Automate Cold Emails with AI and Zapier

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Setting up Zapier and OpenAI
3. Connecting Google Form, Google Docs, and OpenAI
4. Creating the Zap
5. Adding the OpenAI Prompt
6. Improving the Response with OpenAI
7. Appending the Response to a Google Doc
8. Publishing and Testing the Zap
9. Exploring Other Possibilities
10. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will explore how to Create an automation using Zapier and OpenAI. By leveraging these tools, You can develop your own AI workflow to generate cold emails and improve their quality. We will also learn how to connect this automation to a Google Form trigger and paste the response into a Google Doc. This article will guide you through setting up Zapier and OpenAI, connecting the required apps, creating the zap, adding the OpenAI prompt, improving the response, and appending it to a Google Doc. So, let's get started!

Setting up Zapier and OpenAI

To begin, you will need to have a Zapier account. If you don't have one, go ahead and create an account. Once you have your Zapier account, you will need to connect it to the apps we'll be using: OpenAI, Google Docs, and Google Forms. If you don't see OpenAI listed in the apps, you can add the connection before proceeding. Similarly, connect your Google Docs and Google Forms accounts. Make sure that the Google Form and Google Docs are created in the same Google account that is connected to your Zapier account.

Connecting Google Form, Google Docs, and OpenAI

In this automation, we will be using Google Forms to send Prompts to Zapier, Google Docs to store the responses, and OpenAI to generate improved email content. You can use other apps as well, depending on your needs, but OpenAI is essential for this workflow. Ensure that you have created a Google Form with a Paragraph response question and a Google Doc to store the responses. Once you have set up these components, proceed to the next steps.

Creating the Zap

To create the zap, click on the "Create Zap" button in the top left corner of the Zapier dashboard. The trigger for our zap will be the Google Form, so select "Google Forms" as the trigger app. Choose "New Form Response" as the trigger event and hit "Continue." Connect your Google Forms account if you haven't already done so. Next, select the form you created and named "Prompt." This is why we created the Google Form before setting up the zap. Once you have selected the form, click "Continue" and test the trigger to ensure it is working properly.

Adding the OpenAI Prompt

The next step is to add the OpenAI prompt. We will use OpenAI to generate a response Based on the prompt received from the Google Form. Add the OpenAI app as the next step in the zap. Choose the event "Send prompt to OpenAI" and click "Continue." In the "Model" field, select "DaVinci 003" as the model to use. Leave the other settings at their default values. Now, click on the prompt input field and select the prompt received from the Google Form trigger. This will make the OpenAI response dynamic based on the prompt. Once you have added the prompt, click "Continue" and test the action to ensure it is working correctly.

Improving the Response with OpenAI

To improve the response generated by OpenAI, we will chain another OpenAI call. This call will ask OpenAI to review and refine its initial response. Add another OpenAI step in the zap and choose the event "Send prompt to OpenAI" again. Click "Continue" and add the prompt for the review. Include a hardcoded message asking OpenAI to review the response it provided earlier. You can use the response from the Second OpenAI call by using the choices text as the prompt. This will prompt OpenAI to reflect on its initial response and suggest improvements. Once you have set up the prompt, click "Continue" and test the action to ensure it is working as expected.

Appending the Response to a Google Doc

Now it's time to store the responses in a Google Doc. Add the Google Docs app as the next step in the zap and choose the event "Append Text to Existing Document." Click "Continue" and select the Google Doc to which you want to append the responses. In the "Text to Append" field, choose the response from the third step in the zap. This will ensure that the generated response is stored in the Google Doc. Once you have set up the append action, click "Continue" and test the action to ensure it is appending the response correctly.

Publishing and Testing the Zap

Before you can publish and use the zap with your Google Form, you need either a free trial or a premium Zapier account. If you have an appropriate account, click on the "Publish" button to make your zap live. This will enable the automation to trigger with the responses from the Google Form. To test the zap, submit a response on your Google Form with a prompt. The zap will execute the OpenAI calls, generate an improved response, and append it to the specified Google Doc.

Exploring Other Possibilities

The automation we have shown here is a basic example of using Zapier and OpenAI. However, you can connect Zapier to other apps like Slack to send and receive responses, or you can explore other APIs like Stable Diffusion AI to build more complex apps. If you are interested in learning more about building apps with AI, we recommend checking out our course on building apps with AI. The course covers various topics such as connecting to OpenAI APIs, creating AI Writer and image generator apps, and building fully-featured apps without code using tools like Bubble.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to create an automation using Zapier and OpenAI to generate and improve cold email responses. By connecting Google Forms, Google Docs, and OpenAI, we have built a workflow that automates the process of generating and refining email content. We have walked through the steps of setting up Zapier and the required apps, creating the zap, adding the OpenAI prompt, improving the response, and appending it to a Google Doc. We have also discussed other possibilities and recommended further learning resources. With this knowledge, you can now create your own AI workflows and explore the endless possibilities of automation with Zapier and OpenAI.

Highlights

• Learn how to create an automation using Zapier and OpenAI
• Generate cold email responses with the help of AI
• Improve the generated responses with self-reflection
• Connect to Google Forms and Google Docs for seamless integration
• Explore other possibilities and advanced AI app development

FAQ

Q: Can I use Zapier for automating other tasks besides email writing? A: Yes, Zapier can be used to automate various tasks by connecting different apps and services. You can explore the possibilities of connecting Zapier with apps like Slack, Airtable, Trello, and more.

Q: Can I customize the prompts and improve the response quality for my specific use case? A: Absolutely! The example provided in this article serves as a starting point. You can customize the prompts, experiment with different OpenAI models, and tweak the workflow to suit your specific requirements.

Q: How can I learn more about building apps with AI? A: We recommend checking out our course on building apps with AI. The course provides in-depth guidance on connecting to various AI APIs, building fully-featured AI apps, and using tools like Bubble for no-code app development.

Q: Can I use my existing Google accounts with Zapier or do I need to create new ones? A: You can use your existing Google accounts with Zapier. Make sure the Google Form and Google Docs used in the workflow are created in the same Google account that is connected to your Zapier account.

Q: What pricing options are available for Zapier? A: Zapier offers both free and premium plans. The free plan allows you to create and test zaps, but to publish and use multi-step zaps like the one described in this article, you will need a premium Zapier account.

Q: Is it necessary to have coding knowledge to set up the automation? A: No, Zapier is designed to be a no-code automation platform. You can set up the automation without any coding knowledge by using the intuitive interface provided by Zapier.

Q: Can I add more steps to the automation workflow? A: Yes, Zapier allows you to add multiple steps to the automation workflow, depending on your requirements. You can connect more apps, perform additional actions, and create complex workflows to achieve your desired automation goals.