Automatisation tools: simplifying content dissemination for small businesses

Disseminating content is a fundamental process nowadays for all businesses, big and small. Yet for small companies, managing content dissemination can be a challenge as there is often a lack of time or resources for doing so effectively. This is where automatisation tools can play an important role. These tools offer simplified solutions for automating various tasks and optimising content dissemination. 

Tools we can use for this include:

  • IFTTT (If This, Then That) is a popular tool combining free plans and others with tariffs, allowing users to create automatic processes based on a structure of “if A happens, we generate B”. With IFTTT, small businesses can integrate their social media platforms and other online services so that they are activated automatically when certain things happen. For instance, if the business publishes a new blog article, IFTTT can automatically share it on social media.
  • Make is a free tool similar to IFTTT, combining free plans and others with tariffs, but with greater flexibility and personalisation. This tool enables users to create personalised workflows which are triggered according to various sequences and actions. Make allows small businesses to automatise tasks such as sending welcome emails to new subscribers or automatically updating content on different platforms.
  • Zapier is another popular automatisation tool combining free and chargeable plans. It connects various applications and services to transfer data automatically. For small businesses, Zapier offers the possibility of automatising tasks such as sending auto-reply messages to clients, synchronising data between project management tools and automatic follow-up of potential clients.
  • Microsoft Power Automate (previously Microsoft Flow) is an automatisation tool which users can integrate into the Microsoft environment (charges apply). Power Automate enables small businesses to connect and automate various Microsoft applications and services such as SharePoint, Teams, Outlook and many more. This means tailored workflows can be created to simplify tasks such as document approvals, scheduling meetings and sending notifications.
  • Leadsbridge is a specialist tool for the integration and synchronisation of data between marketing platforms, combining free plans with chargeable ones. For small businesses, Leadsbridge offers functions such as the automatic collation of data for potential clients from website forms and synchronisation with client relationship management tools (CRM) and email platforms. This helps small businesses automatise the process to attract new clients and efficiently keep a database up to date.

The main advantages offered by these automatisation tools are:

  • Time saving: content dissemination tasks tend to be repetitive and time consuming. These tools mean small businesses can schedule and automatise them, allowing staff to devote more time to other aspects of the business.
  • Coherence and consistency: automatisation ensures that content is published more consistently and at the most appropriate time. This helps maintain an active and cohesive online presence.
  • Broader reach: automatisation allows small businesses to disseminate content on various platforms and social media channels simultaneously. This broadens the reach and visibility of messages and helps attract new sectors of the public.
  • Personalisation: despite automatisation, these tools allow small businesses to personalise messages and adapt them for different platforms and specific audiences. This helps create a more personal and relevant experience for clients.
  • Integration with other tools: automatisation tools can be integrated with other tools and management platforms, such as web analytics, CRM and email platforms. This also allows for more efficient management and thorough follow-up of content dissemination.

In short, automatisation tools such as IFTTT, Make, Zapier, Microsoft Power Automate and Leadsbridge offer small businesses an efficient and simplified way of disseminating content. Automatisation means businesses can save time, maintain a consistent online presence and reach a broader audience. In the long run, it can help them improve their visibility, attract new clients and grow in today’s increasingly competitive digital environment.

WordCamp: connecting with the WordPress community

WordCamp Barcelona, the event bringing together professionals and fans of WordPress – the most widely used open-source content management platform in the world–, was held in the city on 5 and 6 May. The team from the .barcelona domain had the chance to take part, connecting the WordPress community with our city.

We had plenty of visitors to our stand in the exhibition space at the fair, where we were able to share detailed information on the singularities and unique advantages of the .barcelona domain and resolve doubts on how to register a .barcelona domain, personalise it and take advantage of it to increase the online visibility of projects linked to the city.

We also spoke to various .barcelona users, who highlighted how a domain linked to the city has helped them to position their business or organisation on the internet. Among those attending, we met the team from Web Empresa, who talked to us about the solidarity project glaucomacongenito-luah.barcelona to help Luah, a girl with a degenerative visual illness who has had an operation in the city.

We also had the chance to attend various talks and sessions where digital marketing experts and local web developers shared their experiences, offering the chance to get to know the local WordPress community close-up.

Taking part in WordCamp Barcelona was a great opportunity to get to know the local WordPress community and connect individuals and companies with the digital identity and values of Barcelona. See you at the next WordCamp!

City markets closer to hand

Barcelona’s markets form an important part of neighbourhood life and provide a harmonious experience. Besides being a role-model for commerce in each neighbourhood, they head the urban market model at an international level. Now they’re the latest to have a .barcelona domain with mercats.barcelona, where you’ll find all the details.

In addition to basic information on each food market and non-food market in the city, such as addresses and opening times, you can check how busy they are in real time, discover the Quiet Hours, when light and noise are less intense, make online purchases for home delivery and discover where collection points are located for you to pick up your shopping swiftly and securely from refrigerated lockers. You can also check the activity agenda so you don’t miss the upcoming workshops and displays or read the latest news on markets.

But the website mercats.barcelona offers so much more! Do you know how to make cherry gazpacho or romesco sauce? Check out the markets blog to find dozens of recipes, tips from grandma, information on what’s in season and more.

Barcelona’s markets are also a place for learning. Through this domain you can discover how markets help people acquire knowledge linked to healthy and sustainable food and products.