Much of the work we do online is comprised of repetitive actions – with many of them swallowing a chunk of the working day and adding to our stress levels – creating yet another item on our never decreasing to-do list.

Some of these tasks lend themselves to being automated either using full automation whereby the task is magically performed for us completely – or reminder automation – where a message is used to remind us to do something.

Usually, we use a Trigger to initiate the process – and generally, that will be either event or time based:

For example:

‘When someone updates a spreadsheet add the new entry into my mailing list automatically’
or
‘If it’s Tuesday at 7.00 am send out the reminder emails to my list

Some programs and apps already have comprehensive Integration modules built-in – enabling them to work together right out of the box. For example, Onepagecrm can be set up to add all your contacts straight into your Mailchimp account – once the integration is set up, the syncing of data is handled fully automatically.

So before you go hunting for bespoke solutions it’s worth checking to see if your solution has already been provided within the applications you are already using.

Not all applications can be relied upon to play nicely with each other, however – and that’s where you may find it useful to turn to a couple of third-party solutions that specialize in ‘joined-up working’.

IFTTT.COM
IF This Then That – Does what it says on the tin – this FREE application is based around a series of actions called ‘recipes’ – each recipe is based on a simple formula = ‘if this happens then do that – and there are hundreds of examples on their website, ranging from sending out routine emails on given dates to dimming your mood lighting when you are 10 minutes from home. Clearly, some recipes are more useful than others – but you can also create your own bespoke recipe of events that works just for you – joining your programs and apps together

Zapier.com
Slightly more complex to set up than IFTT, this paid-for app has some extensive connections or ZAPS as they are called. For Ideal for integrating and updating all kinds of data sources, Zapier is the next place to look if you can’t find the answer to your automation issues on IFTTT.

Reminder Automation
Sometimes all that is needed is a timely reminder that stuff needs doing at certain times on a regular basis. So if all you need is a reminder to tell you when you have to get a job done – look no further than Google Calendar. This free product provides comprehensive reminders including annual, monthly, and daily reminders for repeating tasks. it works anywhere there’s an internet connection, which these days is pretty much anywhere, and it works on all devices – making it the ideal substitute to carry around instead of the bulky desk planner.