As your business grows, your time becomes your most valuable asset.
Booking appointments via email is how almost every business starts. It is personal, direct, and gets the job done. But as your client list expands, managing that back-and-forth can start to eat up hours of your week.
There is a way to keep that personal touch while giving yourself (and your clients) a smoother experience.

Adding a scheduling tool to your website is the natural next step for a scaling business. It reduces administrative work and lets clients connect with you the moment they are ready.

Here are the 3 easiest, most reliable ways to add scheduling to your website—covering most industries.

Option 1: Calendly (The Industry Standard)

Best For: Consultants, coaches, sales teams, and B2B businesses.
Why it works: Calendly is arguably the most recognized booking tool in the world. When a client sees a Calendly link, they intuitively know what to do. It syncs perfectly with your personal calendar (Google, Outlook, etc.) so you never get double-booked.
The "Free" Factor: Their free plan is robust enough for most individuals, allowing you to create one specific "Event Type" (like a 30-minute consultation).

Option 2: Square Appointments (The Service Hero)

Best For: Salons, barbers, spas, and any business with a physical location.
Why it works: If you charge for your time, Square is hard to beat. It handles the booking and the payment in one step. It creates a seamless flow where a client can book a haircut, put down a deposit, and receive a text reminder—all without you lifting a finger.
The "Free" Factor: Square is surprisingly generous. Their free plan includes a free booking site and integrates directly with their Point of Sale (POS) system.

Option 3: Google Appointment Scheduling (The Simple Choice)

Best For: Freelancers and solopreneurs who live in Gmail.
Why it works: If you already pay for Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), you likely already have this feature. It allows you to set "Appointment Slots" directly on your Google Calendar and share a link. It’s not as flashy as Calendly, but it’s free and integrated.
The "Free" Factor: It is included in most paid Google Workspace plans at no extra cost.

Pro Tip: "Embed" It, Don't Just Link It

Here is the secret to making these tools look professional.

The biggest mistake small businesses make is putting a link on their website that says "Click Here to Book." When a user clicks that link, they leave your website and go to Calendly or Square's website.

If they leave your site, you might lose them.

Instead, ask your web designer to embed the calendar.

Step 1: Get the Code. In your tool (like Calendly), look for "Share" > "Add to Website" > "Inline Embed."
Step 2: Paste it on Your Site. Create a dedicated page (e.g., yourbusiness.com/book) and paste the HTML snippet there.
Step 3: Test It. Ensure the calendar loads correctly on mobile devices.

This keeps clients in your ecosystem, builds trust, and keeps your "Time on Site" metrics high (which Google loves).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To help you decide, here are answers to the most common questions about online booking.

Is Calendly better than Google Calendar? For external clients, Calendly is generally better. It offers a more polished, branded experience and handles time zone detection automatically. Google's tool is powerful but feels more "internal."

Can I take payments when people book online? Yes. Square Appointments has payment processing built-in. Calendly can also collect payments (deposits or full fees) if you integrate it with Stripe or PayPal, though this usually requires a paid plan.

Does embedding a calendar slow down my website? It can if not done correctly. To keep your site fast, we recommend placing the booking calendar on its own dedicated page (like /book) rather than putting it heavily on your Homepage. This keeps your main landing page lightning fast.

Make It Easy to Pay You

The easier you make it for a client to get on your calendar, the faster your business will grow.

Stop playing "email tag." Choose one of these tools, embed it on your site, and watch your schedule fill up automatically.

If you found this information helpful and want your questions answered with out all the jargon and tech-talk, click here to send us a message.

How to Add Online Booking and Appointment Scheduling to Your Website