Calendar Integration Guide
Now that you’ve got an account with Rokt Calendar, it’s time to get the most out of it. Rokt Calendar can be integrated across almost all of your marketing touch points including digital, television, social media, out of home and radio.
This guide provides a series of examples as to how you can get the most out of these mediums in order to grow your calendar subscriber base.
If at any stage you need assistance, feel free to get in touch with your Rokt Calendar account manager.
Digital Integration
Website Button Integrations
Integrating calendar buttons into your website is one of the most effective ways to promote your calendars and drive subscribers. By embedding calendar buttons, you can convert website visitors into calendar subscribers and secure them for years to come. Customize the style and content of the buttons based on your own website design, or simply embed Rokt Calendar template buttons. A click on any calendar button will trigger a calendar pop-up that enables users to add the entire show schedule to their calendars.
ADD TO CALENDAR BUTTONS
The “Add to Calendar” or “Set Reminder” buttons can be integrated anywhere on your shows or schedule page. You can use the Rokt Calendar button or create your own custom button. In addition you can decide if you want the calendar pop-up to appear in a new window or as a lightbox on your show or schedule page.
Custom Calendar Button: Opening the Calendar Pup-Up in a Lightbox
Create custom buttons for your website according to your own design preferences and use Rokt Calendar's lightbox feature to provide your users with a quick and seamless “Add to Calendar” experience. The lightbox feature generates a pop-up overlay, enabling users to subscribe and close the window, all while remaining on your website. This ensures that users are never redirected off of your website, and that the embed windows are never blocked by pop-up blockers that some users may have enabled. Opening the calendar pop-up in a new browser Window::##
Follow these steps to create a new window:
- Login to your Rokt Calendar dashboard.
- Click “Embed Code” tab from menu in the header navigation.
- Select "Calendar Button" from the drop down menu.
- Select the calendar you are creating the button for.
- Select “New Window” from the Pop-Up type dropdown menu.
- Apply the green highlighted text to the HTML anchor of your custom button.
- Copy/paste the provided code anywhere into the HTML for your website.
- Repeat this process for each calendar in your account
Pop-up dimensions:
The dimensions for the calendar pop-up must be 630 pixels high and 630 pixels wide (see example below).
IFrame of Smartcal Page
Use an iFrame of your calendar page on the Schedule or Events page of your website, enabling users to click the “Add to Calendar” button to subscribe. Since Rokt Calendar pages are customized on-brand, the user experience will feel native to your site. Clicking the “Add to Calendar” button will generate a pop-up window to subscribe, so users are not redirected off of the web page.
Paid Clicks and Banner Ads
Paid advertisements for your shows on other websites can be used to direct viewers to your show calendars. You can use endemic ads (mobile and display), run of site, Google paid search etc. For example, if you have a paid advertisement for your show on a website like CBS Sports, viewers can click the ad to go to the SmartCal page to subscribe.
Mobile Experience
Mobile Calendar Buttons
Calendar buttons can be used on your mobile site, enabling visitors to add calendars from their mobile devices. Clicking on the calendar button will direct users to the mobile SmartCal page or to your Shows page, enabling them to subscribe.
Mobile Header Navigation
A “Calendar” or “Schedule” tab can be added to the mobile website menu. When users click the tab, they will be directed to the Shows page or to the SmartCal page, where they can subscribe.
In-App Integration
Add an “Alerts” button and page in your app that calls a Rokt Calendar schedule feed to enable users to add shows to their native mobile calendar in a single click.
All reminder data is powered by Rokt Calendar and shows within the reminder panel reflect calendars in your Rokt Calendar account. Implementation is as easy as calling a JSON feed URL and listing the calendar names and icons in your app. For more information about this, get in touch with your Rokt Calendar Account Manager.
In-App IFrame
Use an iFrame of your SmartCal page on the Schedule or Events page of your native app. Include an “Add to Calendar” button which, when clicked, will direct users to an iFrame of the calendar page, where they can subscribe.
Social Media Integration
Wall Posts
Compose Facebook wall posts instructing viewers to subscribe to your show or sports calendars. Include the URL for the calendar which, when clicked, will direct users to the calendar page and enable them to subscribe. For example, a Facebook post may say, “Sign up for reminders and never miss an episode- on.syfy.com/lostgirl”
Promoted Facebook Posts
Promote Facebook posts that include calendar URLs to reach an even wider audience on Facebook.
Profile Description
Facebook Call-To-Action Buttons
Use the Facebook “call-to-action” feature to drive viewers directly from your official Facebook page to your Rokt Calendar pages. This feature was designed to bring a business’s most important objectives to the forefront of its Facebook presence. Call-to-action buttons can link to any destination on or off Facebook and are an effective way to drive subscriber numbers.
We recommend adding the “Sign-up” button, which links viewers to your Shows or SmartCal page, where they can subscribe to receive reminders. The “call-to-action” button appears in the header of your Facebook page, to the left of the “like” button.
Adding the button is a simple process within your account. If you are interested in doing this, please contact your Rokt Calendar account manager for further instructions.
Tweets
Compose tweets instructing fans to subscribe to your show or sport calendars. Include the URL for the calendar, enabling users to go to the SmartCal page to subscribe. For example, a tweet may say “ 3 days until Nascar season starts - mark your calendars!”
Pinned Tweets
The “pinned tweets” feature on Twitter gives you the ability to pin a tweet at the top of your profile. Any visitor to your Twitter page will see the pinned tweet at the top of your page, and all other tweets, including newer ones, will appear below. Pinning tweets to the top of your profile ensures that the calendar URL is always visible and accessible to viewers, even as you continue to push out other content.
Promoted Tweets
Promote your tweets with calendar URL’s to reach an even wider audience on Twitter.
Profile Description
Add the URL for your show calendar and #SHOWS page to your profile description on twitter
Twitter Website Cards
Use Twitter website cards to promote your show calendars. With Twitter Cards, you can attach rich photos, videos and media experience to Tweets that drive traffic to your website.
To create a Website Card:
- Log in to the Cards Manager section of your Twitter Ads account (ads.twitter.com)
- From the Creatives menu choose Cards
- Select Website
- Choose Create Website Card
- Enter your calendar URL as the website URL
- Use the URL that is generated for this card in your Tweet or Promoted Tweets
Benefits of Twitter Website card:
- Allows users to easily discover interesting content.
- Gives advertisers the ability to drive a higher volume of URL clicks since users are able to preview an image, related context and a clear call to action in their timeline before tapping.
- Drive qualified traffic from the right audience at precisely the right time.
Auto-Reply Once
The “auto-reply once” feature can be used to promote your show calendars to anyone who mentions your twitter handle, regardless of the tweet content.
If a user mentions your Twitter handle in a Tweet, Rokt Calendar will automatically reply with a calendar URL, enabling users to subscribe. The user will only receive the reply once within a time period specified in your account (e.g., six months). For example, you can configure your account to reply once during the season of your show or sport.
You can do this for both your Shows page and for individual show calendars. If you set up an auto-reply for your network, we recommend linking to the Shows page.
If the viewer tweets to a specific show handle, for example “Last night’s @Helix was so epic!” Rokt Calendar will automatically reply with a URL for the show SmartCal page, enabling users to subscribe to the show.
To set up the “auto-reply once” feature, please contact your Account Manager.
Posts
Compose Instagram posts including calendar URLs to promote your calendars.
Stories
Profile Bio
Include the calendar URL (e.g., bit.ly/CBCSportsLink) in the “profile bio” of your official Instagram account. Viewers can click the hyperlink in your profile bio to go directly to the Shows or SmartCal page to subscribe.
Social Promotion Automation
Promotion Automation allows you to compose numerous Facebook posts and Tweets at one time, and schedule them to be automatically sent by Rokt Calendar. This feature makes it easy and efficient to keep your social media accounts consistently updated with calendar URLs.
Strategy
It is important to optimize your promotion automation schedule so that you get the highest engagement for every Tweet or Facebook post.
Generally you can promote more frequently via Twitter versus Facebook as Tweets move through the stream over time. Approximately 4-6% of your followers see any given Tweet so it is recommend to promote frequently on Twitter especially if you have a lot of other content flowing through.
For Facebook, we recommend scheduling a dedicated calendar post each day to promote an upcoming content and to increase the frequency of the promotion closer to the event.
It is important to use imagery that captures the users attention and draws them in to reading the caption. Here are some example promotions:
General Promotion
Don't miss the UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Dollaway! Watch it LIVE at 1pm/10am ETPT on FOX Sports 1 – add it to your calendar http://rokt.calendar/UFC
Real-time Promotion
Before a show or sport (e.g., 6:45pm before 7pm line-up starts): Catch all the action on Sportsnet tonight - Set a calendar reminder to watch your team - cal.sportsnet.ca/nhl During a show or sport (e.g., 8pm during line-up): Loving the NHL action on Sportsnet? Add it to your calendar now - cal.sportsnet.ca/nhl After a show or sport (e.g., 9:30pm during highlights etc.): Don’t miss another NHL game on Sportsnet - Add NHL to your calendar now cal.sportsnet.ca/nhl
How to configure promotion automation:
- Login to your Rokt Calendar Dashboard.
- Click “Promotion Automation” from menu.
- Click “create post” button and select which account to post in (Facebook or Twitter).
- Select the show account you want to post in.
- Select the show calendar.
- Compose message and insert calendar link.
- Upload a photo.
- Schedule date and time for post to be sent.
- Click “Enable Multiple Posts” to choose how often the post will be sent out and how many times it will repeat.
We recommend posting on Twitter and Facebook at least every 24-72 hours, depending how much other content you are producing.
Promotion Countdown Strategy
Use the promotion countdown strategy to build excitement and encourage viewers to subscribe before the show airs or premieres. Include a daily countdown with the calendar URL on all of your social media pages including Facebook and Twitter. For example, a post may say “Empire premieres in just 3 days and it’s going to be the best season yet! Add every episode to your calendar now so you don’t miss a minute! – on.fox.com/Empire”
Television Integration
Set Reminder URLs
Add a “set reminder” URL (e.g., fox.com/SetReminder) to your TV watermarks to drive viewers to the #SHOWS page, which lists current and upcoming content. Because the purpose of these TVC’s is to advertise a day, date and time, we recommend closing the loop by adding a call-to-action that enables viewers to add shows to their calendar, as opposed to relying solely on memory.
The benefits include:
- The URL is short and can fit on an end-cap or under a day/date/time watermark.
- The URL includes the text “set reminder” which explains what it does and is easy for viewers to remember.
- Viewers will be able to set reminders for all of your programming so it will facilitate cross promotion of your shows.
- You will be able to activate TV size audiences at scale, which will drive subscriber growth and help you reach your subscriber goals.
- The URL is perpetual, meaning that you can always promote it even as your content and scheduling change over time.
Syfy 12 in program Set Reminder URL from Rokt Calendar on Vimeo.
Banners on Tickers
Use the “Set Reminder” URL on the ticker that runs on the bottom of the screen during your show or sporting event. Viewers can enter the URL on their mobile or desktop device to go to your Shows or SmartCal page to subscribe. You can also use the Twitter mechanic to prompt viewers to Tweet to receive the calendar link. For example, Tweet #Schedule to @CFLONTSN. When the viewer sends the tweet, Rokt Calendar will automatically reply with a URL for the show calendar, enabling viewers to subscribe
Announcer Commentary
During live broadcasts, have announcers verbally instruct viewers to go to the “Set Reminder” URL to add your show or sports to their calendar. For example, announcers can say “The MLB Season is starting next week and we know you don’t want to miss a game! Go to Mlb.com/SetReminder to download your favorite team’s schedule to your calendar.”
Commercials
Include the “Set Reminder” URL in on-air commercials for your shows and sports. The URL will direct users to your Shows or SmarCal pages, where they can subscribe.
Print Media Integration
Include the URL for your calendars in print media advertisements. Viewers can enter the URL on their desktop or mobile device and go directly to the show calendar or Shows page to subscribe.
Outdoor Advertising Integration
Include the URL for your calendars in outdoor advertisements. Viewers can enter the URL on their desktop or mobile device to go directly to the SmartCal page or the Shows page to subscribe.
Venue Advertising Integration
Include the URL for your calendars in venue advertisements. Viewers can enter the URL on their desktop or mobile device and go directly to the shows or SmartCal page to subscribe.
Email Direct Marketing
Leverage your existing email user base by sending users a direct email encouraging them to subscribe to your calendars.
For example, send an email with an image of an IPhone displaying a notification for an upcoming event. The email subject line can say something like “THE NFL DRAFT SCHEDULE TO YOUR CALENDAR.” In the body of the email, include a prominent “Add to Calendar” OR “Set Reminder” button that links directly to your Shows or SmartCal page.
If you have a weekly or monthly newsletter to fans, include your calendar URL or an “Add to Calendar” so fans can click to subscribe.
YouTube Integration
Promote your calendars in YouTube videos and trailers by including the calendar URL (e.g. cal.amc.com/saul) in the video description. Instruct viewers to click the link, enabling them to subscribe to the show calendar.
Blog Integration
Use your online blog to promote show calendars by including the calendar URL in the blog post. Instruct viewers to click the link, enabling them to subscribe to the show calendar.
Radio Integration
During live broadcasts, have radio announcers verbally instruct listeners to go to the “Set Reminder” URL to add your show or sport to their calendar. For example, announcers can say “The MLB season is starting tomorrow and we know you don’t want to miss a single game! Go to mlb.com/SetReminder to download your team’s schedule to your calendar.”
