Below is a guide to using Fomo along with Zapier Email Parser in cases where your preferred technology isn't yet supported by our integrations.
In these situations, you may still be able to use Fomo as long you're receiving automated notification emails when users take critical action.
Here's how to do this.
Step 1 - Sign Up for Zapier & Email Parser
If you don’t already use Zapier, sign up for a free account here.
Next, set up Zapier Email Parser. The Zapier Email Parser is a simple tool that allows you to:
Forward emails from your own inbox to a Zapier email
Use Zapier to automate parsing of those emails to cut out important parts -- and do something with them. In our case, this is to create Fomo style notifications.
If you want a quick understanding of how Zapier Email Parser works, here's a thorough walkthrough.
When you’re ready, go to this page and sign up for your unique Zapier email address. We'll need this to make Fomo work.
Click "Create Mailbox":
You’ll then be asked to forward an email to Zapier:
Step 2 - You Know Those Alert Emails You Get When Things Happen on Your Site? Forward One
You might have something in mind already, but here are some example admin emails that could be turned into social proof with Fomo:
Sales call calendar invites
Gym or spa appointment confirmations
Quote requests for your car dealership
etc.
Find the automated admin emails you’re receiving when users take action on your site and forward one of them to the Zapier email address you were just given.
Step 3 - Highlight the Important Stuff
Return to your Zapier Email Parser page (screenshot above) and hit the “Refresh page and look for new email” button.
Consider what you’ll want to show in your Fomo alerts. Usually this is something like the customer’s first name, what they bought/signed up for, the location of their scheduled visit, etc. For your business, what kind of alert makes sense?
Now that your email is loaded into Zapier Email Parser, simply highlight the important pieces in the email and give them appropriate names.
When finished, select “Save Address and Template” from the Zapier page and you’re all set.
Step 4 - Save it and Set Up Fomo.
Back in your Fomo account, go to your dashboard and select “Integrations”. If Zapier is not already set up as a Fomo integration, follow Steps 1 - 4 here.
Still in your dashboard, go to Integrations > Zapier > click “new +” under Templates:
Name the template something appropriate (it will help to add “ - Zapier” to the end of the name) and then set up your Fomo message. Hint: use the Fomo variables listed below the Notification Message form input or use the custom variables you created in Step 3 above:
Step 5 - Now map your Zapier Zap to Fomo.
Go back to your Zapier account and set up a new Zap. you’ll use Zapier Email Parser as your trigger (Zap Step 1) and Fomo as the action (Zap Step 2).
You’ll need to go through a couple of Zapier steps to connect the Zapier Email Parser account you created in Step 2 (confusing as it is, they’re not automatically connected) and then you’ll be ready to go.
Zap Step 1
Choose "Email Parser by Zapier" and "New Email" trigger:
When you click "Continue", you'll be asked to authorize:
..and select the mailbox you just created in Zapier's Email Parser:
Zap Step 2
Follow Steps 6 - 8 of this article.
Finally, simply map the variables you highlighted (Email Parser) with Fomo (your chosen template) and save.
Pro Tip: log into Fomo in another tab and arrange your template message the way you want. Then click "Refresh Fields" at the bottom of this Zap step, and the relevant variable fields will populate for you automatically:
Step 6 - Go Live, be Awesome
Turn on your new Zap, then visit the Events tab inside Fomo to see new admin email alerts being turned into Fomo notifications:
If you’ve embedded your Fomo snippet, notifications will be live on your site immediately.
Reach out to us on live chat or email us at hello@usefomo.com if you have questions about this guide.