The Automation Roadmap
A 10-step guide for freelancers and small businesses to save time and scale effectively using Google Apps Script.
Phase 1: Building the Foundation
1. Plan Social Media
Stop posting manually. Use a Google Sheet as a content calendar. An Apps Script can email you daily reminders with the post content.
2. Centralise Leads
Capture every website form submission in a Master CRM Sheet. Ensure 100% of leads are safe.
“I have it set a calendar reminder for the following morning—after my coffee! I never miss a thing.”
3. Automate Scheduling
Eliminate email ping-pong. An Apps Script web page reads your Calendar availability and lets clients book directly.
Phase 2: Streamlining Operations
4. Generate Docs
Auto-fill proposals and contracts from your CRM data. Create the Doc, convert to PDF, and save to Drive in seconds.
5. Smart Filters
Go beyond standard filters. Have a script run hourly to auto-label and archive emails by keyword to keep your inbox clean.
6. Auto Invoicing
Generate invoices from templates automatically. Run weekly scripts to find unpaid invoices and send polite chasers.
Phase 3: Driving Growth
7. Ease Receipts
Save a receipt to Drive; a script logs the file and date in Sheets. You just add the amount.
8. Review Requests
Boost reputation. When a project is marked “Done”, auto-email the client a week later asking for a review.
9. Nurture Clients
Send quarterly newsletters to your past client list directly from a Google Doc with a single click.
10. The Connector: Apps Script
Other services require a “connector” like Zapier. With this system, Apps Script is the connector. It’s the glue that seamlessly integrates the Google tools you already use.