Learn How to Schedule Tweets with Google Calendar

I schedule a lot of social media content. Tweets can be scheduled through tools like Hootsuite, Social Oomph, Buffer, and Crowdfire just to name a few. Last week I was browsing the recipes on IFTTT which is a simple way for Non-Tech types to program certain actions. Some actions, like the one I’m highlighting today, are useful for business and blogging.

Inside You Will Learn:

• How to set up the IFTTT recipe for Twitter and Google Calendar
• Schedule your first Tweet

Before you start, let’s make sure you have an IFTTT account. Visit IFTTT.com and sign up for an account by entering your email address and a password (at least 6 characters long).

Next, click on the black down arrow which is located by your username (top right corner). Click on Preferences. You can add 2-step verification, set your timezone, set the bit.ly shortener if you want to use this, and select alerts and emails from IFTTT. Remember to click Update Settings.

Now, click on Profile. You can add a bio and connect to a profile channel like Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Linkedin, Tumblr, or Twitter.

You’re ready to make your first “recipe” or add one that someone else has created. In this example, you’re going to use a recipe by user Wobable - Schedule Tweets Using Google Calendar.

Learn to Schedule Tweets Using Google Calendar #shortcuts #productivity Click To Tweet

Connecting Twitter and Google Calendar to IFTTT

 

You will need to give permission to Twitter and Google Calendar in order for this recipe to work. Be sure when you connect Google Calendar that the right calendar is selected. Also, be sure to schedule your posts using this same calendar. (ex. personal, work, social media)

Once the channels (aka sites) are connected, you can build your recipe.

Setup Your Recipe

The default for the “trigger” for the keyword or phrase is “Schedule Tweet”. I like things short and simple, so I changed it to “tw”.

The action stays the same.

Be sure to click “UPDATE“.

Schedule Your First Tweet

1. Go to Google Calendar and click on the date and time you want your Tweet to go out.
2. Do Not click Create, instead, click Edit.
3. Add a description (Your tweet)
4. Options - select an event color, deselect invite guests and see guest list, and select “Available”.
5. Save your event aka tweet.

Pros

This makes it possible for you to safely outsource this task to your virtual assistant. Once you get to know her/him then you will feel comfortable adding them as an assistant to your Hootsuite or other paid scheduling account.

An easy way to see all of your text Tweets in a month.

You can schedule months in advance instead of 30-days at a time.

You don’t have to bother with CSV files.

Cons

Yet another application to learn and use (if you don’t already use Google Calendars).

Image Tweets can’t be scheduled.

There is no way to track links unless you use the bit.ly option (see setup instructions above).

What do you think? Is this useful or just another tool to add to the “too much information” pile?