How to Use Make

Make is a visual automation platform that allows users to connect different applications and automate repetitive tasks. Instead of manually transferring information between apps, you can create a workflow that performs those actions automatically.

Make supports thousands of integrations and provides tools such as filters, routers, webhooks, APIs, AI automation, and AI Agents for building more advanced workflows.

Step 1: Create a Make Account

Visit the official Make website and create an account.

Make provides a Free plan, so you can start experimenting with automation without immediately choosing a paid subscription.

Once you’re signed in, you’ll access your Make workspace.

Step 2: Create a New Scenario

In Make, automations are created using scenarios.

Create a new scenario from your dashboard and open the visual scenario builder.

A scenario is essentially a workflow that tells Make what should happen automatically.

Step 3: Choose a Trigger

The first step is to select an event that starts your automation.

For example:

New Form Submission

Other triggers can include:

• New customer

• New order

• New email

• New spreadsheet row

• Scheduled event

• Webhook

The available triggers depend on the application you’re using.

Step 4: Connect Your App

Choose the application that will provide the information.

For example, you could connect Google Sheets and select a module that watches for new rows.

Make will ask you to authorize the application before it can access the required information.

Step 5: Configure the Trigger

Select the relevant account, file, database, or other required settings.

For example:

Google Sheets → Watch New Rows

Configure the spreadsheet and worksheet you want Make to monitor.

Step 6: Add an Action

After setting up the trigger, add an action.

For example:

Google Sheets → Gmail

The workflow could become:

New Spreadsheet Row → Send Email

The action determines what Make should do after the trigger occurs.

Step 7: Map Your Data

Data mapping allows information from the trigger to be inserted into the next module.

For example, if your spreadsheet contains:

• Name

• Email

• Company

You can map:

Name → Customer Name

Email → Recipient Email

Company → Email Content

This allows information to move automatically between applications.

Step 8: Add a Filter

Filters allow you to control which information should continue through the workflow.

For example:

New Lead → Check Lead Status → Send Email

You could configure the filter to continue only when:

Status = New

This prevents the automation from acting on every record.

Step 9: Add More Actions

Make allows you to add multiple actions to the same scenario.

For example:

New Lead
↓
Add to CRM
↓
Send Welcome Email
↓
Create Sales Task
↓
Notify Sales Team

This makes Make useful for multi-step business processes.

Step 10: Use a Router

If different types of information require different actions, add a router.

For example:

New Customer

↓

Router

→ New Customer → Marketing Workflow

→ Existing Customer → Support Workflow

→ High-Value Customer → Sales Workflow

Routers help create different paths within the same scenario.

Step 11: Test Your Automation

Before activating the scenario, run a test.

Check that:

• The trigger works correctly

• Data is being received

• Fields are mapped correctly

• Filters work as expected

• Actions are completed

• No duplicate actions occur

Testing is especially important when automating important business processes.

Step 12: Check the Execution

Review the scenario execution after testing.

Make shows the steps that were executed and the information passed between modules.

If an error occurs, identify the module responsible and correct its configuration.

Step 13: Set the Schedule

Depending on your trigger, configure how often the scenario should run.

Some workflows can run on a schedule, while event-based workflows can use triggers or webhooks when supported.

Choose a schedule that matches how frequently your business needs the information processed.

Step 14: Activate the Scenario

Once everything works correctly, activate your scenario.

Your workflow can now run automatically based on the configured trigger and schedule.

For example:

New Lead → Make → CRM → Email → Notification

can operate without manually completing every step.

Example: Lead Generation Automation

A simple lead workflow can look like:

Website Form

↓

Make

↓

CRM

↓

Email Marketing

↓

Sales Notification

When a visitor submits a form, Make can transfer the information to the appropriate systems and trigger the next actions.

Example: Ecommerce Automation

An ecommerce workflow could be:

New Order → Check Order Value → Update CRM → Notify Team

You can use filters to identify high-value orders and route them to a different process.

Example: AI Automation

Make can also be used to include AI in workflows.

For example:

Customer Message → AI Analysis → Classify Request → Route to Team

AI can help classify, summarize, analyze, or transform information before the workflow continues. Make supports AI applications and AI Agents for building more advanced AI-powered automations.

Best Practices

Start With a Simple Workflow

Begin with one trigger and one action before creating complicated scenarios.

Use Filters

Filters prevent unnecessary actions and give you greater control over the workflow.

Test Before Activation

Always test your scenario with appropriate data.

Monitor Errors

Regularly check failed executions and fix problems quickly.

Avoid Duplicate Automations

Make sure multiple scenarios aren’t accidentally performing the same task.

Protect Your Data

Only transfer the information that is necessary for the workflow and use appropriate permissions.

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the wrong trigger

• Mapping incorrect fields

• Forgetting filters

• Skipping testing

• Creating duplicate workflows

• Using unnecessary modules

• Ignoring failed executions

• Building overly complex scenarios too early

• Not monitoring credit usage

Final Verdict

Make is relatively easy to start with when you begin with a simple automation, while its advanced features allow you to build much more sophisticated workflows as your requirements grow.

The basic process is:

Choose Trigger → Connect App → Map Data → Add Action → Test → Activate

Once you understand these fundamentals, you can add filters, routers, webhooks, APIs, AI tools, and AI Agents to create more advanced business automations.