What is IFTTT?
IFTTT is a free web-based service that allows you to connect your apps together. It stands for If This Then That which basically means that if you create a blog on WordPress (If This), for example, then you can connect it with your Twitter page to send out a tweet about the blog (Then That).
Only 2 different channels can be connected at a time and these can range from your social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, to your home appliances, such as the dishwasher and cooker (but only if they are wireless). I
t is very useful if you are struggling to juggle more than one platform and it can basically sort out all aspects of life out for you. After all it does “put the Internet to work for you”. Who wouldn’t want that?
Decoding the IFTTT lingo:
When you first log in to IFTTT it can be a little baffling with the all the jargon, so here’s a mini dictionary for you to make it a little bit easier for you to understand:
- Channels – Channels are the social media profiles and apps that are the ‘ingredients’ to make the ‘recipe’.
- Recipes – This is the instructions that brings together 2 apps that have been created to carry out a specific task for you. E.g. if you like a photo on Instagram, it will automatically save it to your dropbox folder.
- IF Recipes – These are also known as ‘triggers’ which is the first step to creating the recipe. This would be the app that would cause the action to take place.
- DO Recipes – These are also known as ‘actions’ which is what takes place after the trigger occurs, e.g. sending the email after the trigger stating that there would be rain in the weather forecast or an imaging being saved into dropbox after it is posted onto Instagram. These actions happen automatically.
How useful is IFTTT to companies?
If you have multiple channels for your company and you are posting the same content for each, IFTTT is the free way in which you can link up a couple of your accounts together to ensure that they are sent at the same time.
A good example of when this would be particularly useful, is if the company writes blogs too, they can create / choose a recipe that allows them to sync any of their channels so that the content is automatically posted on their social platforms.
This would save a lot of time, as you wouldn’t have to post these one at a time. You can even save money considering you wouldn’t need to hire someone to manage it for you and focus on other tasks the business may have.
If you cannot find a channel that suits what you need for your business, you can even create one, provided you follow the steps that are given to you. It is very simple and you do not even need to know about coding! Just select the channels you require for your recipe and then state and select the triggers and action that you want it to do.
Anything is possible with IFTTT and your creations can even be shared with the IFTTT community.
How useful is IFTTT to you?
IFTTT isn’t something that is only available to businesses… you can use it too! It can connect your home, help you to keep in touch with your loved ones and be more productive, look after your health, keep you updated with the news and shop smarter, all just by using this website.
You can basically be a healthier, more organised and smarter version of you all for free!
As long as your appliances have wireless connections, you can control them from anywhere and most importantly you can even manage the security of your home and keep your stuff safe. It allows you to keep a track of your health by helping you to reach you fitness goals and follow your sleep schedule.
Well, what are you waiting for? Sign up for IFTTT and let us know how it goes in the comments…
Recent Comments