Make.com Tutorial: From Your First Workflow to Automation Pro

Make.com (formerly Integromat) is one of the most powerful no-code automation tools on the market. This tutorial will take you from zero to a working workflow with concrete examples and best practices.

What is Make.com?

Make.com is a visual automation platform. You connect apps, define logic, and let data flow automatically.

What Make can do:

• 1,500+ app integrations
• Complex logic (If/Else, Loops, Filters)
• Data transformation (JSON, XML, Text)
• HTTP requests for any API
• Scheduling (time-based triggers)

Part 1: The Basics

Creating an Account

Go to make.com

Click "Get started free"

Verify your email

You now have: 1,000 operations/month for free

Understanding the Interface

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|  [Scenarios] [Templates] [Data] [Team]          [Run once]  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                             |
|                    +---------+                              |
|                    | Trigger |                              |
|                    |  (App)  |                              |
+----+----+
+----v----+
Action
(App)
+----+----+
+----v----+
Action
(App)
+---------+
[+] Add module
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Key Terms:

• Scenario: A complete workflow
• Module: A building block (Trigger or Action)
• Connection: Link to an app (OAuth)
• Operation: Each module execution counts
• Bundle: A data record passing through

Your First Workflow: Google Sheets to Slack

Goal: When a new row appears in Google Sheets, send a message to Slack. Step 1: New Scenario

Click "Create a new scenario"

An empty canvas opens

Step 2: Add Trigger

Click the large "+"

Search for "Google Sheets"

Select "Watch New Rows"

Connect your Google account

Select Spreadsheet and Worksheet

Click "OK"

Step 3: Add Action

Click the small "+" to the right of the Google Sheets module

Search for "Slack"

Select "Create a Message"

Connect your Slack workspace

Select Channel

Write the message:

New row: {{1.Column A}} - {{1.Column B}}

Click "OK"

Step 4: Test

Click "Run once"

Add a row in Google Sheets

Check Slack

Step 5: Activate

Toggle "Scheduling" to ON

Choose interval (e.g., every 15 minutes)

Click "Save"

Done! Your first workflow is running.

Part 2: Intermediate Concepts

Filters: Only Let Certain Data Through

Example: Only process rows where column "Status" = "New"

Click on the connection line between modules

Click "Add a filter"

Condition:

- Field: {{1.Status}}

- Operator: "Equal to"

- Value: "New"

[Google Sheets] --[Filter: Status=New]--> [Slack]

Router: Multiple Paths

Example: Different actions based on status

After the trigger: "Add module" -> "Flow Control" -> "Router"

Multiple paths branch from the Router

Each path has a filter

+--[Filter: Status=New]--> [Slack: #new]
[Google Sheets] --> |
     (Router)       +--[Filter: Status=Done]--> [Slack: #done]
                    |
                    +--[Filter: Status=Error]--> [Email: Alert]

Iterator: Loop Through Arrays

Example: An API returns 10 results. Process each one individually.

"Add module" -> "Flow Control" -> "Iterator"

Select array: {{1.results}}

Next module receives individual items

[HTTP: Get Items] --> [Iterator] --> [For each: Create Record]
     (Array)           (Split)         (Single Item)

Aggregator: Combine Multiple into One

Example: Summarize 10 individual results into one email

"Add module" -> "Flow Control" -> "Array Aggregator"

Source: The module that produces multiple bundles

After that: A module that processes the array

[Iterator] --> [Process each] --> [Aggregator] --> [Email: Summary]

Error Handling

What happens when errors occur?

Click on a module

Click "Add error handler"

Options:

- Resume: Continue, ignore error

- Commit: Save changes, then stop

- Rollback: Undo changes, stop

- Break: Move to Incomplete queue, retry later

Best Practice: Always add error handlers to critical workflows

[Module] --+---> [Next Module]
           |
           +---> [Error Handler] ---> [Slack: Error Alert]

Part 3: Advanced Techniques

HTTP Module: Any API

Example: Call an API without native integration

"Add module" -> "HTTP" -> "Make a request"

URL: https://api.example.com/data

Method: GET

Headers:

Authorization: Bearer {{your_api_key}}

   Content-Type: application/json

Parse response: Yes (JSON)

POST with Body:

Method: POST
Body type: Raw
Content type: JSON
Request content:
{
  "name": "{{1.name}}",
  "email": "{{1.email}}"
}

Webhooks: Instant Triggers

Instead of polling (checking every X minutes) -> Instant (immediately when event occurs)

Create a Custom Webhook:

"Add module" -> "Webhooks" -> "Custom webhook"

Click "Add" -> Give it a name

URL is generated: https://hook.eu1.make.com/xxx

Enter this URL in your source app

Example: Typeform -> Webhook -> Make

Typeform sends data to webhook URL
    |
Make receives instantly
    |
Workflow starts immediately

JSON & Data Structure

Parse JSON:

"Tools" -> "Parse JSON"

Input: The JSON string

Output: Structured data for mapping

Create JSON:

"Tools" -> "Create JSON"

Define data structure or:

"JSON" -> "Create JSON" with manual string

Example: API expects complex JSON

{
  "contact": {
    "firstName": "{{1.firstName}}",
    "lastName": "{{1.lastName}}",
    "email": "{{1.email}}"
  },
  "metadata": {
    "source": "website",
    "timestamp": "{{now}}"
  }
}

Text & Data Transformation

Useful Functions:

# Text
{{lower(1.Name)}}           -> lowercase
{{upper(1.Name)}}           -> UPPERCASE
{{substring(1.Text; 0; 10)}} -> First 10 characters
{{replace(1.Text; "old"; "new")}}

# Date
{{formatDate(now; "YYYY-MM-DD")}}
{{addDays(now; 7)}}
{{parseDate(1.date; "DD.MM.YYYY")}}

# Numbers
{{round(1.price; 2)}}       -> 2 decimal places
{{sum(1.items[].price)}}    -> Sum array

# Logic
{{if(1.status = "active"; "Yes"; "No")}}
{{ifempty(1.name; "Unknown")}}

Data Stores: Internal Database

Make has a built-in database for persistent data.

Example: Avoid Duplicates

"Data store" -> "Add/Replace a record"

Key: Email address

Before the action: "Search records" - if found, skip

[Trigger] --> [Data Store: Search by Email]
                    |
              [Filter: not found]
                    |
              [Create Contact]
                    |
              [Data Store: Add record]

Scheduling & Optimization

Schedule Options:

• Every 15 minutes (default)
• Once a day (daily at X time)
• Custom cron expression

Save Operations:

• Apply filters early (before expensive modules)
• Aggregate instead of processing individually
• Use webhooks instead of polling where possible
• Utilize batch processing

Execution Limits:

• Max 40 modules per scenario
• Max 100MB file transfers
• Timeout: 40 minutes

Part 4: Practical Example

Complete Workflow: Lead Capture with Enrichment

Goal:

Lead comes in via Typeform

Enrich with Clearbit

Create in HubSpot

Notify team in Slack

Send welcome email

The Workflow:

[Typeform: Watch Responses]
        |
        v
[HTTP: Clearbit Enrichment API]
        |
   [Router]
        |
  +-----+-----+
  v           v
[Found]    [Not Found]
  |           |
  v           v
[HubSpot:  [HubSpot:
 Create     Create
 Contact    Contact
 + Company  Basic]
 Data]        |
  |           |
  +-----+-----+
        v
[Slack: New Lead Notification]
        |
        v
[Gmail: Send Welcome Email]

Step-by-Step Setup: 1. Typeform Trigger

Module: Typeform -> Watch Responses
Form: "Contact Form"

2. Clearbit Enrichment

Module: HTTP -> Make a request
URL: https://company.clearbit.com/v2/companies/find
Query: domain={{parseURL(1.email).host}}
Headers: Authorization: Bearer {{clearbit_key}}
Parse response: Yes

3. Router with Filter

Path 1 Filter: {{2.company.name}} exists
Path 2 Filter: {{2.company.name}} does not exist

4. HubSpot (Path 1 - with Company Data)

Module: HubSpot -> Create a Contact
Email: {{1.email}}
First Name: {{1.firstName}}
Company: {{2.company.name}}
Industry: {{2.company.category.industry}}
Employees: {{2.company.metrics.employees}}

5. HubSpot (Path 2 - Basic)

Module: HubSpot -> Create a Contact
Email: {{1.email}}
First Name: {{1.firstName}}

6. Slack Notification

Module: Slack -> Create a Message
Channel: #leads
Text:
New Lead: {{1.firstName}} {{1.lastName}}
Email: {{1.email}}
Company: {{ifempty(2.company.name; "Unknown")}}

7. Welcome Email

Module: Gmail -> Send an Email
To: {{1.email}}
Subject: Welcome to [Company]!
Content: [HTML Template with {{1.firstName}}]

Part 5: Best Practices

Naming Convention

[Area] - [Purpose] - [Details]

Examples:
"Sales - Lead Enrichment - Typeform to HubSpot"
"Support - Ticket Routing - Zendesk"
"Marketing - Social Posting - Blog to LinkedIn"

Folder Structure

Sales
   +-- Lead Enrichment
   +-- Deal Alerts
Marketing
   +-- Social Automation
   +-- Email Sequences
Operations
   +-- Reporting
   +-- Notifications

Error Handling

Always include:

Error handlers on critical modules

Slack/Email alerts on errors

Logging in Data Store for debugging

Template for Error Handler:

[Module]
   |
   +--[Error Handler: Break]
          |
          +--[Slack: "Warning: Error in {{scenario.name}}: {{error.message}}"]

Testing

"Run once" for each build step

Run through with test data

Test all paths (Router)

Edge cases: Empty fields, wrong formats

Test error handlers

Documentation

In each scenario:

Add a Notes module at the beginning with description

Name modules (Right-click -> Rename)

Comment on complex logic

Conclusion

Make.com is powerful, but only as good as your understanding of it.

Learning Path:

Simple Trigger -> Action workflows

Understand filters and routers

HTTP requests for any API

Implement error handling

Complex data transformations

Next Steps:

Build your own scenario

Browse examples in the Make Community

Use and customize templates

Test the limits, evaluate n8n as an alternative

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Want to use Make.com for your business but need support? We build your workflows from concept to production system. Read about Make.com pricing to plan your budget, or explore our Make.com agency services if you need professional implementation. Contact us for a free consultation.