Make: In the modern digital workspace, businesses and individuals rely on a diverse ecosystem of apps to get things done. However, this often leads to a productivity nightmare, as valuable time is spent manually moving data from one app to another. The constant switching between tools from your CRM to your email, from your spreadsheet to your project management software can be a major drain on your focus and efficiency.
Make, formerly known as Integromat, is a powerful and visually-driven automation platform designed to solve this exact problem. It is a next-generation workflow tool that allows you to connect over 1,500 apps and automate complex tasks without writing a single line of code. Unlike other platforms that use a simple “if this, then that” logic, Make uses a visual builder to let you create sophisticated, multi-step workflows with ease. This comprehensive guide will take a deep dive into what Make is, how its unique visual builder works, its transformative features, and how content creators, marketers, and businesses can leverage its power to automate their workflows and supercharge their productivity.
What Is Make and How Does Its Visual Builder Work?
Make is a cloud-based automation platform that uses a unique and intuitive visual builder to create automated workflows. At its core, the platform allows you to connect your favorite apps and automate tasks by building a “scenario.” A scenario is a workflow that consists of a series of modules, where each module represents an app and a specific action.
The key to Make’s power is its visual nature. Instead of a linear, text-based workflow, Make allows you to drag and drop modules onto a canvas and connect them with lines, creating a visual flow of data. This makes it incredibly easy to understand how data is moving from one app to another and to build complex, multi-step workflows. For example, a scenario could be: “When a new lead is added to a Google Sheet (Module 1), send an email to the sales team (Module 2), and then add the lead to a CRM (Module 3).” Make’s visual builder makes this process simple, accessible, and intuitive for anyone, regardless of their technical skill.
A Deep Dive into Make’s Core Features
Make is a comprehensive platform with a powerful suite of features designed to meet various automation needs.
1. The Visual Builder
The most powerful feature of Make is its unique visual builder. It allows you to create scenarios by dragging and dropping modules onto a canvas and connecting them with lines. This makes it incredibly easy to visualize your workflows and to build complex, multi-step automations. The visual builder also makes it easy to debug your workflows, as you can see exactly where the data is moving and where an error might be occurring.
2. Over 1,500 App Integrations
Make boasts one of the most extensive libraries of app integrations on the market, with over 1,500 apps to choose from. This allows you to connect virtually any app you use, from social media platforms and email providers to CRMs and project management tools. The vast library of integrations makes Make a versatile tool that can be used for a wide range of business scenarios.
3. Data Mapping and Transformation
Make’s data mapping and transformation features are what give it its power and flexibility. You can easily map data from one app to another, and you can also transform the data to fit your needs. For example, you can take a customer’s name from a form and automatically format it to “First Name” and “Last Name” before adding it to a CRM. This makes it easy to ensure your data is always clean and consistent.
4. Advanced Logic with Filters and Routers
Make allows you to create highly intelligent workflows with features like filters and routers. A filter is a conditional logic tool that allows a scenario to take a different path based on a specific condition. For example, you can create a filter that says: “Only send an email if a customer’s order is over $50.” A router is a tool that allows a scenario to take multiple paths at once. For example, you can create a router that says: “When a new lead comes in, add it to a CRM and also send an internal Slack message.”
5. Team Collaboration
Make is designed for team collaboration. The platform allows you to create shared workspaces, where team members can work together on scenarios and projects. This makes it easy for teams to collaborate on complex workflows and to ensure that everyone is on the same page. The platform also includes features for team management and access control, allowing you to control who has access to which scenarios.
How Make Is Transforming Business Workflows
Make has become an indispensable tool for a wide range of professionals and businesses.
For Content Marketers
Content marketers can use Make to automate their entire content creation workflow. They can create a scenario that: “When a new blog post is published (Trigger), automatically create a social media post for it on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn (Actions).” They can also use Make to automatically send a new blog post to an email list, which can help them drive more traffic and engagement.
For E-commerce Brands
E-commerce brands can use Make to automate their sales and customer support workflows. They can create a scenario that says: “When a new order is placed in Shopify (Trigger), add the customer to a Mailchimp email list (Action) and then send a text message to the customer when their order ships (Action).” They can also use Make to automatically create a support ticket in a help desk app when a customer leaves a negative review.
For Sales & Lead Generation
Sales teams can use Make to automate their lead generation and follow-up workflows. They can create a scenario that says: “When a new lead is added to a form on my website (Trigger), create a new contact in Salesforce (Action) and then send a personalized email to the new lead (Action).” They can also use Make to automatically send a Slack message to the sales team when a high-value lead comes in, which can help them close more deals.
A Look at Make’s Pricing and Plans
Make offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs, from individual users to large enterprises.
Free Plan
The platform offers a free plan that allows users to create simple scenarios with a limited number of operations per month. This is a great way for new users to test the platform and create their first few automations before committing to a paid plan.
Core Plan
Designed for individual creators and small businesses, this plan offers a higher number of operations per month, multi-step scenarios, and access to premium features.
Pro and Enterprise Plans
These plans are for professional users, agencies, and large businesses that require a high volume of operations, advanced features, and team collaboration tools.
Benefits of Using Make
- Unmatched Simplicity: The visual builder is a game-changer, making complex automation accessible to anyone, regardless of their technical skill.
- Massive Time Savings: Make can automate countless hours of repetitive, manual tasks, freeing you up to focus on strategy and growth.
- Flexibility and Versatility: With over 1,500 app integrations and advanced logic, Make can be used to create highly customized workflows for a wide range of business scenarios.
- Cost-Effective: By automating manual tasks, Make can save you a significant amount of money on a team of assistants.
- AI Integration: Make has integrated powerful AI features to make its automation smarter and more powerful.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
While Make is a powerful tool, it does have a few limitations to consider:
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While the visual builder is simple, the more advanced features like complex data mapping and routing can take some time and effort to master.
- API Limitations: The functionality of a scenario is limited by the API of the apps it connects. If an app’s API is not well-documented, a scenario may not be able to perform all the actions you want it to.
- Subscription Cost: While it saves time and money in the long run, the paid plans can be expensive for some users.
Final Thoughts
Make is a game-changer for anyone who wants to automate their workflows and boost their productivity. By connecting over 1,500 apps and using a unique visual builder, it has created a new standard for workflow automation.
Whether you are a content creator, a marketer, an e-commerce brand, or a small business owner, Make offers a unique and powerful solution to your productivity challenges. It’s an investment in a smarter, faster, and more efficient workflow that will help you focus on what truly matters: your business’s growth.