Website Builder with Scheduler - Gmail Forwarding Account (Required)
Applies to: Customers using the Website Builder + Scheduler package on HostAfrica.
Jonathan Y
Last Update 9 months ago
⚠️ Note: The Scheduler plugin cannot be directly connected to your domain-based email address. It supports integrations with major online calendar services such as Google (Gmail), Outlook.com, Office365, Exchange, and iCloud.
For best compatibility, HostAfrica recommends using a Gmail (Google) account.
Follow these steps to connect your Google Calendar and start setting up your booking services.
1. Go to the HostAfrica Client Area and log in.
2. Click on your active “Site Builder” product tile.
3. Click the “Builder” option for the website you want to manage.
4. In the website builder, open the Menu.
5. Click on Appointments to begin the setup:
6. On the setup screen - click the "Connect your Calendar" button
7. Choose Google from the integration options.
Agree to the terms and click “Link Google Account”.
8. You will be prompted to select the account that you wish to use or you can choose to use another Google account.
Select your preferred option to continue.
Once you have selected the account - you will be asked to accept the notification on the next page and allow access between the builder, cronify and your Google Account.
Click on Continue
A summary will be displayed to confirm what access the Application has to your Google account.
Click continue to move to the next step.
After the Google account is successfully linked, you can then configure the business hours, logo display, email address and marketing consent options from the setup screen.
Once you have configured these options, click on the Save button at the bottom of the screen.
9. Payments (optional) (can be skipped)
If your bookings require a payment you can elect to Add Payment Method on the next screen
This option can be skipped if you do not take payments for bookings.
10. Video Calls (optional) (can be skipped)
You may be taking appointments for online meetings or seminars in which case you would want to configure Video calls.
11. Service Setup
You need to configure services that people can book from your site
The service setup is where this would be created, much like creating a product you are selling.
Select your service type - this can be for an Event or for an Appointment
-- Configure the service details
This will allow you to create a name for each service, provide a basic description, upload a relevant identifying image and set the duration of the appointment or booking.
-- Configure a Customer information document if required.
This is a document in the form of a PDF that can be sent to the customer on successful booking reservation
-- Service Delivery
You can select whether the service is an online event, or whether it takes place at a physical location.
You can provide custom instructions here for your customer.
-- Service Status
This is used to toggle the availability of the service, whether it is public, or private.
If Private, the link needs to be shared directly with your user and the bookings are not publicly available on the website.
-- Payment and Booking Information
You can set the pricing options of for the booking if you have added a payment method
-- Booking Information
This can contain any other information pertinent to the customers booking of the event or appointment and will be sent in the booking confirmation and the reminder emails.
-- Scheduling
You can set the amount of time in advance that a customer should book with you in the notice time section
Buffer time is the time that you need between bookings and this will assist in the timeslots available for the customer to reserve.
Once you have saved a service, you will be able to add more if you need to - you can have multiple services available for booking from your site.
Once complete, you can choose whether to publish the services now, or publish later.
Once published, the services tab will be available in the website menu.
For each service that you have created, there will now be a block with a "Book Now" button and customer can book your time.
Customers will be able to now select the time slots available in the intervals that you have created on the Appointment setup.
