How to Use Sub-Zap by Zapier

What is Sub-Zap by Zapier?

Sub Zap by Zapier is a handy automation within an automation. Basically, it allows you to “call” another automation within your automation. This helps for a number of different situations. It extends the amount of steps you can have in a Zapier, makes more complicated Zaps simpler, and allows for more logic within your automations. Building and calling a sub-zap can be done multiple times within a Zap which can make for extremely complex automations with the potential to fully automate complex processes and save an immense amount of time.

Here’s how to build one:

Setting Up a Zap with a Sub-Zap

First, we have to set up the bones of both.

The Sub-Zap

1. Build the Trigger

Just like any other Zap, you want to start with the trigger. Most likely, you wont be seeing the Sub-Zap tool in the first menu. Type in the Sub-Zap and select the one shown.

2. Select "Start a Sub-Zap" as your Event

In order to kick off the Sub-Zap, you need to select Start the Sub-Zap as your event. This, once called from your main Zap, will use a Task to start your Sub-Zap.

3. Input any data you'd like to use

Input/Argument List is a place where you can take data from previous steps in the Zap and import them into your Sub-Zap. For example, if you have a particular spreadsheet cell you'd like to use as the basis of your Sub-Zap (maybe as a lookup function).

After connecting the Sub-Zap to the Main Zap, you would click the box below, select the Excel step of your main Zap, and click the value you'd like to use. This will add it to your Sub-Zap!

4. Adding your Function

Between the trigger and the action, you want to add the contents of your Sub Zap. Are you completing a function, adding data from another source, building logic into your current Zap using a filter or delay. Whatever it may be, this is the area to add you other connections to gather new data and send it back to the Main Zap.

5. Add your Action

Once you have your trigger all set up, you can add your Action. Same process, search and click the Sub-Zap. For this event, however, you want to click the return from Sub-Zap.

This will ensure you have "closed off" your Sub-Zap. This will also prompt your Output/Return Values.

6. Complete the Output

What ever the task you have completed, chances are you have new data or information you'd like to return to the main Zap.

In the left cell, provide the data with a name. Just type one right in.

In the right cell, click the field and it will bring up any data you have collected in the Sub-Zap. Collect the particular piece of data you'd like to return.

Hit continue.

7. Test Your Sub-Zap

If you have your main Zap finished, you can actively test your Zap. If you have not yet built the main Zap, wait on it for a while.

The Main Zap

8. Set up a Sub-Zap Action in a Zap

After setting up your Zap and setting up your trigger (only Sub Zaps can have "Start a Sub-Zap as your trigger), add your Sub-Zap action.

Your main Zap should have the action to "Call a Sub-Zap".

9. Select your Account and Sub Zap

Select your account. Usually, you will only have one option. After selecting your profile, add the Sub Zap you just created.

And you are done. You've just added a Sub Zap to your main Zap.

An Example: A YouTube Video Scheduler

Scheduled YouTube posting

Looking to upload a Youtube video automatically every day? Use a combination of the Scheduler, a Sub Zap with Google Sheets, and the Youtube action.

Build the Google Sheets Sub-Zap

Build a google sheet that collects the video's Title, Description, and either a video file or URL. You can design the sub zap to collect that info and pull it into the main Zap.

There you go! You're a daily uploader.

More Sub Zap by Zapier Examples

• Multi Post to Social Media

  • Add Sub - Zaps to schedule or stagger posts to Social Media like Twitter, Instagram, and more.

• Send a Series of Emails

  • Send a series of Gmails (or other various email tool emails) to clients or to internal management based on your trigger.

• Onboarding Processes

  • Send proposals, wait for actions, add clients to CRMs and more.

The Sub Zap may be the most powerful tool available to you in Zapier. It has thousands of uses and makes complicated processes much, much more simple. Completely automate large workflows that can take hours of your time away from actually doing your work. Check out some more automation tools at your disposal within your Zapier account.

Wondering if there is a process in your workflow that you can automate?