OK, so we usually try not to make a point of blurting exaggerated claims around here but…this is the coolest web app I have laid eyes on in a looong time. This is especially so for HubSpot users...well, some HubSpot users (more on that in a bit).
Are you sort of mystified by how all of these API integrations work? You may have asked yourself: "Do I need to hire a developer? What the heck is that going to run me? Do I just sit idly by with my fingers crossed; hoping that the app I want will magically show up in the HubSpot marketplace?"
It would appear that these questions may be no longer relevant, thanks to a little start-up called Zapier.com.
Zapier.com, part of the y-combinator* Summer 2012 class, has made their business that of idiot-proofing API integration across nearly every web app you could imagine:
Let’s say, for example, you want to:
- Push landing page conversions to an AWeber email campaign…no problem.
- Make a new contact in HubSpot automatically show-up in Highrise …done.
- Make a new client in FreshBooks instantly become a contact in HubSpot..presto change-o.
This is not limited to HubSpot either:
- Save Gmail emails to Evernote…your wish is my command.
- Get a text message for new Twitter mentions…roger wilco.
- Sync new Dropbox files to Basecamp…meca leca high, meca chiny ho.
All of the listed apps have associated “triggers” and “actions” that can work between nearly any of the some 76 listed apps (this action is called a “zap”).
Simply select your desired trigger and action for your apps, create a “zap” and say goodbye to technical support.
One small issue with HubSpot to note:
While we think HubSpot is far and away the finest “all-inclusive” inbound marketing tool out there…we do have one sizeable beef. That is, if you or your clients are not on an upper-tiered plan, you will not be able to use this awesome tool. In fact, you have no access to the HubSpot API at all, making integration between platforms virtually impossible. And in our humble opinion…it’s just pretty lame.
(We love ya HubSpot...but gotta call 'em as we see 'em.)
For those of you lucky enough to be on one of the premium Hubspot plans, you will be able to start using zapier straight away for up to 5 free integrations. For just $15/mo. more you will be upped to 10 integrations and faster syncing than the free plan provides (just a few syncs per hour).
All-in-all, this looks like one of the most useful tools to come around in quite some time, and we would love to hear about which “zaps” are making your life that much easier…assuming your HubSpot plan allows for it.
* Since 2005 y-combinator has funded over 460 startups, including Loopt, Reddit, Clustrix, Wufoo,Scribd, Xobni, Omgpop, Weebly,
Songkick, Disqus, Dropbox, ZumoDrive, Justin.tv,Heroku, A ThinkingApe,
MachineZone, Posterous, Airbnb, Heyzap, Cloudkick,DailyBooth, WePay,
Bump, Stripe, CarWoo, MixPanel, Cardpool, Optimizely, AeroFS,E la Carte,
and Hipmunk.
