Zapier is a must have tool for social publishing



Contributing Writer
Photo: Hands Credit: brunopp


If you’re familiar with the indispensable productivity tool IFTTT (if-this-then-that), then you’ll understand the concept of Zapier.  It’s the same class of trigger-action product, with the exception that Zapier offers a wider complement of applications (twice as many) and has freemium pricing.  (IFTTT is contrast is free, and has an exclusive HootSuite integration).

Zapier appears to have more business application, where IFTTT is a cost-effective means to automate many tasks.

You can compare the supported channels here:  Zapier vs. IFTTT

So why is Zapier a must have tool if IFTTT does the same thing for free?

The business applications for Zapier may make it a tremendously useful tool for many people, but I urge people not to dismiss Zapier’s free offering as an IFTTT knockoff.  Zapier’s free offering has one (probably unintended) advantage: a five hour delay.

What can you do with a five-hour delay?  If you’re a blogger, you can trigger an immediate share on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Buffer through IFTTT, and then a subsequent share hours later on Twitter, Facebook and Buffer (and MailChimp amongst others) via Zapier.  It enables publishers an effortless re-run of content.

Zapier is more than just a queuing tool

I don’t want to give the impression that Zapier is a knock-off of IFTTT.  They do have the same trigger-action capability, but clearly Zapier is far more useful than IFTTT if you’re using some of the CRM, time management or other tools that Zapier supports.  It’s clearly a great tool and it is easier to use than IFTTT (if you can believe that).

But if you’re not using GitHub, Twilio or SugarCRM, Zapier still has great value for you.  And if you are integrated into one of the networks that Zapier supports – you should be elated.

Pricing

Free plan offers five trigger-action integrations and syncs every five hours

$15/mo. plan offers ten trigger-action integrations and syncs every fifteen minutes

$30/mo. plan offers fifty trigger-action integrations and syncs every five minutes

$100/mo. plan offers two-hundred trigger-action integrations and syncs every five minutes

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

Writer and chief of miscellany at leaderswest.com

I aspire to give people something to think about rather than tell them what to do. My favorite Google Alert is “social media research,” I am increasingly compelled by Gen Z, and I appreciate good writers agnostic of where they write. At one time I was Kred’s 12th most influential social media blogger and Klout’s most influential person on the topic of David Hasselhoff. Transplant from Seattle living in Cincinnati. Haven’t entirely adopted the local sports teams yet.

Jim Dougherty

@jimdougherty

Jim Dougherty

Jim Dougherty

  • http://www.facebook.com/bryanhelmig Bryan Helmig

    Hey Jim! Zapier co-founder here. Glad to see you enjoying and writing about Zapier! If you or your readers need anything, don’t hesitate to contact us.

  • jimdougherty

    Thanks Bryan! As I wrote the piece I immediately realized that the true potential of Zapier is much higher than I articulated with the very narrow way that I was proposing to use it. You’ve built a remarkable product and I look forward to using it more! Cheers!

Top