Why You Hate Calendly Links (and Shouldn't)

TLDR: People who say they hate Calendly usually hate the one-size-fits-all link: a booking link that offers everyone the same times every week.

Those links are great for specific types of meetings, like customer support, onboarding sessions, office hours, sales calls, and appointments. They're a bad fit when you use one link for every meeting.

For meetings that matter, hand-pick the times you offer each person. That's what Vimcal's Slots feature is built for.

The hot take

Every so often, someone lights up the internet with a hot take on Calendly. Sam Lessin once called Calendly etiquette "the most raw / naked display of social capital dynamics in business."

This is something I've thought about every day for years, and I shared my take at the time. Here's why you love to hate Calendly, and why you shouldn't.

You don't hate Calendly

First off, you don't hate Calendly. You hate what I call the one-size-fits-all link.

These booking links offer the same times every week on someone's calendar. Every scheduling company in the world has this feature, including Vimcal. Calendly's just the most popular.

It's like blaming Kleenex when your issue's with tissues.

So what's the problem?

Many think it's lazily pasting a URL and saying "you pick," but that's a small part of it.

The problem is that the sender didn't have to give any thought to when they'd like to meet you. Everyone with the link picks from the same times.

I personally love getting these links. I selfishly get to pick when works best for me.

But a lot of people feel like it loses a bit of the human touch. Both sentiments are valid.

Does the power dynamic exist?

Yes.

For example, an investor can send me a Calendly link, but I would never send one to an investor.

Good news? People don't care that much.

When is it good to use a one-size-fits-all link?

When it's meant for a specific type of meeting: customer support, onboarding sessions, office hours, sales calls, and appointments.

It doesn't even matter if you don't know who you're meeting with on the other end.

When is it not good to use one?

When you use one link for every meeting. That can make someone feel like they've been passed off to an EA.

The sender has it worse

Most people complain about receiving one-size-fits-all links, but they're far worse for the sender.

Using one link forces you to open up more of your week than you might like. Are you sure you'll always want calls at 11am on Thursdays?

Why we built Slots

This two-sided problem is precisely why we founded Vimcal and created our Slots feature.

With Slots, you just drag the times you want to offer someone, and we'll type up a personalized message (with time zone and link) for you to easily copy.

The magic is in the dragging. As the sender, you get to hand-pick the best times for your schedule first.

You can batch around existing meetings or only offer times for next week. When someone gets the Slots, they know those times were meant just for them.

Calendly is misunderstood

Calendly is a world-class product that's misused and misunderstood. Use it for the meetings it's built for, and send hand-picked times for the rest.

FAQ

Is it rude to send someone a Calendly link?

It depends on the meeting. For support, onboarding, office hours, sales calls, and appointments, it's normal. For a meeting you asked for, or with someone senior, sending a few hand-picked times usually feels more personal.

Should I send a Calendly link to an investor?

Most founders don't. An investor can send you a link, but when you're the one asking for time, offer a few specific times instead.

What's the alternative to a booking link?

Send a short list of times you've picked for that person. Most people today tediously hand write them. With Vimcal's Slots, you drag the times on your calendar and get a ready-to-paste message with the time zone and a link.

Why do booking links feel impersonal?

Because everyone with the link picks from the same times, so the sender didn't have to think about when they'd like to meet you.

Try Slots

If you've ever run into any of the problems I described, give Vimcal a spin.