Online Sessions (Video Calls)

Most appointments in Timeblu are on-site, but you can mark any service as an online session. When you do, every booking of that service automatically gets a unique video call link, added to the confirmation screen, the confirmation and reminder emails, and the calendar invite. No setup, no accounts, and no extra cost.

Online sessions are available on every plan, including Free. There is nothing to configure beyond flipping a single setting on the service.

How It Works

Video calls are powered by Jitsi Meet , an open-source video platform that runs in the browser. When a client books an online service, Timeblu generates a private meeting room that is unique to that booking and includes it everywhere the appointment appears.

No account needed for your clients. They click a button and join in the browser.
No integration to set up. You do not connect Zoom, Google, or Microsoft. It just works.
A unique room per booking. Two different appointments never share a room, and room names are unguessable.

Marking a Service as Online

Go to Services
Create a new service or edit an existing one
In the Location setting, choose Online (video call)
Save

That is the whole setup. Every calendar linked to the service can host the call, so there is nothing to configure per specialist.

A service is either in person or online. If you offer the same appointment both ways (for example, “Consultation - In person” and “Consultation - Online”), create two services so clients can choose which one they want.

What Clients See

When a service is online:

An “Online session” badge appears next to the service on the booking confirmation
A “Join video call” button appears once the booking is confirmed
The same link is included in the confirmation email, the reschedule email, and every reminder (email and SMS)
The calendar invite (.ics) attached to the email carries the link too, so it shows up directly on the client’s calendar event

Where You See It

As the coach, the join link is on the appointment in your dashboard. Open the session from the calendar and click Join video call to enter the same room as your client.

Joining the Call

The video room is simply a web link, so it is always live. You and your client can open it at any time - a few minutes before, exactly on time, or right after - and there is no “waiting room” or start-time lock.

Because the link is always active, anyone who has it can join. The room name is random and effectively impossible to guess, but if a client forwards their confirmation email, the recipient could enter. For sensitive sessions, keep that in mind.

On the public Jitsi service, the host (you) may be asked to sign in once with Google, GitHub, or email to start a meeting. Clients joining afterwards are not asked to sign in.

Rescheduling and Cancelling

Rescheduling keeps the same video link. Moving the time does not change the room, so any link already in the client’s inbox or calendar keeps working.
Cancelling needs no cleanup. There is no external meeting to delete - the room simply stops being used.

Good Fit

A remote discovery or intake call before an in-person engagement
An occasional follow-up that does not need to be on-site
Any service where being in the same room is not required

Timeblu is built for on-site, service-first booking. Online sessions are a lightweight option for the occasional remote appointment - not a replacement for a dedicated video-meeting tool.

Troubleshooting

The “Join video call” button is missing

Confirm the service’s Location is set to Online (video call)
The join link appears once the booking is confirmed (after the client clicks the email confirmation link, or immediately for deposit-paid bookings)

The client says the link does not open

The call opens in the browser; ask them to allow camera and microphone access
Some corporate networks block video services - suggest a personal device or network

I want my own branding or a waiting room

The default uses the free public Jitsi service, which is unbranded. A branded, time-gated experience is possible as a future enhancement - contact us if this matters for your business.