SPACE GUIDES
Share availability as text or send a booking link?
Choose the approach that fits the conversation and how you confirm appointments.
Sometimes a client needs a few possible times in the conversation you are already having. Sometimes they need a link where they can choose and book a live slot. Both approaches can work; the right choice depends on how much discussion and confirmation the appointment needs.
When sharing availability as text fits
A list of available times is useful when you want to keep the conversation personal, agree the details before confirming, or offer a few options in an existing email or message. The recipient can read the times where they are already talking to you.
SPACE helps prepare that list. It compares your calendar with your working hours and generates availability you can copy, share or export. You then decide where to send it and how to confirm the appointment.
- A new enquiry needs a conversation about the work before a time is agreed.
- You are rescheduling and want to offer a small set of alternatives.
- You want to share a week’s openings in a clear message.
- You prefer to review a reply and confirm the details yourself.
When an automatic booking link fits
A booking link can suit repeatable appointments with a known duration and a clear set of rules. Depending on the service and its settings, the recipient can view live availability, choose a slot and receive a booking confirmation.
Look for the behaviour you actually need: calendar updates, appointment length, buffers, cancellations and how confirmation works. Different services offer different combinations. Some scheduling tools also let you offer specific times in a message, so text and links are not always separate products.
The practical differences
| What matters | Availability as text | Booking link |
|---|---|---|
| Where times appear | Inside your message or email. | Usually on a scheduling page. |
| When the calendar changes | Regenerate and send an updated list. | Live availability may update, depending on integration and settings. |
| How a time is agreed | The recipient replies; you check and confirm. | The recipient may book directly, or request approval. |
| Room for discussion | You can agree scope, duration and details before confirming. | Best when the booking rules are already clear. |
What SPACE does when someone replies
SPACE prepares shareable availability. A copied list does not hold a time, create a booking page or automatically add an appointment when a client replies. Check the chosen time is still free, agree the details and add the confirmed appointment to your calendar.
This matters if you send the same list to several people. More than one person may ask for the same opening. Confirm each appointment against your current calendar and refresh the list before sending it again.
Use the approach that suits the appointment
You might use text for enquiries that need discussion and a booking service for routine sessions. Keep the message clear about what happens next. “Reply with your preferred time and I’ll confirm” makes the manual step explicit.
To try the text workflow, follow our guide to sharing availability on iPhone and adapt a client message template.
For examples of booking-service workflows, see Calendly’s scheduling options and Fantastical Openings. Features and settings vary by service.