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Best online appointment/meeting scheduler?
Can you recommend a great online scheduling software? I have endless phone calls daily - and a few face to face meetings per week. I'm weighing hiring an assistant to handle scheduling, but I'd much rather send a client a hyperlink that shows when I'm available, lets them click their preferred time, and then synchs with my ACT!, Outlook or any other type of calendar. I don't want my clients to have to type in their addresses or enroll in any service to schedule with me; I will need to be able to block out times for things I schedule myself; and I will need to be able to allow clients to change/alter the time, date or even place on occasion and I be notified right away (if it's the same day). Anyone have any ideas?
Best Answer
- Recommended by:
- Craig Rosenberg
I'm an insane Tungle fan - I've been using them for about as long as they've been around. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. Here are just a few reasons why
First - the other people that you invite DON'T have to register or use the program to get the benefit.
Perhaps THE BIGGEST benefit that I absolutely adore is the fact that I never have to worry about time zones again. NEVER. I don't know how they do it, but everyone sees the time availability in THEIR HOME time zone. No more adding or subtracting!
They have Tungle Apps for the iPhone and the Blackberry - I don't think it's on the Android yet (too bad)
I use the Tungle icon in my signature and people often use that to find a good time to chat with me.
Please don't think that I have anything to gain from raving about Tungle - I don't- I use it multiple times a day with people all over the world have have had very little trouble with it.
I have had a couple people say they couldn't use it with their computer or browser - I'm not sure why, but those are few and far between. The benefits far outweigh any limitations.
- Recommended by:
- Debbie Laskey MBA
I was using Tungle.me but my new employer will not authorize me to download it yet due to security concerns. Not sure how many others experience this challenge, though... we're pretty locked down due to HIPPA and risks to production systems - valid concerns.
On the bright side I was told that the concept was viewed as helpful and was advised that the company would look at secure options for an enterprise solution, later this year (also allowing for easy scheduling between those inside and outside our organization). I will investigate TimeTrade and see if that might be more acceptable, or at least if it can be added to the investigation. Thanks for the tip.
Interesting about the security concern, thanks for the introduction to Tungle.me.
I use Tungle and frankly, it's hard for me to know whether it's good or bad. I make a lot of appointments with people but don't ask them to do it via Tungle. In other words, I have it and make it available, but don't really know how I can use it to my advantage.
I don't know how many of the b2b folks are using it, but I can see some incredible applications for the appointment scheduling tools:
Hair salons
Spas
Restaurants (I guess open table has that market...but nonetheless)
Trish Bertuzzi has written in the past that she uses TimeTrade and seems to like it: http://www.focus.com/questions/sales/timetrade-anyone-using-timetrade/
Tungle has 2-way sync with Outlook, which means the online calendar is always up to date with my appointments regardless of where I schedule them.
Genbook (www.genbook.com) only syncs one way, Genbook to Outlook, but it looks like it would be more user friendly for the hair salons and spas Craig mentioned. As long as all appointments are scheduled online.
Thanks for your responses, everyone. I'm in the midst of TimeTrade's trial and I am STUNNED at how much easier and happier life has become. Only one person has balked at electronic scheduling, a client who - as my late grandfather would have said - already thinks he's "too big for his britches." Thanks everyone.
Hi Wendy, Nancy's answer is the best isn't it? I asked the exact same question yesterday.
http://www.focus.com/questions/sales/besides-tungle-what-are-other-calendarin...
Hi Wendy,
An update to tell you about. We just published the 29 page buyer's guide on Web-Based Scheduling solutions. Anyone can download it by going to our homepage. http://www.smartsellingtools.com
Nancy
Since this guide is not longer available from our homepage, here is a direct link:
Web-Based Scheduling Buyer Guide
Here is an updated link for the Web-Based Scheduling Buyers Guide: http://ow.ly/aKI5v
For scheduling a meeting online using screen sharing and video conferencing, consider Banckle Online Meeting http://banckle.com/apps/online-meeting/default.html. It’s a web based online meeting solution and offers a free evaluation trial that lasts for 1 complete year.
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Hi Wendy,
You can see a list of appointment scheduling software tools on our site. And we're publishing a buyer's guide on appointment scheduling tools in a week.
I've been using TimeTrade personally and I love it. Tungle.me is also good.
Nancy
smartsellingtools.com