Zapier 101

We’ve spoken before about how much we enjoy trying out new tools and lately we’ve been getting to grips with Zapier, the tool that promises to connect the apps you use every day. Although Zapier has been around for a few years now, we wanted to share a bit more information about this handy piece of kit in case you’re thinking of trying it for yourself.

So, what exactly is Zapier?

Described as ‘easy automation for busy people’, Zapier allows you to integrate, automate and innovate with the apps you use to run your business. You can link your most used web apps with just a few clicks to allow them to share data, set up Zaps (more on these later!) to pass information between your apps, and build processes that will allow you to work more quickly and effectively.

Simply put, if you want to get more out of the apps you love and access their data in one handy dashboard, Zapier might just be your new best friend.

How can it help me?

The premise of Zapier is that you set up actions to make your working life simpler and more streamlined. These actions, called ‘Zaps’, can be as simple or as complicated as you like. For example, if you want to keep a record of your notifications on Twitter you could set up a Zap to copy any @ mentions you receive to a Google Sheets spreadsheet. Instead of logging into Twitter and wading through retweets, likes and follow notifications, all you have to do is check your spreadsheet and you’ll have a clutter-free list of all your mentions.

Imagine you’re waiting for an important attachment for a meeting you’re about to attend but you’re spending the day out and about and your internet access is spotty – you can set up a Zap that connects with Gmail and copies any attachments you receive to Dropbox. By the time you arrive at the meeting your crucial attachment is ready to go, safe and sound in Dropbox.

As you can see from the examples above, Zapier is there to make life easier for you. Whether you’re a marketing professional who wants to get notified if your brand is mentioned on social media, or you run an e-commerce website and want to track your Shopify orders through a Google spreadsheet, there are tens of Zaps for every industry. All you need to do is play around and see how Zapier can work for you.

How do I join?

It’s easy. Head over to zapier.com and sign up! It’ll take you less than a minute and sign up is free. You do have the option of a paid account but Zapier are passionate that their product should remain free forever, so they offer a personal package that’s totally, 100% free – always. The free service allows you to use five Zaps at once, set up two-step Zaps and get help from their customer support team. If you’re looking to use Zapier for personal projects, this is the ideal package.

For those who want a more intensive package, the Work plan comes in at $20/month and is a great choice for small business owners. It gives you access to 20+ Zaps, lets you set up Zaps with 3+ steps, gives you access to priority support and 500+ apps, as well as the option to have one month free if you pay annually.

Finally, there’s the Team plan, which is the ideal choice for those who want to collaborate with a large internal team. This comes in at $100/month and allows you to share Zaps with your teammates, classify personal and team Zaps and also control who can edit your Zaps.

Once you’ve decided on the best plan for your needs, just hit the Sign Up button and you’re ready to get started.

Over the next few months we’re going to post our favourite Zaps for different industries – including marketing and ecommerce. If you have any Zaps you think we should include in our lists please do comment below!