Warning: Do not OVER automate your systems. Alright now that is out of the way, let's talk tools!

Growing up I started my content journey early on, and I was always obsessed with finding a tool that could do RSS to Social Media Automation. There were a few tools like Dlvrit, CoSchedule, and Nelio Content back in the day. However they either were too expensive, or failed to ever update like Dlvrit.

The classic tool in this category would be Zapier. I personally have had 90% of all my zaps crash out on me, and so when someone brings it up I usually tell them to pick a better tool. Zapier however does have some integrations that are unique, and for something simple like Ghost Members to Database or something like that, or BuyMeACoffee members to Ghost, it might be worthwhile.

#7 - SocialBu or IFTTT

Depending on your use case, both of these tools felt like the same level of usefulness. However they fit different use cases.

SocialBu is one of the more decent SMM tools on the market, and it was one of the first to add in actual automations.

IFTTT was essentially IRCC the first automation tool. I was using it side by side with Zapier to accomplish basic tasks like Instagram Post to Pinterest auto push. Or when a new youtube video came out auto post to Twitter and Facebook.

#6 - Activepieces

AI agentic automation focused.

Started out as a Zapier alternative, but has grown on its own to be a unique niche.

Agentic automations I think are the next step in this category. I'm not sure how to implement them well, but I would keep an eye out on this tool.

#5 - Automatisch

Open source Zapier alternative

Not much to say except it is basically Zapier, but you can self host it. Or use their service too. If you had a lot of hell with Zapier like I did, then this may be a good choie.

#4 - Repurpose.io

The OG repurposing tool on the market, however as the years went on to me it fell more under the Automation Category.

At least in the sense of how it approaches repurposing, such as the syndication of short form video. Where I would normally take a video make it outside of a platform, and then syndicate the post to Instagram/YouTube/Tiktok. Repurpose is more for the person who might have a main platform. Say Tiktok, that wants to then take that video and auto post it to Reels and Shorts.

#3 - Make

To be honest I don't have a lot to say here. I tried it out a lot more when it was Integromat, and while it was more stable than Zapier. It was also a lot more complicated, and it still is in a lot of ways.

I think because of that you can have more complex automations. Multi-step zaps fail too much to rely on. Multi-step Make automations tend to be more stable from what I am told.

While I know this is more of a Social Media Scheduling Tool, if your use case for automation is posting to socials when you make more content. Which for me, and for a lot of people that is the case.

Then I think this is the best Automation tool. Perhaps this is my bias, but I really think that after trying Zapier over and over. With it almost ALWAYS breaking over and over again, and the sheer cost of it month to month. It didn't even work, let alone compete with Nuelink when I tried to make social media automations.

Given how this site is geared towards helping you become a "Modern Content Creator", then social scheduling is one of the major things you need for that.

To me this is the modern Repurposeio equivalent, and it has more automations too. I had Nuelink as the top tool on this post originally. However I realized not everyone will be using an automation tool for content purposes like myself. If you are, then NL is top, if you aren't then the next tool...

#1 - n8n

If Nuelink is the modern Repurpose, then n8n is the modern Zapier.

So many ways you can use this tool, and I've seen it integrate in unique ways with Notion/Airtable. Overall I think this one is still a bit of an underdog, as despite people in my space knowing about it.

The overall populace online tend to think of Zapier first, but I think we should switch that focus to n8n with the level of prowess it has.

Find the right tool for YOU:

The PolyTools Database
The Polymath’s Toolkit for all things Digital Renaissance. From content repurposing to automation and personal knowledge management! This is the database for the PolyTools brand.
Official Website for Dustin Miller PolyInnovator [LLC]Dustin Miller | PolyInnovator

This is a link to a page that has the database within, and you can sort by tag for automation tools if you need to look around!