How to Add a Link to a Calendar Event in a Chatbot
You can add an event link from Google and other calendars to SendPulse chatbot so that users can add your events to their calendars. For example, when booking a table in a restaurant or announcements of various events — webinars, master classes, or starting a promotion in a store.
In this article, we'll look at generating a link in Google Calendar and adding it to a chatbot flow.
How to Create an Event Link in Google Calendar
To make your Google Calendar event data available to users, make it public. To do this, in the upper right corner, click on the gear icon and select "Settings."
On the left, select the calendar you want to make public.
In the "Access permissions for events" tab, select "Make available to public."
Exit calendar settings. Click the Create button, then click "Event."
Enter the name of the event, select the date, locations, and more.
To make the event data, including a description and attachments, available for viewing by any user, select "Public" in the privacy settings.
Click the Save button.
Double click on the created event.
From the "More actions" drop-down menu, select "Publish event."
Copy the event link.
You can create links to events in other services like Office 365, Yahoo Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, or use link generators like labnol.org.
How to Create an Ics File for a Google Calendar Event
If your users use offline calendars, you can create an ics file and attach a link to the template.
Ics file can be opened with the following programs and services:
- In Windows via Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Sunbird, Microsoft Works, IBM Lotus Notes, eM Client, Novell GroupWise, Mozilla Thunderbird with Lightning plugin, SeaMonkey with Lightning plugin, ABC Amber iCalendar Converter.
- In macOS via Apple iCal, Mozilla Sunbird, IBM Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Mozilla Thunderbird with Lightning plugin, SeaMonkey with Lightning plugin.
- In Linux via Mozilla Sunbird, Horde Kronolith, Claws Mail with vCalendar plugin, IBM Lotus Notes, Evolution, Novell GroupWise, Mozilla Thunderbird with Lightning plugin, SeaMonkey with Lightning plugin.
- Via Google Calendar, Yahoo! Calendar web-services.
Create your event as described in "How to Create an Event Link in Google Calendar."
Please note that the calendar does not have to be public, because you do not share access to the calendar online, but give the subscriber a copy of the data.
Go to settings and select the calendar in which you created the event.
Click the Export calendar button.
The required ics file is exported in a zip archive to the user’s computer or phone.
You can upload the ics file to any file hosting service and add a link to the email template.
How to Add a Link to a Chatbot Flow
Select a chatbot and a flow in which you want to add the event link.
Add a "Message" element to the flow and enter text to invite users to add the event to their calendars.
Click + Add a button.
Enter text to display on the button. Select the "URL" button type. In the "URL" field, paste the event link and click Save.
You can also create a dynamic link to add an event to your calendar by storing the user-specified time and date in an audience variable and applying date and time modifiers. Read more in the article: "How to use variable modifiers in chatbots".
Click the Apply button.
How can a user add an event to their calendar?
When the users click on the "Add to Calendar" button, they will be prompted to follow the link.
After clicking on the link, the user can customize the event — specify a new name, add a location, description, and other data.
Then, the user will click the Save button and the event will be saved in their calendar.
Last Updated: 27.02.2023
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