Google Keep is a fantastic tool for capturing all of those notes and ideas. All those thoughts that pop up throughout the day. And I know a lot of users really appreciate the layout of Google Keep.
It is very simple. It's not nearly as full-featured as some other note-taking applications out there, but it's very visual, and many people like the sort of large sticky note feel of Google Keep.
Well, today I wanna show you five additional ways in which you can use Google Keep, or five things that you may not know about Google Keep so you can enhance your experience.
Now, of course, Google Keep at its core is a note-taking application, but Keep can also be a fantastic to-do list.
So you can always drag your notes along.
Todo Lists
If you want to reprioritize and order which way you're going to tackle your to-dos, each note could be a separate to-do. One of the ways that I like to manage to-dos within Google Keep is by using the pin note feature.
So, let's say that these first two, these ones in yellow, are the ones that I wanna tackle before anything else. I can simply select the pin icon here, and they're always gonna be at the top of my list.
As I go about my day, I can be reminded of what's most important. And sure, I may have other things that I need to get to, but this can be a great way of prioritizing your list.
But, of course, there's other ways in which you can keep a to-do list within Google Keep as well. A very easy one is by creating a checklist.
So I'm just gonna call this "To-Do List," and immediately I can start adding items. I've gotta call Sam today. I wanna email tickets to the client. I want to review the marketing report.
Very easy. Very quick to add your items here within a checklist.
And another bonus of the checklist within Google Keep is that I don't have to open up the note to access it and check things off. Even in this standard view, I can start checking things off of my to-do list.
So a very functional to-do list, whether you're working with the desktop version or the mobile version.
My second tip for you is to use location-based reminders, and I'm gonna show you how that works.
Now, you may be already familiar with adding a reminder to a note in Google Keep. Usually, when we think of reminders, we think of date-based reminders.
So if I click the reminder icon, I can choose later today, tomorrow. I can pick a specific date and time, but at the very end, we have "Pick place."
Now, the great thing about a location-based reminder—in this case, my task is to buy some ink toner for my printer—I'm gonna say "Pick a place," because I know that I'm going to get that at my local Staples store. So here it is. I'm gonna select that Staples store. It is now added to that note.
And you're probably thinking, well, what's so great about that? I mean, you've got the address there. You've got the name of the store. So what?
Well, the great thing is that now, when I am close to this address, when I am close to this store, I'm gonna get a location-based reminder. I'm gonna get a notification on my smartphone.
So if I'm driving by, if I am within a couple of blocks, maybe I happen to go into the store two stores down, I am gonna get a reminder: "Hey, you need to buy ink toner for your printer, and the store is right here." You're very close to the store.
So choosing a location-based reminder can be a great way to be reminded not just by date or time, but when you are in proximity to that location.
Sharing Notes
Now, the third thing that I love about Google Keep is the ability to share my notes with others. And I'm gonna take a look at this one as an example.
Let me drag this one over to the left. "Conference Items to Purchase." Let's say that you and your team are about to set off on a conference next weekend, but you've got a number of things that you need to purchase, right?
You're gonna be showcasing some products or services. You wanna have things prepared for your booth. So you've got a number of items here. Some things you might find at, like, an office store. Other things, like pink socks—I don't think you're gonna find those at Staples. Maybe you want the entire team in pink socks.
Extension cords. Where are you gonna find all of this information? Well, in this case, I've decided to share this note, and you can share by adding a collaborator here.
And the great thing about sharing a note is that not only do we both have access to this, but as I start to pick up things, as I start to purchase these items—maybe I've done the first two: the poster board and the duct tape—they will see these changes happen immediately.
So they will know that they don't need to worry about these items, and maybe this person happens to be at a clothing store, and they've picked up the pink socks.
So we can both be updated at the exact same time.
In my personal life, I actually use this with my wife. We use a Google Note as our shopping list because who knows who's gonna be the next one at the grocery store?
So we both have access to add items to the grocery list, and also check them off as we purchase them.
Annotations
Now, the fourth thing I want to show you today has to do with images and when you have pictures within your Google Note.
A lot of people don't realize that you can make annotations to the images here. So, in this case, I've got a note that's titled "Webinar Cover Image Idea." And maybe I'm collaborating with others, maybe we want to review this particular image.
Well, if I click on the image once again, not only do I get a full-scale version, not only do I get a large version of it, but in the top right-hand corner, there's an annotation button. There's an annotation icon.
So, if I click this, now suddenly I can start to make drawings on this item. At the top, I'm gonna choose a red color, and maybe I want to say, you know, "This is great." I'm gonna underline that word, and I can write over here, you know, "This is great. I really like that."
Maybe I want to cross off this period and say, you know, "I don't like that. I think we should remove that over there." I can highlight. Of course, I can always go back and remove these annotations as well.
But if I like them, I'm just gonna go back. I'm gonna click outside and hit "Done." And now my annotations have remained with that image. Now I can remember the notes that I made. I can share that with others, and we can go ahead and design the best cover image for this project.
So any note that you have with an image, click on it one more time, and then in the top right-hand corner, you can click that annotation icon, and then you can start making drawings, making notes directly on that image.
Voice Recording
Now, lastly, I want to show you something that, again, is an underused feature I find within many note-taking apps, and that is the ability to take voice-recorded notes.
Now, you're not capable of doing this within the desktop version, but you are able to do it on your smartphone or mobile device, and here's an example right here.
In the bottom left-hand corner, I've got this note, and it says, "I just had this great idea for a blog post: How to stop snoring even if their partner enjoys hearing it?"
And you may say, well, you know, nothing is capitalized here; you don't have a period. That's because this was translated directly from my voice note. You'll see there's actually a little play button here.
So if I open up this note, I can actually select the play button. I can listen to that note if I want to, I can choose to download the audio if I want to as well, but the great thing about voice narration is that it transcribes it for you automatically. Immediately.
So you have that quick thought—what's going to be quicker? Taking out your smartphone and using your thumbs to type in a few sentences, or hitting the record button? And not only do you get the audio recording, the original audio recording, but you also get it translated directly for you as well.
So those are my five additional ways on how you can get the most out of Google Keep.
Now, I'd love to hear from you. What are some of your best tips when it comes to using Google Keep? Are you using some of these five? Or are you using something additional? Maybe something that someone else would like to learn from as well?
As always, thanks so much for watching, and if you enjoyed this video, be sure to give it a like. I'd love to hear from you in the comments. And be sure to subscribe right here to Simpletivity.
Remember, being productive does not need to be difficult. In fact, it's very simple.
