How to Find an Online Calendar Service

Online calendars allow you to keep track of your schedule, send yourself e-mail reminders and let others know your availability.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers

1. Decide which features you need, such as scheduling, e-mail reminders, accessibility and so on.
2. Type "online calendar" into a search engine like Google or Yahoo.
3. Visit each site listed in the results. List the advantages and disadvantages of each site.
4. Choose an online calendar site, then register with it. Most sites allow you to customize your preferences, e-mail reminders and how your schedule is displayed.
5. Write down your username and password and store it in a secure place.

Tips & Warnings

• Online calendars are available anywhere you have access to the World Wide Web. Simply enter your name and password to access your personal calendar.
• If you want your schedule to be available to others, search for a site that requires a password to enter your schedule. You can distribute the password to those you want to see your schedule.
• If you can't find an online calendar that fully meets your needs, consider investing in a calendar program, such as Microsoft Outlook. These programs send you reminders and allow you to block out time; however, they're accessible only on your computer.
• Avoid putting confidential and personal information online. Never post your home address, phone number or personal e-mail address.
• When scheduling online, don't block out time with "vacation" or "out of town" messages. Protect your online identity in the same way you protect your home address. Use the "unavailable" option if possible.
• Many online calendars also offer an address book feature. Be careful, however, of entering personal information about others, such as home addresses.