You've heard about IFTTT (IF This, Then That) and Zapier. Are you using them to automate some of your business practices? Wondering how to use them? Let's get started :)
We're talking about what IFTTT and Zapier are, how they work and get you started with some recipes & zaps.
Time = Money
If you can automate certain functions for your virtual assistant practice to be more organized, on task, and investing less time in processes, then that's a good thing.
4. Pro’s of Both IFTTT
& Zapier
◇ Once set up, ongoing automation rocks!
◇ Many of modern “tools” have API’s (application
programming interface) .. Basically it’s a way to make
various programs talk and play nice with each other.
5. Con’s of Both IFTTT
& Zapier
◇ They can be a pain to set up. Sorry!
◇ Recipes and Zaps only work on new triggers. If you’ve
got old stuff, it won’t trigger the action.
6. Pro’s & Cons of
IFTTT
◇ Limited number of channels (a.k.a. the software apps
you can connect) .. but they’ve certainly got the big
names!
■ Social media, cloud storage, music, etc.
◇ Many Internet of Things of recipes
■ WeMo, Harmony, HP
7. Pro’s & Cons of
Zapier
◇ You are limited to 10 free zaps
◇ Not all apps are allowed as part of the free plan (even
if you’re under the 10 zap limit)
◇ A vast list of apps with constant development &
additions
8. IFTTT
1. Once you have signed up, confirmed email, etc. it’s
time to get started by making your first recipe.
2. Think about what you want to automate and the result.
What are those 2 channels?
3. Let’s get your channels activated.
9. IFTTT
4. Head over to https://ifttt.com/channels and start
clicking & conecting those apps, pages, profiles, etc.
that you think you’ll use. Phew!
5. Since you’re new to this, let’s see if there is a recipe
already created, that all you need to do is tweak. Let’s
Browse!
10. IFTTT
6. Let’s say you want to save all your Instagram pictures
to Dropbox, so you can happily clean your phone’s
gallery out. In the search box type: Instagram Dropbox
7. Holy schnikes! There’s 1,568 recipes that use those
two channels. You can probably pick one, tweak it and
it will work A-OK ;-)
11. IFTTT
8. Choose one and click on it
9. Then hit the blue Add Recipe button
a. It’s your discretion to get notified .. but starting
out, it could be useful. You can always edit the
recipe later.
10. Hit Done
11. Feel free to edit ;-)
12. Wait for something new to trigger
12. Zapier
1. Once you have signed up, confirmed email, etc. it’s
time to get started by making your first zap.
2. Since you’re already old school with IFTTT, overall the
process is the same.
3. Unlike IFTTT, you activate apps as you are creating
the zap.
13. Zapier
4. If you’re interested in the app list ahead of starting:
https://zapier.com/zapbook
a. Note the apps with the gold premium ribbon.
5. Since you’re new to Zapier, Explore to see if there is a
zap already created.
14. Zapier
6. Let’s say you want to add your Asana tasks to Google
calendar. Go to: https://zapier.com/app/explore and
choose Asana & GCal
7. Sweet! We’ve got a match!
8. Click Use this Zap
15. Zapier
8. Here’s where you can connect you various accounts
and walk thru zap making.
9. Down at the bottom, you can test your trigger to see
how it looks when executed :)
10. Then name your zap and wait for something new to
trigger