Of course we all know about Zapier at this point, and although their tiktok ads say you can do a multistep automation. In my experience the platform BREAKS before the automation can finish. What else is out there?
I've used Zapier with simple stuff, and that works most of the time. Sometimes it is the only tool that can do it even. I also created a 20+ step zap, which was intricate, but it couldn't handle that yet. That is okay because we have other alternatives.
What goes into a good automation tool? Is it the simplicity, or is it the number of tools it can connect with? Let's talk about it.
What is the Purpose?
Automation in general is helpful, if done right. So many creators will set an automation to auto post a quote every day, or send all of their instagrams to twitter (without the actual image!!). It just looks bland, and sometimes even makes you look scammy without realizing it.
I say this knowing full well my late mentor actually had an auto quote post to his Twitter back in the day. However he did it in a time where it was still super early on, and it worked for him. Although soon after a lot of people started doing it, then it got out of hand for everyone.
Meaning the purpose is to ease your workload, but not replace some things. You have to think of it as a balance.
Why is it important?
Reaching multiple platforms, let alone all of them, is really an ambitious goal. If anything it might even be dumb for a lot of people to try. I say that knowing full well that I push people to try, and I know people Gary Vee do too.
Here is my thought on it: You need to have solid content first. It really isn't hard to do that, for you just put in more effort. Times that by time and content pieces made, and then you have like 100 pieces under your belt. With a much higher quality ceiling. However that is usually just 1-2 platforms, and you lack experience with the other ones.
With content automation it can help you multiply your content, and proliferate onto other ones too. Syndication is key here, such as sending your Instagrams or Tiktoks over to Pinterest for example.
Dustin Miller | PolyInnovator
How to use them effectively?
Make sure you are automating things that SHOULD be automated. I once used a tool to FULLY syndicate my Facebook videos to YouTube. Allowing me to crosspost, but it had to go to FB first.
In that automation I guess I had posted TOO OFTEN, and it caused a backup in the system processing. So instead of full HD videos getting sent over to YouTube, there was only 144p MAYBE 240p videos getting sent over.
I had some really big names on my PolyCast too, and their videos got the short end of the stick. In the end I had to reupload 30+ gigs of videos, and around 20 of them.
Point is don't overly rely on tools, but use them to effectively ENHANCE your strategy. :)
Some tool examples:
Alicia Roberts, Key Account Sales Manager at Fellow Products
Not sure why some links embed, but other ones don't really! This other tool is getting into the automation space too.
Highlighted Tool of the Week:
Today we are talking about Repurpose.io
Repurpose is a content repurposing, as well as an automation tool. Probably designed better in a lot of ways than Zapier. While some might compare it to other microcontent creation tools, instead I think it is more of a competitor to Zapier or IFTTT. Check it out!
🥡 Takeaways
I really want you to get the idea that repurposing isn't just manually creating shorter content versions of your long form. Most of the time you can automate the process, or at least have the automation highlight clips for you.
This is also a post to share with you some great tools, and what was one of my goals for today's newsletter too.
Today the call to action is to just simply check out the links in the post, and the other PolyInContent Digest posts:
Dustin Miller | PolyInnovator
