at the chosen time, they get the appointment. Otherwise whoever has the fewest open appointments gets it. If two guests book the same slot, one wins and the other sees new times.

Booking inside a form, without a link

A form can carry the scheduling step as a block. In the form builder you place Pick a time on a page like a field; the visitor picks a time there, and on submit both the record and the appointment exist. For a record that already exists, your website passes its token and the form books for it. Times are offered and assigned as with the link. If the slot has been taken in the meantime, the visitor picks again.

One reminder

Before the appointment the guest gets a reminder, as many days ahead as the account sets. Someone who books shortly before gets no second email: the confirmation is the reminder.

Step by step

1. In the account settings, "Appointments" tab, enter the link to the privacy policy.
2. Each host sets their bookable hours under "My hours" in their profile and opens them for bookings.
3. On the record, in the "Tasks" tab, choose "Propose appointment", check title and duration, then "Send invitation".

Does the customer have to enter a name and email to book?

No. They pick a day and a time and book with one click. Name and address come from the record: the invitation went to that address, or they just entered it in the form. The page shows where the confirmation goes. If the record has no address, the appointment still stands, just without a confirmation email.

Why is "Propose appointment" locked?

The account lacks an outgoing mailbox or the privacy policy link. Both are in the account settings.

Can the customer move or cancel?

Not through the page yet. They reply to the email, and the host moves it on the record. The new invitation replaces the entry in their calendar.

Does the customer see who they will talk to?

Before booking only when exactly one person can take it. Afterwards the name is in the confirmation.

What if nobody is free right now?

The page says no times are free and asks to try later or to reply to the email.

Can I invite automatically?

Yes, with the "Invite to book" step in an automation, for example when a record reaches a certain stage.

Can I offer booking right after my own form?

Yes. If your website sends the inquiry through the API, it adds “booking”. The response then carries a booking link for exactly that record, and no email goes out. With the book.js script your website shows the time slot picker right on its own page: LeadflipBooking.mount(element, link). It takes font and color from the page; set the accent color with --lf-accent.