Stop wasting time filling in spreadsheets and writing down ideas. The Internet is getting smarter and making it possible for you to waste less time (or simply work less and watch more cat videos). This post is all about saving time, so I’m not going to bother boring you with anything but what you came for.
Here are four easy to use and free productivity hacks with IFTTT and Google Spreadsheets
1. List of all your new followers on Twitter.
List all your new Twitter followers in one easy to track spreadsheet. There are many fancy apps out there will likely do this for you. But if you’re on a budget, this is the solution. As with any spreadsheet, you can slice and dice your information however you like. I prefer to order my spreadsheet based on the number of followers has or by the most recent follower. Warning, this will expose how many people are following and unfollowing you, so prepare for hurt feelings.
2. Record a detailed account of anyone tweeting any specific search or hashtag on Twitter.
This hack isn’t just a hashtag report, but any search on Twitter. You can use this quick recipe for tracking the hashtag usage of your conference, event, or product launch. You may want to use this to find out the most influential people tweeting about a given topic. I prefer to sort by the most recent in descending order.
3. Keep track of all your favorite blogs and websites.
For those of you who do any sort of outreach or PR work, then you know how valuable it is to have a fresh list of new websites and blogs to pursue. Coming from someone who spends about 10-20% of his time coordinating with influencers, I can attest to this. The combination of using Pocket and Google Spreadsheets has quickly become an invaluable part of my daily workflow. I’m now able to actively build up lists of leads, potential books reviewers, and blogs I should be reading more but without interrupting my work flow.. You simply click the Pocket extension icon, enter that tag you have set up to categorize that blog into the right spreadsheet (I use “lead”), and keep moving about the internet.
4. Update your project wishlist.
This is my newest and new favorite IFTTT recipe. I run BeaconAds.com. There are a lot of tasks and mini-projects with the website I sometimes struggle to keep in order. Now, I simply text every idea either from a phone call or a meeting with my VP to keeps track of all my tasks and ideas. Every text is added to a spreadsheet, with a timestamp. From there, I prioritize ideas using a simple system of 1-5 levels or prioritization. This kind of hack could be used for anything from tracking random musings to what you ate during the day. Get creative with this one!
Increasing your productivity isn’t only about tools. Some of these hacks may fit well into your daily work flow—or not. It’s your responsibility to find what works best for you, and to use that effectively.
Have a favorite IFTTT recipe?
I really want to know how you’re saving time. Shoot me a link to your published recipe on Twitter, @NateSmoyer.
Kyle Reed says
Nate, you are the man on the IFTTT recipes. Thanks for sharing as always.
Nate Smoyer says
Thanks Kyle! Glad you found value in these tips.
Darrel Girardier says
These are fantastic! Definitely adding these to my list of recipes in IFTTT.
Nate Smoyer says
Great to hear! Let me know how you use these or if you have any other productivity hacks.
Andrew says
new to this, and looking to add my car mileage to a google drive spreadsheet. How do I add the prompt to the receipy?
Eric Dye says
These are awesome! 😀
Nate Smoyer says
You’re awesome! 😉