For coaches, consultants, and freelancers who want visitors to book a time directly from their UniLink page — without back-and-forth DMs or a separate scheduling tool.
- The Appointment block adds a live calendar booking widget to your page — visitors pick a date and time, you get a confirmation.
- Prerequisite: you need a UniLink account on a plan that includes scheduling (Pro or higher).
- The setting that trips most people up: buffer time defaults to 0, which means back-to-back bookings with no gap between them.
- Most common mistake: not connecting Google Calendar — without it, every slot appears available even if you're already busy.
You're losing bookings right now because visitors have to DM you to ask about availability, wait for you to respond, go back and forth on timing, and then confirm manually. Most of them give up somewhere in that process. The Appointment block eliminates every one of those steps — a visitor lands on your page, sees your real availability, picks a slot, and you both get a confirmation. That's it.
What the Appointment block does
The Appointment block embeds a full scheduling widget directly into your UniLink page. Visitors see a calendar showing your available dates, click a day, pick an open time slot, fill in their name and email, and submit. You receive a notification and both parties get a confirmation email. From the visitor's perspective it feels like booking a table at a restaurant — immediate, frictionless, no waiting. From your side, it means every booking is logged in UniLink's built-in booking dashboard with the client's details, the time slot, and the service.
The block integrates with Google Calendar for two-way sync. When you connect your Google Calendar, the Appointment block reads your existing events and automatically hides any slots where you're already busy. When a new booking comes in, it writes that event back to your Google Calendar. You can also connect Stripe or PayPal to charge for appointments — the client pays at the time of booking, so you're not chasing invoices after the session. Confirmation emails go out automatically, and you can customize the message template to include prep instructions, Zoom links, or anything else the client needs to know before you meet.
What the Appointment block doesn't do: it handles a single service type only. If you offer a 30-minute intro call, a 60-minute strategy session, and a 2-hour workshop, the Appointment block can't let the visitor choose between those. For multi-service businesses, the Booking block is the better fit. The Appointment block also doesn't support group bookings — one slot goes to one client. And it won't send automated reminders or follow-ups beyond the initial confirmation email; those require separate tools.
Before you start
Three things need to be in place before the block will work correctly. Skip any of these and you'll either see errors when visitors try to book, or you'll get double-booked because the block doesn't know your real availability.
- Confirm your plan: Scheduling features are available on UniLink Pro and higher. If you're on the free plan, you'll see the Appointment block in the editor but it will prompt you to upgrade when a visitor tries to complete a booking. Go to Settings → Billing to check or upgrade your plan.
- Connect Google Calendar: Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar and authorize the connection. Select which calendar the block should read for busy times and write new bookings to. If you have multiple Google Calendars (personal, work, family), make sure you connect the right one — the block only reads one.
- Connect a payment processor (if charging for appointments): Go to Settings → Payments and connect Stripe or PayPal. You'll need your account credentials and a payout bank account set up on the payment platform side. This step is only required if you plan to charge — free appointments work without it.
How to add the Appointment block to your page
- Open the editor: Go to your UniLink Dashboard and click Edit on the page where you want to add scheduling.
- Add the block: Click the + Add Block button. In the block picker, scroll to the Scheduling section (or type "appointment" in the search field). Click Appointment Block to add it.
- Name your service: In the block settings panel on the right, type the name visitors will see — for example "Strategy Call" or "1:1 Coaching Session." This is what appears above the calendar widget on your page.
- Set the duration: Choose from the dropdown: 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Pick the actual length of the session, not a rounded estimate — the block uses this to calculate which slots are long enough to offer.
- Configure availability: Under Available Days, toggle on the days of the week you want to accept bookings. Then set your available hours for each day (e.g., Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM). You can set different hours per day if your schedule isn't uniform.
- Set buffer time: This is the gap the block leaves between appointments. If you need 15 minutes between sessions to reset, take notes, or travel between locations, set it here. The default is 0 — change it before publishing.
- Set advance notice: This controls how far in advance someone must book. If you need at least 24 hours to prepare for a session, set Advance Notice to 24 hours. Slots within that window won't be shown as available.
- Configure payment (optional): Toggle on Paid Appointment and set the price. The currency follows your payment processor's settings. The client will be prompted to pay via Stripe or PayPal at the end of the booking flow.
- Customize the confirmation email: Click the Confirmation Email tab in the block settings. Edit the subject line and body. This is a good place to include a Zoom link, your address, prep work the client should do, or your cancellation policy.
- Save and publish: Click Save in the editor, then Publish. Your Appointment block is now live. Test it by visiting your page and completing a booking yourself — check that you receive the confirmation email and that the event appears in your Google Calendar.
Key settings explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | The length of each bookable slot. The block only offers slots with enough consecutive free time to fit this duration. | Match your actual session length. Setting it shorter to "show more availability" results in double-booked time. |
| Buffer Time | The gap added after each appointment before the next slot opens. Invisible to the client — they just see fewer available times. | Set to at least 15 minutes for any back-to-back-heavy schedule. 0 is the default but almost never the right choice. |
| Advance Notice | The minimum lead time required for a booking. Prevents last-minute same-day bookings you can't prepare for. | 24 hours is a safe default. Set to 48–72 hours if your sessions require significant prep work. |
| Max Bookings Per Day | Caps the total number of appointments that can be booked on any single day, regardless of calendar availability. | Use this if you have high-energy sessions and know that 4 back-to-back is your practical ceiling even if the calendar shows more slots open. |
| Timezone Display | Determines whether the calendar shows times in your timezone or adjusts to the visitor's local timezone. | Always enable Visitor Timezone. If you're in New York booking with a London client, they should see your slots in their local time — otherwise they'll misread the appointment. |
| Paid Appointment | Enables payment collection at booking. Client can't complete the booking without paying. | Enable this unless you have a specific reason to bill separately. Pre-payment eliminates no-shows dramatically. |
How to get more bookings
Placement on your page matters more than most people realize. The Appointment block should be the first or second block a visitor sees when they scroll past your introduction — not buried at the bottom after three links, a newsletter signup, and your social feeds. Most visitors who are interested in booking already know why they're on your page; they're looking for the booking widget, not more content. Put it where they'll find it in the first ten seconds.
The copy above the block is conversion real estate. The default label "Book a Session" is generic. Instead, write something that frames the outcome: "Book a Free 30-Minute Strategy Call," "Schedule Your First Coaching Session," or "Reserve Your Spot This Week." Tell the visitor exactly what they're getting and why now is the right time. If you have limited availability, mention it honestly — "Usually 3–4 slots available per week" creates legitimate urgency without being manipulative.
Prepayment reduces no-shows, but it also raises the perceived commitment barrier for cold visitors. One workaround that works well: offer a free first consultation (no payment required) via the Appointment block, and on your confirmation email include a clear call to action to book the paid follow-up. You warm the lead with a free slot, then convert at the second touch when they've already experienced your value. This two-step flow outperforms paid-only booking for most coaches and consultants working with new audiences.
After each session, send a personal follow-up email within 24 hours. The confirmation email template in the block settings is for pre-session logistics — it's not a substitute for a genuine human touchpoint after the session. Ask how they found the session helpful, include a direct link back to your booking page for scheduling the next one, and mention any homework or next steps. That message is what turns a one-time client into a recurring booking, and recurring bookings are what make scheduling infrastructure worth the setup time.
Troubleshooting common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| All time slots show as unavailable | Your Google Calendar has events blocking every window, or your available hours are set too narrowly relative to your session duration and buffer time. | Check Google Calendar for all-day events or recurring blocks that might be covering your schedule. Also verify that your available hours window is long enough to fit at least one appointment plus buffer. A 60-minute session with 15-minute buffer requires at least a 75-minute open window. |
| Clients are booking slots when you're already busy | Google Calendar is not connected, or it's connected to the wrong calendar. | Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar. Disconnect and reconnect, making sure to select the correct calendar from the dropdown during setup. All-day events must be on the same calendar the block is reading to be recognized as busy time. |
| Confirmation email is going to spam | The confirmation email domain reputation or your email content may be triggering spam filters. | Avoid using all-caps, excessive exclamation marks, or phrases like "FREE!!!" in your confirmation email template. The sending domain is UniLink's infrastructure — you can't change that — but your subject line and body content affect deliverability. Ask clients to add your confirmation address to their contacts. |
| Block shows "Upgrade to accept bookings" to visitors | Your UniLink account is on the free plan or the plan doesn't include scheduling. | Go to Settings → Billing and upgrade to Pro or higher. The block editor lets you configure everything on any plan, but live booking requires a paid plan. |
| Payment is failing at checkout | Stripe or PayPal is not fully set up — often a missing payout bank account or an unverified merchant account. | Log into your Stripe or PayPal dashboard directly and check for any pending verification steps. A connected account that isn't fully verified will accept test transactions but reject live ones. Also confirm you're in live mode, not test mode, on the payment processor side. |
| New bookings aren't appearing in Google Calendar | The Google Calendar connection token has expired or been revoked. | Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar, click Disconnect, and reconnect. Google OAuth tokens can expire if you change your Google account password or revoke access from Google's security settings. After reconnecting, test with a new booking. |
Best fit for
- Coaches, consultants, and therapists who offer a single session type (e.g., "60-minute coaching call")
- Freelancers and tutors who want to replace back-and-forth DMs with self-serve booking
- Creators who offer 1:1 paid time as a product (ask me anything, portfolio reviews, strategy sessions)
- Service providers with a straightforward weekly schedule who need Google Calendar blocking to prevent double-booking
- Anyone running a paid appointment-based service who wants upfront payment without a separate invoicing tool
Not the right tool if
- You offer multiple service types with different durations or prices — use the Booking block instead
- You need team scheduling (multiple staff members with separate calendars) — UniLink's Appointment block is single-user
- You need automated reminder emails before the appointment — the block sends a single confirmation only
- You need complex recurring booking rules (e.g., memberships with a set number of sessions per month)
- You run group sessions or classes where multiple people book the same slot — the group booking feature is on the Booking block, not Appointment
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge for appointments?
Yes. Connect Stripe or PayPal in Settings → Payments, then enable Paid Appointment in the Appointment block settings and enter your price. Clients pay at the time of booking — they can't complete the booking flow without completing payment. You receive a payout on your normal payment processor schedule (typically 2–7 business days depending on your Stripe or PayPal settings).
What happens if a client needs to cancel?
Clients receive a confirmation email with a cancellation link. When they cancel, you get a notification and the slot reopens on your calendar. If you collected payment, refunds are not handled automatically — you'll need to process them manually through your Stripe or PayPal dashboard. Consider adding a cancellation policy to your confirmation email template so clients know the refund terms upfront.
Can I have different availability on different days?
Yes. In the block settings under Available Days, you can toggle each day independently and set separate available hours per day. For example, Monday through Wednesday can be 9 AM–12 PM and Thursday–Friday can be 1 PM–5 PM. Days you leave toggled off won't show any available slots regardless of what your calendar shows.
Will the block automatically adjust for different timezones?
Yes, if you enable the Visitor Timezone setting. When enabled, the calendar displays your available slots in the visitor's local timezone, detected from their browser. Your own dashboard and confirmation emails show the booking in your timezone. Always leave this on — if a client in a different timezone books based on your raw timezone times, they'll show up at the wrong time.
Can I add more than one Appointment block to my page?
You can add multiple Appointment blocks to a single page, which is useful if you want to offer two separate services with different durations. For example, one block for a free 20-minute discovery call and a second block for a paid 90-minute deep-dive. Each block has its own settings, availability, and payment configuration. Make sure each block has a clearly labeled service name so visitors know which one to use.
- The Appointment block lets visitors book directly from your UniLink page without any back-and-forth — calendar, confirmation email, and optional payment are all built in.
- Connect Google Calendar before publishing or every slot will appear open even when you're busy, leading to double-bookings.
- Buffer time defaults to 0 — set it to at least 15 minutes unless you genuinely want back-to-back sessions with zero gap.
- Requiring upfront payment is the single most effective way to reduce no-shows; even a small deposit changes client commitment significantly.
- If you offer multiple service types with different durations or prices, the Booking block handles that use case — Appointment block is best for a single session type.
Ready to start taking bookings? Create your free UniLink page and add your first Appointment block today.