10 Power User Tips for Using Magic
Magic is a personal assistant on demand. You simply text Magic with a request, and a human assistant responds to get it done for you.
If you’re already a user of Magic, there are a number of tricks and little known features that can greatly enhance your experience.
1. Autoconfirm
If you want Magic to just go ahead and order something, and you’re OK with them making decisions for you to get it done, just text “autoconfirm”.
When you autoconfirm, you agree to the order without first looking at the price or details of the order.
This feature is especially useful if your phone is dying, or you don’t have the time or ability to send multiple texts.
Example: “Send an iPhone phone charger to my hotel ASAP. Autoconfirm.”
2. Time caps
If you’re a user of Magic, you know that you’re billed for the time a human spends on your requests. It works like an “al a carte” personal assistant.
But what you may not know is that you can cap your requests in 1 hour increments.
This can help you control how much work you want done and is especially helpful for research requests.
Example: “Find the best three dentists in Massachusetts that specialize in oral surgery and that take my insurance. Spend no more than 2 hours on this request.”
3. Recurring requests
One of the best uses of Magic is to set up recurring requests.
When you have recurring requests in Magic, the experience for you is completely automatic and effortless.
If you need something done repeatedly, you don’t have to keep texting Magic over and over each time
Recurring requests are also more efficient, taking Magic less time to complete, since it learns exactly how to get it done.
Example: Send lunch to my office every Monday — Friday. Make sure I have a main course, side, and drink, and never order me the exact same thing twice.
4. Set preferences
When you tell Magic your preferences, Magic saves it permanently in its system and automatically recalls this information when it is relevant.
If you say you’re allergic to a particular type of food, or that when you send your wife flowers you never want to include a note, or that your favorite wine is Pinot noir, Magic remembers.
Telling Magic your preferences saves you time and makes your experience a lot more magical.
Example: Never order me food with bananas or eggs in it. Always choose the spiciest option.
5. “Get it when it’s available”
You can request for Magic to get you things that aren’t yet available or
released to the public. This works even if there is no pre-order or release date.
Magic will keep an eye on when it will become available and will order it right away.
Example: Get me the “Fantastic Beasts” Blu-Ray as soon as it‘s available.
6. Email
Magic is fully integrated with email. Magic gives you a special email address with a @magic.gd domain.
You can email your requests to Magic, just like you would send a text to Magic. Magic can also send emails on your behalf.
You can forward emails to Magic, BCC Magic, and send attachments to Magic, just like you would a regular personal assistant.
7. Telegram
Magic also works with the Telegram app. Magic has its own Telegram “bot” that works seamlessly with Magic.
If you have an account with Magic, simply go here and start using the Magic with Telegram.
This is especially helpful if you are temporarily unable to send SMS text
messages, or if you want to send requests while you’re on your laptop.
8. Google Calendar
Magic can fully integrate into your calendar if you use Google Calendar.
Simply text Magic that you would like to link your calendar with Magic.
Magic can create appointments for you, schedule meetings with multiple people involved, keep your calendar up-to-date, and can always reference your calendar to make sure you have no scheduling conflicts.
For example, if you ask Magic to book you a reservation for 7pm and add it to your calendar, Magic warn you that you already have a meeting scheduled that evening.
9. International
Magic can perform tasks internationally. It’s great when you travel, since it already knows your preferences.
Magic has fulfilled a variety of requests in a variety of locations, from Cuba to Kyoto. Magic works best in countries where English is commonly spoken, but it will try to fulfill your request anywhere.
10. “I don’t need this today.”
Letting Magic know if you need a delivery to be same-day or not will make your requests more efficient and save you money.
Same-day deliveries require either a service, private driver, or courier to pick up and deliver the order to you. This is almost always more expensive than a multi-day delivery.
If you don’t need an item same-day, tell Magic, so it can provide a cheaper option for you. If you need it same-day, also let Magic know, so it won’t spend time looking into options that aren’t same-day.
Example: “I need more Keurig capsules. Order about 100, all dark coffee. Does not need to be same-day.”
Originally published at blog.getmagic.com.
