May 2021 Summaries

Zapier is a workflow automation tool that helps businesses streamline their marketing efforts by integrating with thousands of apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft. It enables users to create custom automated workflows (called "Zaps") that connect different tools and services, reducing manual tasks and increasing productivity. The platform offers various features, including lead management, social media management, email marketing, and customer feedback collection, to help businesses automate repetitive tasks and focus on high-value activities. By leveraging Zapier's automation capabilities, businesses can create more efficient and effective marketing processes, improve lead conversion rates, and enhance the overall customer experience.

We're Zapier, a company that's grown rapidly through strategic hiring decisions. We've developed a multi-step process for finding exceptional teammates, using data-driven tools to streamline the recruitment process. Our tech stack includes Coda for documentation and project management, Searchlight for quality of hire and references, Gem for sourcing, Greenhouse for applicant tracking systems, BambooHR for human resources information systems, and two unique tools that enhance our hiring process: Coda and Searchlight. These tools help us align recruiters and hiring managers, define behavioral preferences, personalize the recruitment experience, and onboard new hires effectively, giving us a competitive advantage in delivering business goals.

### Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is a process of tweaking websites to increase conversions by improving user experience, content, design, and technical parameters. It involves analyzing data from various sources such as interaction metrics, heatmaps, customer personas, surveys, and reviews to identify areas for improvement. CRO helps businesses put their existing traffic to work, reducing customer acquisition costs and increasing the effectiveness of marketing efforts. By implementing best practices such as tackling speed and performance issues, crafting efficient CTAs, adding social proof, offering easy ways to contact them, and revising content, businesses can improve user experience and increase conversions. CRO is a valuable toolkit that requires testing, analysis, and human intuition to succeed, but it offers numerous benefits including improved conversion rates, deeper understanding of target audiences, and enhanced user experience.

We ran into a problem at our company, TEFL Hero, where we had multiple tools for different tasks, leading to inefficiencies and difficulties in managing projects, customer interactions, and documentation. We consolidated these tools into one platform called ClickUp, which has greatly improved our organization, communication, and support processes. With ClickUp, we can manage all customer information, project tasks, and marketing efforts from a single place, reducing the need for email threads, shared inboxes, and manual data entry. The tool's flexibility and customization options have allowed us to set up templates for different tasks, such as content publishing and customer communication, making it easier to onboard new staff and support customers. While no solution is perfect, ClickUp has greatly improved our operations and empowered our staff to work more efficiently.

Follow Up Boss is a real estate CRM tool that aims to solve the speed-to-lead problem in the industry by providing an API that enables users to follow up with leads from virtually anywhere in seconds. The company was founded in 2011 and has since grown organically, serving thousands of brokers, real estate agencies, and teams. Its features include auto-send emails, outbound and inbound call management, automated text messaging, and a leaderboard feature that allows users to track and reward their team's efforts. Follow Up Boss can be integrated with other tools like Zapier to automate workflows and save time. By providing an efficient way to manage leads and follow up with prospects, Follow Up Boss helps real estate businesses streamline their operations and drive more sales.

To ensure customer satisfaction and meet their needs, businesses should solicit feedback from them proactively, rather than waiting until after the sale. Design thinking can help approach this issue from a customer-centered perspective, eliminating guesswork by talking to customers directly. With automation tools like Zapier, businesses can establish feedback loops with minimal manual effort, obtaining insights from leads and new customers alike. By creating an onboarding experience for new customers, building brand trust through engagement, and closing the feedback loop, businesses can foster loyalty, improve products and services, and ultimately grow their business.

A blogger shares their decade-long experience with creating a strategic process for writing and publishing high-quality content to improve SEO and grow website traffic. The blogger outlines 10 steps, including brainstorming ideas using AnswerThePublic, creating an editorial calendar with Asana, doing keyword research with Ubersuggest, writing headlines with CoSchedule's Headline Studio, optimizing posts with Semrush's SEO Writing Assistant, proofreading with Grammarly, finding images with Unsplash, designing social media graphics with Adobe XD, promoting content with Zapier and Social Warfare, and making it easy for readers to promote the content.

Customers want to hear from businesses when there's valuable information to share, but every communication needs to add value. Businesses can capture more leads by adding a text chat option to their website, follow up with sales prospects to close deals, get paid on time with automated reminders, provide customer service worth talking about, and get more customer reviews. They can also send promotions to previous customers, get the word out ASAP, schedule appointments, and start by implementing one use case at a time.

Wufoo is a popular online form builder that allows businesses to easily create custom forms without needing to code, making it an essential tool for capturing customer data. The company's founders created the platform as a solution to their own problem of building a content management tool, and it has since become one of the most used online form builders by small businesses and large companies alike, including Disney, Microsoft, and Amazon. With Wufoo's drag-and-drop features and pre-built templates, users can build forms quickly and customize them to fit their brand, while also analyzing and making sense of the data collected through built-in reports or custom reports. Additionally, Wufoo integrates with Zapier, a workflow automation software that allows users to automate tasks by connecting user interfaces, data tables, and logic with thousands of apps.

Zapier is an automation tool that allows businesses to send information from one app to another, reducing manual tasks such as importing leads from forms. Many businesses use customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track customer interactions and deals, but CRM alone may not solve all problems, particularly organization and automation. By adding automation to systems, businesses can streamline lead collecting efforts, improve sales cycles, and nurture prospects. Zapier's automated workflows, including multi-step Zaps, social media ads, events, and lead nurturing, help businesses automate tasks such as sending channel messages, creating email campaigns, booking demo calls, and updating spreadsheets. By leveraging Zapier's integrations with thousands of apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft, businesses can create secure, automated systems for their business-critical workflows across their organization's technology stack.

As a PR manager for ZeroBounce, the author started with no public relations experience in the US and zero media contacts, but was able to secure coverage from prominent publications like Forbes and Inc. through hard work and actionable tips learned along the way. The key takeaway is that starting small, being proactive, and targeting platforms that interview entrepreneurs can help establish credibility and lead to PR coverage. By focusing on action rather than strategy initially, building a network, guest posting regularly, leveraging LinkedIn, and pitching quotes and data, one can set themselves up for success in securing media coverage.

Google has announced that its Docs app will start using canvas-based rendering, a change that marks a shift away from traditional HTML-based approaches and towards more dynamic and interactive document editing experiences. This new method allows Google to draw everything it needs using JavaScript, enabling features like faster loading times, improved cross-browser compatibility, and increased flexibility in terms of what documents can do. While this change may initially cause some inconvenience for users relying on specific Chrome extensions, the long-term benefits are expected to be significant, including better performance, more consistent rendering, and easier integration with other Google apps. As Google continues to roll out this new feature across its ecosystem, it has the potential to unlock new possibilities for document editing and collaboration, and will likely pave the way for further innovations in the world of web-based productivity tools.

You probably know someone who pays for some absurd combination of Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, ESPN+, Discovery+, Paramount+, Peacock, and Amazon Prime. It's not the best use of money because there's so much overlap, and let's be honest—they're just going to end up re-watching the same show for the eighth time anyway. Most businesses pay for at least one large software bundle, typically for email hosting and other core office apps like word processing and spreadsheets. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are probably the biggest bundles, so I'm going to focus on those, but there are others out there. Many companies pay for video call apps like Zoom, team chat apps like Slack, or cloud storage services outside of their main software bundle, but some of these services may be included in their existing subscription. However, it's worth checking what you're already paying for before adding new software to avoid redundancy and unnecessary expenses. Some businesses might opt to pay for seemingly redundant apps if they offer unique features that outweigh the cost of a bundled service. Ultimately, it's essential to review your software subscriptions to ensure you're getting the most value out of your investment.

Launching a new product or service requires careful planning, especially when it comes to understanding your audience's needs and preferences. Before teasing a launch, consider why you're launching and what problem you're trying to solve for your customers. Use social media platforms to educate, inspire, and tease your launch, focusing on your target audience's lifestyle, concerns, and buying habits. Create a countdown timer, use vague terms to build anticipation, and offer exclusive discounts or perks to encourage early adoption. Add urgency by offering limited-time offers, creating a sense of scarcity, and using social proof from loyal customers who can help promote the launch. Prepare content for launch day, including concise social media announcements, email updates, website pages, and updated CTAs on other platforms. Have a hype team in place to help promote the launch, and be present during the launch by engaging with your audience, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and adapting to feedback. By systematizing the launch process and continuously collecting data, you can improve your launch strategy and increase cash flow for your business.

To take your virtual phone system to the next level, consider automating repetitive tasks using workflow automation software like Zapier, which connects your VoIP platform with other critical business apps such as CRM software and customer support management tools. This allows for features like quickly responding to new leads, managing support requests, staying up-to-date on everything, and creating or updating contacts. By minimizing manual tasks, you can focus on meaningful conversations with customers and improve overall business growth.

Slack and Microsoft Teams serve different use cases, with Slack designed for messaging experiences and Teams encompassing the entire collaboration experience. Businesses should consider how to integrate these tools instead of comparing or replacing them. There are ways to integrate Microsoft Teams and Slack, such as creating Zaps using automation tools like Zapier, using the Slack calling integration, and subscribing to message interoperability through tools like Mio. These integrations enable seamless communication across platforms, allowing businesses to work efficiently with external partners and within their teams.

Our life is a complex juggling act, with multiple businesses and family responsibilities. To maintain organization and efficiency, the writer uses two key tools: organization and automation. The author's real estate company, New Horizon Home Buyers, utilizes Podio as its CRM system to keep track of contacts and leads. This has been automated using Zapier, which connects Podio to InvestorCarrot, a website used for generating leads. The integration allows data from the website to be automatically transferred into Podio, saving time and reducing manual input. The process involves setting up a trigger in Zapier, connecting it to Podio, and defining actions to occur after the trigger is triggered, such as creating items in Podio with matched fields from the form. By automating this process, the writer aims to save hours of tedious work and increase efficiency.

The book American Ways by Gary Althen highlights cultural differences in behavior and communication among Americans, revealing that what is considered "normal" can vary greatly depending on upbringing and context. The author notes that small talk, a common conversation starter in America, often focuses on work and labor, whereas in other cultures, topics like hobbies or social activities may be more prevalent. The concept of "work-life balance" is also examined, with the author arguing that it implies an imbalance between work and personal life, rather than recognizing that work can be just one aspect of a person's identity. Ultimately, the author advocates for putting work in perspective and setting boundaries to maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal life.

Google Ads is a popular platform for small businesses to launch online ad campaigns and target their existing leads and customers. To better serve these groups, linking Mailchimp to Google Ads allows automatic addition of new subscribers to the customer list, streamlining advertising efforts and reducing manual data transfer time. With Zapier's integration, users can automate tasks and build custom workflows, making it easier to manage subscription lists and reach the right people with targeted ads.

Atiba Software, a software and IT consulting service, expanded its sales and marketing team during the pandemic, despite traditional strategies being less effective during this time. The company had never had a full-time dedicated sales and marketing team before, but recognized the need to be more aggressive in finding clients and promoting their brand. They hired experts who were knowledgeable in their field and could break down complex work into human terms, giving them the tools to succeed. This move allowed Atiba to offer more services, streamline sales processes, and grow its business, with notable increases in social media interaction, organic traffic, and web-based leads.

I've been reflecting on my productivity improvements and noticed a significant change after turning off my computer each night. I felt fresher, clearer, and more productive the next day, which was likely due to not starting my day playing catch-up on work-related tasks. Shutting down my computer gave me permission not to think about work until tomorrow, allowing me to ride my morning productivity energy towards completing new tasks or thinking on a new problem. I've automated this habit with workflows and created a sense of routine around it, which has become a game-changer for my daily productivity. Turning off my computer has also reminded me that it's just a tool and allows me to stop working when it's time, promoting healthier work-life balance.

Building a customer-centric business is crucial for success, as it puts customers at the center of every initiative and prioritizes their goals and objectives. A customer-centric approach avoids losing sight of purpose in favor of more urgent challenges and focuses on delivering unmatched service to customers without juggling multiple tools and spending excessive amounts. By staying sincere and genuine in client communication, a business can establish its trademark as a customer-centric company. The author's experience with HelpCrunch demonstrates that prioritizing the roadmap in cooperation with customer service, following up on old leads and re-activating them after each feature release, and maintaining a high business rating are key to achieving success. By focusing on direct communication channels and proper prioritization, small businesses can provide excellent customer service without requiring unsustainable resources.

The text discusses the challenges of managing contract workers, particularly when it comes to collecting W-9 forms for tax purposes. It highlights how this task can be time-consuming, especially when working with multiple contractors or vendors. The article then introduces a Zapier solution that automates this process using QuickBooks Online and Gmail, allowing businesses to streamline their administrative work and reduce the burden of manual data collection. By setting up an ultra-time-saving W-9 Collection Zap, businesses can easily implement this automation and save themselves valuable time.

Virtual conferences offer a more accessible and flexible experience than in-person ones, with lower costs and reduced stress for attendees. To get the most out of an online conference, set realistic expectations, take time off regular work to focus on learning, plan ahead to avoid disappointment and limited capacity restraints, meet new people through networking events, get away from your desk by using a TV or going for a walk, enjoy lighter entertainment during heavy content sessions, share your learnings with others, invite colleagues to join you in attending sessions of interest, and use the experience to gain new perspectives that can be applied to your life.

As a small SaaS business, finding product-market fit is crucial to carve out a niche in crowded markets with big companies. Product-market fit is about identifying a specific audience and ensuring that your product meets their needs, rather than just selling features. Three strategies can help achieve this: conducting customer interviews to understand the audience's problems and needs; observing customers using your product to identify areas for improvement; and shaping your product through customer support by gathering feedback and eliminating unnecessary features. By focusing on the actual work being done by your customers, you can discover your product-market fit and create a clear direction for your business.

Google has changed how signing in works for most users, turning on two-factor authentication as part of an effort to boost security and eventually eliminate passwords. The feature was previously opt-in only, but now it's enabled by default for millions of users. Two-factor authentication adds an extra step while signing in, requiring a phone or dedicated app verification. This change is aimed at reducing the risk of password leaks, which can allow attackers to access multiple accounts if one password is compromised. Google hopes that this move will eventually lead to a world without passwords, and some companies have already successfully implemented alternative authentication methods. Users who don't have access to their phone can still use two-factor authentication by adding backup ways to access their account or using dedicated devices like YubiKeys.

HubSpot offers various features to streamline marketing, sales, support, and customer relationship management tasks, including customizable snippets for quick responses, round-robin meeting links for team scheduling, batch scheduling of social media posts, setting up chatbots for business hours, and using lists to track most active users. These features can help save time, stay organized, and improve overall efficiency.

When choosing project management software, consider the needs of both internal and external team members. A tool should facilitate communication, have reliable notification systems, an intuitive user experience, granular permissions levels, and a price that won't break the bank. External team members may not be as picky about learning new software if it's relatively straightforward and necessary for their work, and they may prefer to use tools of their choice instead of integrating with your app. A streamlined communication capability is essential, allowing users to comment on tasks, tag members, and get emails that take them directly to the comment in question. Reliable notification systems are also crucial, as some apps may not send notifications for new assignments or comments, or have issues with notifications when team members are "away". An intuitive user experience is vital, as freelancers won't want to spend time learning a tool, and granular permissions levels allow you to share specific information with external workers. A price that accommodates multiple users without breaking the bank is also essential. Ultimately, asking the external team members for their input can help you find a suitable tool.

Creating a consistent brand voice is crucial for businesses as it controls their impression and allows them to scale. This involves structuring content, using proper grammar, tone, and formality that matches the gravity of the business and its customers. A company glossary helps standardize language, while capturing the brand's tone through personality traits and writing samples ensures consistency beyond words. By establishing a set of brand voice guidelines, businesses can maintain a clear and recognizable brand voice across all content.

Mistakes to avoid when working at a startup include letting a small budget hold you back by thinking outside the box for cost-effective solutions, using your voice incorrectly or not at all by actively listening and adapting to others' communication styles, waiting for things to be handed to you by taking initiative and finding opportunities for growth, staying within your job description by being flexible and open to new challenges, not setting boundaries which can lead to burnout, being inflexible when faced with change, being wary of feedback but learning to receive it constructively, over-communicating effectively to avoid duplicate work, and giving in to imposter syndrome but recognizing your qualifications and worth. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can thrive in a startup environment and set yourself up for success.

This article discusses the author's experience trying to use their 2020 iPad Pro as a replacement for their laptop in a work setting, specifically as a team lead at Zapier. The author initially found it difficult to adapt to using an iPad for work due to limitations such as poor posture and issues with video conferencing apps like Zoom. However, they discovered that using the iPad's external keyboard and touchpad with an external monitor allowed them to achieve better ergonomic working conditions and even started to enjoy the singular focus of iPadOS. Despite some things not working well, such as certain software applications not functioning properly or requiring a Mac app for access to internal images, the author concludes that using an iPad is passable but only barely, and wonders if it will ever be robust enough to fully replace a computer.

As a startup founder, you are often under immense pressure, making decisions that can impact not only your company's success but also the lives of your employees, investors, and family. To avoid common mistakes that can be detrimental to your business, it is essential to recognize when your expectations of your team may not align with reality. Overhiring for specialized roles can lead to financial burdens without adequate returns, while neglecting data-driven decision-making can hinder growth. Moreover, failing to work on leadership skills and leading by example can result in subpar management and burnout among employees. Not delegating tasks effectively and listening to employee feedback are also crucial to unlocking team potential. Finally, being transparent about company goals and challenges is vital for building trust and motivation among your team members. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can create a more efficient, self-motivated, and successful startup culture.

The latest survey from Zapier reveals that companies using automation software are more likely to hire in 2021, with 56% planning to increase headcount compared to 33% among those without automation. Businesses that use automation also tend to have higher revenue and feel more confident about their plans going forward. Additionally, workers who use automation report being happier, citing benefits such as increased productivity, reduced stress, and improved work-life balance. The survey highlights the resilience and recovery of businesses using automation software during the pandemic, with 23% having already exceeded pre-pandemic revenue and 76% feeling prepared to handle crises.

To keep up with multiple favorite sites without feeling overwhelmed, creating an RSS Superfeed using app automation tool Zapier can be a helpful solution. By customizing and filtering RSS feeds, users can combine several feeds into one easily digestible feed, allowing them to focus on posts that interest them most. To create an RSS Superfeed, users need to find the RSS feeds they want to follow, add them to a Zapier workflow, filter out unwanted posts, and then create a new RSS feed with their filtered content. With this customized RSS Superfeed, users can read only the posts they're interested in, receive notifications when new content is published, and even integrate it with other apps to enhance their reading experience.

### Improved VPN Setup at Zapier Reduces Security Risks while Boosting Employee Productivity The new VPN setup at Zapier aims to simplify security while reducing the need for human approval, allowing employees to quickly set up their tech before diving into onboarding tasks. By using single sign-on (SSO) and YubiKeys or certificates, users can log in with a one-time setup, eliminating passwords and minimizing the risk of phishing attacks. The offboarding process is also automated, disabling user accounts and revoking certificates when employees leave the company, ensuring no lingering access to networks. A playbook allows for temporary exemptions, providing some protection against shared VPN profiles or malicious intent. The security team relies on certificates, which are harder to clone or intercept than SMS-based MFA methods, and monitoring is done through a web application that produces simple and lightweight metrics.

Google launched Tables, an experimental app from its in-house incubator, which offers a database with built-in automation tools, different views for data organization and analysis, and built-in automations that can be used to create custom apps without requiring code. Unlike Google Sheets, which is a spreadsheet, Tables is designed primarily as a database, allowing users to view information in various contexts and filter or query it more effectively. With its flexibility and automation capabilities, Tables sets itself apart from other spreadsheet apps, but its fate remains uncertain due to the company's history of launching new tools only to retire them if they don't gain widespread adoption.

The text highlights the challenges and costs associated with building an in-house analytics stack, including designing a solution that meets specific needs, scaling the solution to accommodate growing organizational requirements, and managing the bottleneck of knowledge transfer between a small team and the rest of the organization. The cost of hiring multiple data analysts and maintaining the solution can be substantial, often exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. The author suggests considering alternative options, such as outsourcing or partnering with established solutions or startups that offer similar functionality at a lower cost, before making a decision to build an in-house analytics stack.

There's a law in computer science that technology doubles its capabilities every two years, which means businesses need to keep pace with technological advancements to remain competitive. Dennis Yu, founder of BlitzMetrics, is a digital marketing expert who has advised large brands on effective marketing strategies and is also a technology expert. His company uses automation tools like Zapier to streamline marketing operations and improve efficiency. By automating tasks such as data analysis, task management, and communication, BlitzMetrics has been able to save time and money, with estimates suggesting $50,000 in savings per month. Yu recommends that businesses start using automation tools like Zapier by going slow, understanding the tool's capabilities, and implementing it piece by piece. He believes that automation will become the standard in marketing within the next few years and will be used by agencies and small businesses to productize their services and improve efficiency.

Marjolein, a blogger from the Netherlands, was tired of living paycheck to paycheck and decided to join the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement after realizing she didn't want to work 40 more years. She found Zapier, an automated workflow tool, which allowed her to efficiently manage her full-time job and various side hustles. With Zapier, Marjolein was able to automate tasks such as promoting her content on social media and adding customers to her email list when they purchased eBooks from her Gumroad shop. This saved her time, allowing her to focus on developing her content and connecting with other bloggers, resulting in increased pageviews, sponsored content requests, and financial opportunities. Marjolein's story showcases how Zapier helped her achieve her goal of retiring early in five years.

At a company, getting team alignment requires consistent deliberation on what should be accomplished and why, involving auditing, planning, estimating, delivering, and reviewing stages to ensure transparency, accountability, and predictability among team members. This process involves setting small goals, outlining tasks and deliverables, correctly estimating task duration, working transparently, and regularly reviewing progress to course-correct actions and maintain alignment. As the process evolves, it's essential to be open to change and collaborate with team members to ensure everyone is aligned.

Here's a neutral and interesting summary of the text in one paragraph: Chatbots have improved significantly since their initial attempts, with many small businesses using them to better serve customers and increase engagement. To build an effective bot, business owners recommend answering common questions, keeping features simple, and not overloading the bot with too much functionality. However, it's essential to remember that bots don't replace human interaction entirely, but rather supplement it by directing users to actual people when necessary. Building a bot can be challenging, so joining online communities or forums for support is also recommended. Once built, connecting the bot to other business apps can automate tasks and enhance its functionality.

To find the free version of software that meets your needs, start by actually reading the website and its marketing materials, as many companies intentionally hide the information in favor of driving users to paid trials or business-focused pricing pages. Check the pricing page for details on free versions, consumer pricing, and feature breakdowns, and if all else fails, use a search engine to look up "free version" alongside the app's name. By taking these steps, you can uncover hidden free versions that will help you avoid ads and make your online experience more enjoyable.

You can instantly add text to an existing note in Evernote or OneNote using the Zapier Chrome extension, allowing for seamless automation and saving time when working on projects or managing notes. The extension enables you to trigger automated workflows with a single mouse click, connecting your apps into customized workflows without requiring any coding knowledge. By installing the extension, logging into your Zapier account, and setting up a new Zap, you can easily add text to existing notes in Evernote or OneNote, making it an ideal tool for individuals looking to boost productivity and stay organized.

When starting a content marketing business, it's crucial to be exceptional at your specialty and an exceptional salesperson as well. Conducting research ahead of time can help craft relevant, personalized pitches that demonstrate the value of your products or services to potential clients. A key strategy is offering personalized sales pitches for client inquiries by asking for their website on a contact form, reviewing the lead's site, looking up the individual and company on LinkedIn, compiling what you've learned into a pitch, and tailoring it to their specific needs. By doing so, this approach can double conversion rates and increase average order values within two months. To adapt this strategy for cold pitches, research companies in your niche, find the right person on the team over at LinkedIn, and send out custom, personalized pitches that highlight how you can help them with specific services and offerings.

Creating Pinterest design templates has been instrumental in helping a small business save time, maintain brand consistency, and analyze data to see what's working best on the platform. By using pre-made designs that can be quickly customized, the author was able to automate their marketing efforts, reduce the need for creating new images, and better understand what types of content perform well. The templates also allowed the business to maintain a consistent brand image across all Pins, making it easier to build recognition with followers. With the right tools and design principles in place, businesses can use Pinterest more effectively, saving time and increasing their reach and sales potential.

SMS messaging is a powerful tool for businesses to connect with consumers, drive engagement, and generate sales. By automating workflows using Zaps, businesses can promptly follow up with leads, send messages on various platforms, acknowledge feedback, keep themselves and their team informed, stay one step ahead of meetings, and get the most out of their SMS messaging tool through workflow automation software like Zapier.

At Tonara, a music education company, the team has been able to achieve unprecedented growth during a pandemic by investing in their community, engaging with users directly through relevant channels such as Facebook Groups and surveys, attending conferences and hosting events, solving issues together with customers, and building trust and deepening relationships with them. By doing so, they've identified valuable opportunities and created better products that meet the needs of their community. The company's CEO, Ohad Golan, is an active member of a Facebook Group where he interacts directly with music teachers who use Tonara Studio, showing customers that the company is listening and cares about their feedback. By taking these steps, Tonara has not only grown its business but also built a loyal community that trusts and recommends the brand.

Surveys help businesses understand their customers better, but manual follow-up and organization can be time-consuming. To overcome this, Zapier offers customizable workflows that automate tasks such as organizing responses, sending follow-up emails or texts, creating to-do items, and adding leads to CRM systems. These automated workflows, known as Zaps, can save time and help businesses focus on serving their audience more effectively. With Zapier's workflow automation software, users can combine different apps and data tables to build and automate a wide range of tasks, making it easier to get the most out of surveys and customer data.

You can streamline and automate bookkeeping by using an accounting app, connecting payment processors, adding sales receipts, linking business accounts, uploading photos of receipts, and automating tracking of expenses for service providers through spreadsheets or email integrations. Many accounting apps, such as QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero, and Expensify, offer features like automatic calculations, integrations with Zapier, and SmartScan capabilities to simplify the process. Additionally, using automation tools like Zapier can help track reports elsewhere, like saving them as PDFs in Google Drive or adding them to a spreadsheet. By implementing these strategies, you can increase efficiency and reduce the time spent on bookkeeping tasks.

Teachers have valuable lessons to share with entrepreneurs, particularly in today's pandemic-centric moment. By adopting a backward planning approach, where they start the year with the end goal in mind and work backward to create a precise lesson plan, teachers can help entrepreneurs achieve their objectives. This precision is also applicable to business planning, where quarterly goals should be used as a starting point to determine content and deliverables. Teachers are also skilled at being flexible and ready to pivot when necessary, acknowledging that sometimes lessons just won't sink in for students. Entrepreneurs can learn from this ability to adjust course and try new approaches. Additionally, teachers understand the importance of differentiation in meeting students with varying learning needs, which can be applied to user segments and customer journey mapping in business. Teachers also know how to make learning fun, whether it's through creative rewards or social activities, and they celebrate success by honoring progress and hard work.

Calendly is a simple scheduling tool that allows users to set their availability and invite others to pick a slot based on their schedule. For large teams and organizations, Calendly for Enterprise offers team-based functionality, admin controls, and enterprise-grade security and compliance. A Zap can be created using Zapier to consolidate upcoming events in one list, eliminating the need to manually check multiple calendars daily. This Zap can also be set up to deliver digests of Calendly events to Slack at a desired frequency, such as daily, weekly, or monthly.