Get started · 6 min read
Getting started
From sign-up to a booking link people can use - in about five minutes.
DayOtter turns the calendars you already keep into a link other people can book - without the email tennis, the double-bookings, or the timezone math. This guide walks the whole path once, so you know where everything lives before you go deeper on any one piece.
There are two ways to use DayOtter, and you can mix them freely: share a link and let people book themselves, or just tell Otter (the built-in assistant) what you want and approve the draft. Nothing here requires the AI - it's there when you want it.
The five-minute setup
- Create your account at /sign-up with email, Google, or your phone number.
- Connect a calendar (Settings → Calendars) so DayOtter can see when you're already busy. This is what prevents double-bookings.
- Set the hours you're open under Availability - the only times DayOtter will ever offer.
- Create a booking type under Booking Types - say, a 30-minute intro call - with its length, location, and any questions you want answered up front.
- Copy your booking link from the dashboard and share it, or add it to your email signature and website.
Tip
In a hurry? After connecting a calendar, open Ask Otter and say “create a 30-minute intro call.” It drafts the booking type for you - review it and tap Confirm.
What happens when someone books
They open your link and see only the times you're genuinely free - computed against every calendar you connected, in their own timezone. They pick a slot, answer any intake questions, and confirm.
The meeting is written to your calendar with a video link attached (Google Meet, Zoom, or Teams, depending on the booking type). Both of you get a confirmation email, and reminders go out automatically before it starts. If you take payment, they pay at this step and the slot is held only once payment clears.
Find your way around
- Home - today and this week at a glance, plus Otter and “Otter noticed” suggestions.
- Booking Types - the meeting templates people book from.
- Availability - weekly hours, date overrides, and the defenses that protect your time.
- Bookings - everything scheduled: reschedule, cancel, or mark a no-show.
- Teams, Routing, Polls - the group tools (all free to self-host, no paywall).
- Insights - where your time actually goes, and your booking funnel.
- Settings - calendars, notifications, payments, CRM, billing, and the developer tools.
Sensible next steps
- Add reminder channels (Slack, SMS, WhatsApp, push) so nudges reach you where you already are.
- Protect focus time with buffers, daily limits, and focus blocks so meetings don't eat the day.
- Brand your public page with a colour, a welcome message, and your logo.
- Invite teammates and share availability if you schedule as a group.
Related guides
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