Book Image

Automate It with Zapier

By : Kelly Goss
Book Image

Automate It with Zapier

By: Kelly Goss

Overview of this book

Zapier is an emerging no-code workflow automation technology that enables organizations to connect their cloud-based and web applications and automate data transfer between them. Zapier's built-in features and flexibility allow users to integrate thousands of business applications and create simple to complex automation to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, thereby increasing productivity. This book is a must-have for business owners, their employees, and independent freelancers and contractors looking to use Zapier for business process automation. The book takes a hands-on approach to implementation and associated problem-solving methodologies that will have you up-and-running and productive in no time while leveling up your automation skills. You'll discover how to plan your automation building for optimal results, what are the native features available in Zapier, and the applications that connect with it, as well as how to optimally configure your workflows to automate your processes in as few steps as possible. Finally, you'll find out how to create advanced workflow automation from scratch and learn how to troubleshoot issues. By the end of this Zapier book, you'll be able to build your own advanced workflow automation using Zapier, addressing the key pain points encountered in businesses with manual and repetitive tasks.

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Automate It with Zapier
Kelly Goss
Aug, 2021 | 618 pages
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Table of Contents (29 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Download the color images
Conventions used
Get in touch
Share Your Thoughts
1
Section 1: Getting Started with Zapier
Section 1: Getting Started with Zapier
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Process Automation with Zapier
Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Process Automation with Zapier
Technical requirements
How process automation helps businesses to increase productivity
The "no-code revolution" and workflow automation with Zapier
Understanding the key terms used by Zapier
Choosing the right Zapier plan
Creating a Zapier account
Familiarizing yourself with navigation on the Zapier platform
Changing your settings and preferences
Summary
3
Chapter 2: Preparing to Automate Your Processes
Chapter 2: Preparing to Automate Your Processes
Technical requirements
Simplifying your processes and assessing what can be automated
Establishing how your business apps integrate with Zapier
Getting the most out of the Zapier app ecosystem directory
Summary
4
Chapter 3: Building Your First Automated Workflow (Zap)
Chapter 3: Building Your First Automated Workflow (Zap)
Technical requirements
Strategizing your first workflow
Connecting your apps to Zapier
How to create your first Zap in the Zap editor
Understanding field data types
Ensuring your processes and automations stay current
Summary
5
Chapter 4: Managing Your Zaps
Chapter 4: Managing Your Zaps
Technical requirements
Keeping your Zaps organized
Managing your Zaps
Understanding Zap statuses
Managing your connected apps
Sharing your Zaps and folders
Summary
6
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting and Handling Zap Errors
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting and Handling Zap Errors
Technical requirements
Managing Zap error alerts
Managing app status alerts
Utilizing Zap history information for troubleshooting
Finding help: help center, customer support, community, and experts
Summary
7
Section 2: Customizing Your Zaps with Built-in Apps by Zapier – Functionality and Practical Uses
Section 2: Customizing Your Zaps with Built-in Apps by Zapier – Functionality and Practical Uses
8
Chapter 6: Creating Multi-Step Zaps and Using Built-In Apps
Chapter 6: Creating Multi-Step Zaps and Using Built-In Apps
Technical requirements
Creating Zaps with multiple action and search steps
Introducing apps by Zapier
Summary
9
Chapter 7: Getting Started with Built-In Apps
Chapter 7: Getting Started with Built-In Apps
Technical requirements
Filter by Zapier – applying conditional logic to your Zaps
Paths by Zapier – adding branching logic to your Zaps
Delay by Zapier – adding delays to your Zaps
Schedule by Zapier – scheduling your Zaps to run at intervals
Exercise – creating a multi-step Zap with a scheduled trigger, search action, filter, path, and delay
Summary
10
Chapter 8: Built-In Communication Apps
Chapter 8: Built-In Communication Apps
Technical requirements
SMS by Zapier – sending text messages
Email by Zapier – sending and receiving emails
SMTP by Zapier – sending emails through mail servers
IMAP by Zapier – retrieving emails from mail servers
Summary
11
Chapter 9: Exploring Built-In Apps for Extracting and Compiling Data
Chapter 9: Exploring Built-In Apps for Extracting and Compiling Data
Technical requirements
Email Parser by Zapier – extracting data from emails
RSS by Zapier – using RSS feed readers
Digest by Zapier – compiling data in digests
Exercise – creating a multi-step Zap with an RSS feed digest
Summary
12
Chapter 10: Other Useful Built-In Apps by Zapier
Chapter 10: Other Useful Built-In Apps by Zapier
Technical requirements
Zapier Chrome extension – triggering one-off automations from any web page
URL Shortener by Zapier – shortening URLs in your Zaps
Translate by Zapier – translating text
Lead Score by Zapier – scoring and retrieving lead information
Weather by Zapier – using weather conditions in your Zaps
Retrograde by Zapier – using astrological predictions in your Zaps
Summary
13
Chapter 11: Advanced Built-In Apps by Zapier
Chapter 11: Advanced Built-In Apps by Zapier
Technical requirements
Webhooks by Zapier – Using webhooks in your Zaps
Code by Zapier – Using JavaScript or Python code in your Zaps
Storage by Zapier – Saving and storing data
Summary
14
Chapter 12: Managing Your Zapier Account with Built-In Apps
Chapter 12: Managing Your Zapier Account with Built-In Apps
Technical requirements
App Status by Zapier – Getting notifications of integration incidents
Zapier Manager – Managing errors and account changes
Use cases
Summary
15
Section 3: Using the Features of the Formatter by Zapier Built-In App
Section 3: Using the Features of the Formatter by Zapier Built-In App
16
Chapter 13: Formatting Date and Time
Chapter 13: Formatting Date and Time
Technical requirements
An introduction to the Formatter by Zapier built-in app
The basics of adjusting date and time values using Zapier
Manipulating dates and times with Formatter by Zapier
Summary
17
Chapter 14: Formatting Numbers
Chapter 14: Formatting Numbers
Technical requirements
Using Zapier to transform numerical values
Formatting numbers with Formatter by Zapier
Formatting currencies with Formatter by Zapier
Formatting phone numbers with Formatter by Zapier
Performing mathematical operations with Formatter by Zapier
Using spreadsheet-style formulas with Formatter by Zapier
Summary
18
Chapter 15: Text Formatting Functions in Zapier – Part 1
Chapter 15: Text Formatting Functions in Zapier – Part 1
Technical requirements
Using Zapier to transform text values
Capitalizing the first letter of every word
Applying title case to a string of words
Converting all the characters in a string of text to uppercase
Converting all the characters in a string of text to lowercase
Pluralizing words
Finding the first position of specified text
Replacing characters, words, or phrases
Counting the number of characters in a string of text
Counting the number of words in a string of text
Removing whitespace
Summary
19
Chapter 16: Text Formatting Functions in Zapier – Part 2
Chapter 16: Text Formatting Functions in Zapier – Part 2
Technical requirements
Converting a name into the name of a superhero
Splitting characters or words into segments
Truncating text to a specified character length
Removing HTML to leave plain text
Assigning a default value
Extracting data from blocks of text
Advanced text formatting features
Summary
20
Chapter 17: Zapier's Utilities Functions
Chapter 17: Zapier's Utilities Functions
Technical requirements
Introducing the Formatter by Zapier Utilities action event
Importing data from CSV files
Using lookup tables
Picking data from a list
Manipulating line-items
Summary
21
Section 4: Getting the Most Out of Zapier – Business Automation Examples
Section 4: Getting the Most Out of Zapier – Business Automation Examples
22
Chapter 18: Automating Your Marketing Processes
Chapter 18: Automating Your Marketing Processes
Technical requirements
An introduction to automating your marketing processes with Zapier
Where to start with automating your marketing processes with Zapier
Automating social media marketing processes with the Facebook Pages integration
Summary
23
Chapter 19: Automating Your Sales Processes
Chapter 19: Automating Your Sales Processes
Technical requirements
An introduction to automating your sales processes with Zapier
Where to start with automating your sales processes with Zapier
Automating lead management processes with CRM integrations, illustrated with Pipedrive
Summary
24
Chapter 20: Automating Your Operations Processes
Chapter 20: Automating Your Operations Processes
Technical requirements
An introduction to automating your operations processes with Zapier
Where to start with automating your operations processes with Zapier
Automating online Word document processes with the Google Docs integration
Summary
25
Chapter 21: Automating Your Finance and Reporting Processes
Chapter 21: Automating Your Finance and Reporting Processes
Technical requirements
An introduction to automating your finance processes with Zapier
An introduction to automating your reporting processes with Zapier
Where to start with automating your finance and reporting processes with Zapier
Automating accounting processes with the Xero integration
Summary
26
Chapter 22: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices to Enhance Your Productivity
Chapter 22: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices to Enhance Your Productivity
Technical requirements
Best practices for using Zapier effectively
Tips and tricks to enhance your use of Zapier
Summary
27
Chapter 23: Challenge Your Problem-Solving and Zap-Building Skills
Chapter 23: Challenge Your Problem-Solving and Zap-Building Skills
Technical requirements
Introduction and guidance
Scenario 1 – novice
Scenario 2 – intermediate
Scenario 3 – advanced
Guidance on suggested solutions for each scenario
Summary
Why subscribe?
28
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Truncating text to a specified character length

There may be times that you want to reduce the character length of a block of text so that you can use it as a summary, or you might have restrictions on the number of characters. A typical example of this is when posting content on social media where you have a fixed character length, such as reposting a Facebook post (which could have over 60,000 characters) to Twitter, which has a maximum character length of 280. You can use the Formatter by Zapier Text action event with the Truncate transform function to reduce the number of characters in a block of text and optionally replace the last three characters with ….

Here are a few examples of when you can use this transform option:

  • When you publish a new blog post on WordPress, truncate the blog post content to produce a teaser summary suitable to use on social media.
  • When you post a new Facebook post, truncate it to a shorter character length and repost it on Twitter...
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