What's the first step in automating your business with Zapier?

Jul 18 2023

Understanding Zapier and Its Functionalities

Zapier is an online automation tool that connects your favourite apps, such as Gmail, Slack, Mailchimp, and more. You can connect two or more apps to automate repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build the integration. It's as simple as "If this, then that" logic.

Every automated process in Zapier starts with a triggering event in one application that leads to one or more actions in another application. An example of this could be "If I receive an email in Gmail (the trigger), then save the attachment to Dropbox (the action)."

Identify the Repetitive Tasks in your Business

The first step to automate your business with Zapier is to identify the tasks that are repetitive and time-consuming - those tasks are the ones you will aim to automate. Examples of such tasks might be data entry, sending reminder emails, updating your CRM, etc.

Once you've identified these tasks, you need to map out exactly how they operate. This includes understanding which trigger events start the process and which actions or series of actions make up the task. For example, if you're looking at automating data entry, a trigger event could be when a new customer signs up on your website. The action could be adding this customer's details into your CRM system.

Sign Up for a Zapier Account

Once you've identified your tasks to be automated and understand fully how they work, it's time to sign up for a Zapier account. Zapier offers a free tier which allows you to create simple automations with limited numbers of tasks. To create more complex workflows or run your tasks more frequently, you'll need to look at their premium plans.

After creating your account, you can start creating 'Zaps', which are essentially your automated workflows. You'll select the app where your trigger occurs, define the trigger event, then define the task or series of tasks that make up the action. Zapier's user-friendly interface will guide you through this process step-by-step.


Need help?

Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you right away.