1. IFTTT
If This, Then That
homepage
http://ifttt.com
created by
Sarah Aube and Liz Lacroix

2. What does IFTTT do?
IFTTT is an internet site that creates automatic
shortcuts between web services, social
networks, and other applications.

3. IFTTT Works by connecting
Channels
● Channels are different services that you interact with
such as Facebook, Dropbox, your cell phone, Google
Calendar or even a simple clock.
● There are 55 different channels currently on IFTTT, with
more being constantly added.
● IFTTT acts as a connection between these channels,
making them work together so you work less.

4. Channels are connected by
Recipes that you create
● A recipe looks like
this. "This" is free items
on Craigslist in Quincy.
"That" is send me an e-mail.
● You can create your own recipes using
different channels, or you can browse
recipes that other people have shared and
adapt them for your own use.

5. What do you need to know to use IFTTT?
● You need to be familiar with at least a couple of the
channels that IFTTT provides access to, in order for this
to be useful for you.
● These can be as simple as having a phone (landline or
cell) or they may be a little more complicated, such as
using Vimeo or Delicious.
● The good part is that you use only the channels you
want to, so you don't need to learn anything you don't
already know and use.

6. What is the value of IFTTT?
● Saves time
● Can be applied in libraries
○ Librarians can post on a blog and have it automatically posted on
Twitter as well.
○ If a librarian adds a new favorite book on Readability, it could
automatically bost on their blog.
○ There are currently limitless options for use in libraries, and as more
channels are added to IFTTT, more and more recipes will be relevant
in libraries.
● Works for you, so you don't have to.
● Helps coordinate multiple platforms without
having to actually go to each platform.

7. You know you want to try it!
How to get started with IFTTT:
● Create an account. Go to ifttt.com, click JOIN IFTTT, type in the
requested information and click CREATE ACCOUNT.
● Activate channels you want to use. This is simply done by
clicking the channels tab at the top of your screen and choosing
a channel. Then click the activate button and allow access to
that channel by IFTTT. You can activate as few or as many
channels as you would like to use.
This is what it will look
like when you click on
an unactivated
channel. Simply click
activate and then you
will be able to use it!
You can always
deactivate a channel if
you no longer want
IFTTT to access it.

8. Creating Unique Recipes - If this
● To Begin creating a new recipe click the create button on the top of you
home screen.
● To Unique recipes are set up by choosing a "this" first. You will see this
screen, and you will click on a "this" in order to choose the channel that
you would like like trigger to come from. The trigger is the specific thing
happening within that channel that you want IFTTT to respond to.
● When you click "this" it will prompt you to choose a trigger channel. It will
show you all of the channels, and you can choose the one you want to use.

9. Creating Unique Recipes - If this
Choosing a Trigger
● Once you choose a channel, you will be prompted to choose a
trigger for that channel. Depending on the trigger that you
choose, IFTTT may prompt you to fill out some additional
information on what you want it to respond to.
These are
triggers that
can be
chosen from
when using
Etsy as a
channel.

10. Creating Unique Recipes - then that
● Once you have chosen you "this" channel and your
trigger, you will need to choose your "that".
● Click on "that" which will be
in blue as a link.
● Here you will choose another channel, as well as another
trigger for that channel.
● Once you do this you will "create and activate" your
recipe. There is a field that you can add a description for
your recipe in, then you can click the "create recipe"
button at the bottom of the page and your recipe is made.
It will now appear under "my recipes".

11. Browsing Shared Recipes
● On the top of your dashboard page, click "Browse".
● Here you can just randomly
browse recipes that others have
created and shared, or you can
search specific channels that
you are interested in using.
● You can click on a recipe
and use it as it is or you can alter the triggers to change the
way the recipe works.

12. Managing your recipes
Once you have created recipes, go to the My Recipes Tab
on the top. Using the buttons to the right of your recipes,
you can turn the recipe on or off, delete the recipe from
your recipe box, or share the recipe with others.
The gray
recipes are
turned off,
while the
ones in full
color are
currently
activated.

13. Additional Resources
As the database of Channels continues to
expand, users of IFTTT will want to know about
each individual application and how it can be
useful to their lives. Channels have their own
information so resources are limitless!
Possibilities include:
● dropbox
● last.fm
● tumblr
● readability
● google calendar