What is IFTTT? IFTTT Review, Features

IFTTT is a new network service platform that uses conditions from other platforms to decide whether to execute the next command, that is, to respond to network services through other network services.

meaning

IFTTT is the abbreviation of "If This Then That". In fact, it allows your online behavior to trigger a chain reaction and make your use more convenient. Its purpose is to "Put the internet to work for you". IFTTT aims to help people use the open APIs of various websites to connect various websites or applications such as Facebook and Twitter to complete tasks, so that "everyone can become a programmer of the entire Internet without programming". IFTTT connects various information through processes, and then presents the information you want to you in a centralized manner. It solves the problem of redundant information and receiving or paying attention to important information.

Simply put, IFTTT is a service (which is what we call an "intelligent butler"). For this service, we only need to set rules and tell it "If A completes task 1, then let B complete task 2". It will faithfully check these rules and help us perform the corresponding tasks.

principle

IFTTT is based on conditional triggering of tasks, similar to programming languages, that is, "If XXX performs YYY behavior, execute ZZZ." Each website that can be triggered or used as a task is called a Channel, the triggering conditions are called Triggers, and the tasks that are executed afterwards are called Actions. The above set of processes is called a Task.

In IFTTT, we can use the sentence structure of If This Then That to set This (condition) and That (action) respectively. IFTTT will automatically check whether the conditions are met, just like a loyal butler. Once the conditions are triggered, it will automatically execute the corresponding actions. With this smart butler, we can truly enjoy smart life.

About IFTTT

IFTTT covers social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Weibo, etc. Its highlights are cross-posting and Slack (chat group) integration. Sellers can customize and manage social media platforms through this tool.

In the operation of IFTTT's Applet command, sellers can combine tools with various services of social media platforms. In addition, sellers can also choose to add some applets to the data report to select the platform to track.

Compared with other social media tracking tools, IFTTT is simpler and more flexible to operate. Sellers can use this tool to collect brand-related content, keywords, topic tags, etc. into tables such as Google Spreadsheet for further use.

User Management

IFTTT previously required an invitation to register, but registration is now open.

Advantages

1. With its deep insight into user needs, IFTTT has moved all API calls and service integration to the backend, which are handled by IFTTT engineers and programmers. What is provided to front-end users are ready-made services that can be used at will. Users can set conditions such as "if...then..." just like "programming", allowing users to "program" the entire Internet in a very simple way. The result is automated and arbitrary services.

2. In fact, the concept of IFTTT is somewhat consistent with the iCloud cloud service launched by Apple not long ago, that is, only the simplest ready-made services are presented to users, and everything else that users don’t care about is moved to the cloud or background.

application

1. SMS application example:

(1) Weather – SMS: If the weather forecast for the next day is sunny, send me a text message to remind me to get up and run the next day.

(2) If today is 3 days before your girlfriend’s period or during her menstrual period (in Google Calendar), then send her a text message to remind her: Be careful of her bad temper.

2. Greader application examples:

(1) Greader shares items and sends them to Twitter.

(2) Greader shared items are sent to Evernote/Wiznote (Weizhi).

(3) Greader shared items are sent to Read It Later.

3. Other application examples:

(1) If you publish a new blog post on a WordPress blog, it will be synchronized to services such as Evernote/Twitter/Wiznote (Weizhi).

(2) If I haven’t posted a tweet in 30 days, then I’ll initiate a series of tasks: send an email to the funeral home to collect the body (you can check my Google Location); automatically transfer funds; publish a suicide note to tell relatives and friends that they can go to a certain place to pay their respects in 30 days; share videos recorded before my death.

4. Weibo application: On the afternoon of October 9, 2014, the cross-platform push tool IFTTT announced on its official blog that the service has officially launched a Weibo channel, supporting mutual push between Sina Weibo and other services.

cost

The basic functions of this tool are free to use, but the upgrade charges need to be negotiated with the official.