Make Your Business More Accessible with New Blocks

From booking and scheduling to events and embeds, these six new blocks for your blog or business website help you to grow your audience, connect with more clients, and reach more customers.

April 2, 2020

Cheri Lucas Rowlands

From our support sessions with customers each month, we know that growing your brand or business is a top website goal. And in this unprecedented time in which more people around the world are staying at home, it’s important to promote your products and services online to reach a wider audience and connect with more people.

Our team has been hard at work improving the block editor experience. We’ve launched six new blocks that integrate WordPress.com and Jetpack-enabled sites with popular services — Eventbrite, Calendly, Pinterest, Mapbox, Google Calendar, and OpenTable — enabling you to embed rich content and provide booking and scheduling options right on your blog or website.

Whether you’re an online boutique, a pilates studio, an independent consultant, or a local restaurant, these blocks offer you more ways to promote your brand or business. Take a look at each block — or simply jump to a specific one below.

Promote online events with the Eventbrite block

Looking for a way to promote an online event (like your museum’s virtual curator talk or your company’s webinar on remote work), or even an at-home livestream performance for your fans and followers? Offering key features of the popular event registration platform, the Eventbrite block embeds events on posts and pages so your visitors can register and purchase tickets right from your site.

Quick-start guide:

  • To use this block, you need an Eventbrite account. If you don’t have one, sign up at Eventbrite for free.
  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button and search for and select the Eventbrite Checkout block.
  • Enter the URL of your Eventbrite event. Read these steps from Eventbrite if you need help.
  • Select from two options: an In-page Embed shows the event details and registration options directly on your site. The Button & Modal option shows just a button; when clicked, the event details will pop up so your visitor can register.

Learn more on the Eventbrite block support page.

Schedule sessions with the Calendly block

Want to make it easier for people to book private meditation sessions or language lessons with you? The Calendly block, featured recently in our guide on moving your classes online, is a handy way for your clients and students to book a session directly on your site — eliminating the time spent coordinating schedules. You can also use the Calendly block to schedule team meetings or group events.

Quick-start guide:

  • To use this block, you need a Calendly account. Create one for free at Calendly.
  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button and search for and select the Calendly block.
  • Enter your Calendly web address or embed code. Follow these steps from Calendly if you need help.
  • Select from two styles: the Inline style embeds a calendar directly onto your site; the Link style inserts a button that a visitor can click to open a pop-up calendar.
  • This block is currently available to sites on the WordPress.com Premium, Business, or eCommerce plans. It’s free on Jetpack sites.

Learn more on the Calendly block support page.

Up your visual game with the Pinterest block

Strong visuals help to provide inspiration, tell your stories, and sell your products and services. Pinterest is an engaging way for bloggers, influencers, and small business owners to enhance their site content and expand their following. With the Pinterest block, you can embed and share pins, boards, and profiles on your site.

Quick-start guide:

  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button and search for and select the Pinterest block.
  • Paste the URL of a pin, board, or profile you’d like to display and click Embed. Note that you can only embed public boards.
  • Pro tip: in the block editor, go to Layout Elements and select Layout Grid to create a visually striking layout with pins, boards, and profiles, as shown above.

Display locations with the Map block

A map on your site is a quick visual way to display a location, like your restaurant’s takeout window or the drop-off spot for donations to a local food bank. Powered by mapping platform Mapbox, the Map block embeds a customized map on your site. Show the location of your business, a chain of boutique hotels, the meeting spots for your nonprofit’s volunteers, and more.

Quick-start guide:

  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button and search for and select the Map block.
  • In the text field, type the location you want to display and select the correct location from among the results that appear.
  • Click on the red marker to edit the title and caption of the marker.
  • Explore the toolbar for block-specific settings. Add more markers, for example, by clicking the Add a marker button.
  • In the sidebar, customize your map’s appearance (including colors, height, and zoom level).

Explore more settings on the Map block support page.

Share your calendar with the Google Calendar block

Are you an author planning a book tour (or a series of online readings)? A digital marketing consultant hosting social media workshops? A neighborhood pop-up bakery? With the Google Calendar block, you can display a calendar of upcoming events or your hours of operation.

Quick-start guide:

  • In Google Calendar, click the three dots next to your calendar name and select Settings and sharing.
  • Under Access Permissions, ensure Make available to public is checked.
  • Click on Integrate calendar on the left and copy the code under Embed code.
  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button, search for and select the Custom HTML block, and paste the code you copied in Google Calendar.
  • Publish your post or page. The next time you edit this post or page, you’ll see the code has been converted to shortcode.

Explore more settings on the Google Calendar block support page.

Streamline reservations with the OpenTable block

If you’re a restaurant or cafe owner, a primary goal of your site is to increase the number of bookings. Sure, people aren’t dining out right now, but you can be ready to take reservations in the future. With the OpenTable block, people can reserve a table directly from a post or page instead of calling or booking through a different reservation service.

Quick-start guide:

  • To use this block, your restaurant must be listed on OpenTable. Create an OpenTable listing now.
  • In the block editor, click the Add Block (+) button and search for and select the OpenTable block.
  • Enter your OpenTable Reservation Widget embed code. Check this OpenTable guide if you need help.
  • Explore the block’s toolbar and sidebar settings. For example, choose from four different embed styles: Standard, Tall, Wide, and Button.
  • This block is currently available to sites on the WordPress.com Premium, Business, or eCommerce plans. It’s free on Jetpack sites.

Learn more on the OpenTable block support page.

Which blocks are you most excited about?

Stay tuned for more new blocks soon!

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43 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. Beyoutiful Apr 2nd at 7:41 pm

    This was really helpful, thanks!

    Liked by 9 people

  2. Herbert Dupree Apr 2nd at 8:18 pm

    2nd that emotion. I’m really warming up to the Blocks concept in the Gutenberg editor.

    Liked by 11 people

  3. jacobjaredingram Apr 2nd at 9:00 pm

    Great post! I really learned a lot from it, take a look at my blog!

    Liked by 11 people

  4. cyamthembuarchitecture Apr 2nd at 9:47 pm

    Just what I needed 👌🏾

    Liked by 9 people

  5. Ray Laskowitz Apr 3rd at 3:52 am

    I can’t stand blocks. It doesn’t work for me or my art. After ten years, WordPress is about to drive me away.

    Liked by 15 people

  6. Sheena Apr 3rd at 4:18 am

    Really helpful

    Liked by 8 people

  7. frithtreasure1 Apr 3rd at 4:27 am

    Thanks for this post. Its very helpful a lot of resources at our disposal.

    Liked by 8 people

  8. matthewbrannellybrisbane Apr 3rd at 4:59 am

    Great post!!

    Liked by 9 people

  9. Smithy Jaundice Johnson the 3rd Apr 3rd at 5:00 am

    Very useful post. Will be sharing this with some friends. 🤪👍

    Liked by 11 people

  10. omoshewa Apr 3rd at 12:00 pm

    Really helpful

    Liked by 10 people

  11. Nanou Apr 3rd at 12:16 pm

    I’m very interested in the Map block. Thank you !

    Liked by 9 people

  12. deepanilamani Apr 3rd at 3:35 pm

    Thank You for the new information. Classic Blog setting is much better for my Blog, how ever there will be many who will like Block Editor 🙂

    Liked by 13 people

  13. Pamela Cummins Apr 3rd at 4:33 pm

    Yay! Pinterest blocks!

    Liked by 10 people

  14. RBWF Apr 3rd at 5:18 pm

    Really helpful👍

    Liked by 12 people

  15. dzidzoblagogee Apr 3rd at 5:46 pm

    Thank you for sharing

    Liked by 9 people

  16. marksandmethods Apr 3rd at 5:49 pm

    Really very helpful post for all businesses and build their website with WordPress.

    Liked by 8 people

  17. SGR Apr 3rd at 9:09 pm

    very useful.. looking forward to implement this soon!

    Liked by 8 people

  18. samshadow123 Apr 3rd at 10:14 pm

    Great lovely one

    Liked by 8 people

  19. AKKAS ALI KHAN Apr 4th at 3:49 am

    😍

    Liked by 4 people

  20. latestbingo8 Apr 4th at 6:16 am

    Very nice

    Liked by 7 people

  21. syedurooba94 Apr 4th at 7:06 am

    Very helpful information !

    Liked by 6 people

  22. Mr. Faruk Billah Apr 4th at 4:53 pm

    Helpful subject

    Liked by 5 people

  23. httpsurbanforexcom Apr 4th at 5:11 pm

    Thank You this Post is the best🙏

    Liked by 5 people

  24. Shubhangi Dodke Apr 4th at 8:55 pm

    it was really helpful!!! :))

    Liked by 6 people

  25. naetpics Apr 5th at 1:13 am

    Thankful

    Liked by 4 people

  26. madameannabelle Apr 5th at 1:41 am

    Great read!

    Liked by 4 people

  27. anntonettemariewrites Apr 5th at 5:23 am

    This was a really great read!

    Liked by 4 people

  28. Gardening To You Apr 5th at 2:18 pm

    Thank you great information

    Liked by 4 people

  29. Rama Murty Y Apr 5th at 5:49 pm

    very nice and helpful!

    Liked by 3 people

  30. Rest to Best Apr 6th at 6:03 am

    very nice

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Muhammad Zulqarnain Apr 6th at 6:51 am

    Fantastic

    Liked by 4 people

  32. dangthao2401 Apr 6th at 7:22 am

    Helpful subject. Thank you!

    Liked by 2 people

  33. stunning star Apr 6th at 10:31 am

    Doing well looking forward to see more

    Liked by 3 people

  34. chiekweonyeka Apr 6th at 3:46 pm

    This was really helpful, thanks.

    Liked by 6 people

  35. Moumita Debnath Apr 6th at 8:33 pm

    Indeed 🙃

    Liked by 4 people

  36. Kamala Musa Apr 7th at 1:43 am

    Actually we love That!

    Liked by 3 people

  37. nurmisuary Apr 7th at 8:59 am

    The Google Calendar block would really help in promoting online classes or webinar.

    Liked by 3 people

  38. Sheila Murrey Apr 7th at 2:32 pm

    I’ll try the google calendar and Pinterest additions—cool! Pet peeve: I don’t know why you don’t offer a simple contact form so my readers can send me their email address.
    Block editing is fine for easily moving images or chunks of text, but it would really be helpful if I could copy/paste multiple blocks into a new post. Currently, I have to view my article in a browser and copy/paste from there into a new article. I create my WordPress blog articles via your app using my smartphone.
    Thank you!

    Liked by 4 people

  39. pennygadd51 Apr 7th at 2:35 pm

    I hate blocks. Why not give us something easy to use? I’ve been struggling for three months, and I can grovel content out, but it looks horrible.

    Liked by 4 people

  40. jamesmmcardle Apr 8th at 3:19 am

    Good for you in getting all these accolades, but none of these ‘blocks’ (isn’t THAT an apt word?) are of any use to a blogger. This is all about cashing in on small businesses while your original ‘clients’, the writers, are shortchanged as your attention drifts and lumbered with a clumsy, code-heavy interface. Time for WordPress to decide what it is about, and for me, as a Premium subscriber to decide if it’s worth my weakening Australian dollar.

    Liked by 10 people

  41. John Martin Apr 8th at 10:01 am

    Thanks for sharing such great information.

    Liked by 5 people

  42. milesh5555 Apr 8th at 5:43 pm

    Thanks a lot. It’s gr8 information for starters.

    Liked by 5 people

  43. Best health tips. Apr 9th at 6:27 am

    Thanks a lot. Great information.

    Liked by 5 people

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