Combine Outlook's recurrence settings with ContactMonkey's file linking feature to give email recipients the ability to download a recurring calendar invite.
Note: This workaround only works in Classic Outlook.
Step 1: Create Your Recurring Invite
- Open Outlook and click the calendar icon on the left
- Click New Meeting
- Add your event details (title, location, description, agenda)
- Set your desired date and time for the first occurrence
- Click Make Recurring
- Configure your recurrence pattern (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
- Click OK
- Click the down arrow beside the forward icon and select Forward as iCalendar
- A new message window will open with the invite attached as an .ics file
- Drag the .ics attachment to your desktop to save it
Note: The file will be named after your meeting title (e.g., "Weekly Team Meeting.ics").
Step 2: Upload the Invite to ContactMonkey
- Open your desired email draft in the Email Builder
- Add a button where you want recipients to access the invite
- Configure its text and design to match your campaign's aesthetic
- Click Link File in the Action section of the button's properties menu
- Click Upload
- Browse and select your downloaded .ics file
- Once the file is uploaded to your File Manager, check the box next to it
- Click Insert
The file is now linked to your button or text.
Step 3: Send Your Email
When recipients receive your email and click the button, the .ics file will download to their device. They can then open the file to add the recurring meeting series to their calendar.
Tips for Best Results
- Use clear, action-oriented button text like "Add Recurring Meeting" instead of generic labels
- Test the download by sending a test email to yourself before sending to your full list
- Consider including brief instructions in your email (e.g., "Click below to download and add this weekly meeting to your calendar")