I've mentioned Evernote a lot lately, so I thought I would share why and how I use it - and also give you some great resources to make the most of this awesome free software & app.
I really started using it regularly when I added several new devices to my home office set-up. Namely a Macbook Pro, Apple iPad and Droid mobile device. And of course I still use my two PC computers in the office as well.
The thing I love most about Evernote is that it's cross compatible, and syncs automatically between all my computers and mobile devices!
There are a million uses for Evernote (that might be an overstatement, but I highly doubt it -lol) and everyone uses it differently. I like to keep it simple and uncluttered myself, but I use it all day every day. Even to create my Content and Info Products...
Here are just some of the things I keep in Evernote:
- My Task List
- Schedule
- Bookmarks
- Business Brainstorming Notes
- Running list of Content Ideas
- Drafts of blog posts, guest posts, etc
- Info Products I'm working on
- Ebooks I'm reading
Why? Because Evernote is the easiest way to have access to all of those things, no matter which computer or device you're using!
That means I can sit down at my desk and work on a report I'm writing. Then I leave to go to a doctor's appointment, and I can open Evernote on my Droid Razr and work on that report some more while I'm in the waiting room. Then when I get home I can grab my laptop and head out to the back deck - and continue working on the report.
No transferring of files, no remembering to save documents, no multiple copies with varying edits. You gotta love it! 😀
Like I said, your "notes" automatically save and sync. I always click the "sync" button when I get up from one computer/device just to be on the safe side - so I can easily pick right back up on any other computer/device.
There is an upgrade option called Evernote Premium which is only $5/month. I upgraded within the first year, because it allowed me to add different document formats (drag and drop PDF files or Word documents into Evernote). It also allows you to share notes - with your Virtual Assistant, for example - and to "work offline."
I don't even use half the awesome features...
Evernote does SO much, and I barely even tap into the full potential of the program.
Like I said, I like to keep mine simple and uncluttered, and basically use it to keep up with ongoing tasks and work projects across multiple devices.
This page has a getting started guide, overview and a video - all of which should prove helpful if you're new to Evernote or not taking advantage of all the cool features.
For some great ideas, tutorials and resources you should check out Lynette Chandler's blog posts & videos on Evernote.
Since everyone uses it differently, I would love to hear how YOU use Evernote.
What are your favorite features, and why?
In my next post, I'll show you how I set up my task list with Evernote. In detail. 😀
Best,
About Lynn Terry
One thing I'd like to do is be able to have several task lists open next to each other. Does anyone know if Evernote does this? I have been really looking into it lately, so this blog post is very timely for me. I use an Excel spreadsheet like a dashboard right now. I don't like only having one linear task list to work with. I like to have different priorities that I can see more at a glance.
You can use tables/grids to create your own side by side task lists. I am more one track minded, and easily distracted, so I have my notes separated and open the note/list I need to work on - one at a time.
Deborah, I like to use Teambox for that - you can have a project, (I have one just for household management) and multiple "lists" than you can set up to view in columns next to each other. I have one for Finances, one for the home renovation project I'm working on, etc.
Oh - and I am using Evernote extensively for the home renovation project - if I see a light fixture or an appliance I'm interested in, I open a note on my iPhone and hit the camera icon - and it takes a photo of the item (I usually try to get the shelf tag with price as well). Beats trying to take down long stock numbers. Also, my shopping list is in Evernote so I have it with me whether I'm in Lowes, Home Depot, the paint store...
Hey Lynn!
So happy to see you blogging about Evernote!
My business partner introduced me to it and I fell in love immediately!
No more post-it notes littering my desk. Now I can click to add a URL or entire webpage to Evernote!
When I read that one user was in the process of creating her 14th magazine on Evernote, I was sold!!!
The syncing is icing on the cake..
Thanks in advance for your Evernote series!
To your "ENing" success,
Martha
That's pretty cool, Martha - her 14th Magazine?? Inspiring! 😀
I know Evernote seems to be extremely popular but when I tried it I didn't really like it... I may try again, though, because I really want to keep all my notes in one place and I love their syncing abilities. I guess like anything else it will take getting used to.
It definitely takes some getting used to, just like any major change. It's all in how you use it, really - and everyone uses it differently. But if you can find a way to make it work for you, like I did, you'll LOVE the syncing & cross compatibility features!
This sounds great, I am going to give it a whirl. I have been very busy lately so to work on the go would be awesome.
I love working mobile. 😀
As a long time user of Evernote I can tell you there's always something new to learn about the tool all the time. Whether it's a feature or maybe just a way to tweak how you do things to make searching easier.
In my case the biggest change to my work flow is the use of note links. Once I discovered this handy feature I started interlinking my notes and created a number of indexes of related items - great for when I'm sitting in a meeting and need to refer back to the minutes of another meeting, I have links to all of them right in front of me.
True - it can do SO much more than I'm even tapping into at the moment. I love the flexibility of all the features, and all the different uses. A very flexible program!
wow, that nice. now i know what evernote is all about.. i have use it, and i like when evernote sync every note in all my device.
Lynn, our app IQTELL can run Evernote together with to-do lists, all your email accounts, calendars and much more in one place...we'd like to invite you to our beta and improve your Productivity with Evernote. IQTELL adds useful capabilities and features to Evernote…we’d be glad to show you. To register go to our site at http://iqtell.com/ 🙂
Excellent - thank you Haim! Angie and I were just talking recently about finding an add-on for Evernote to integrate our calendars - and particularly our blogging editorial calendars. It sounds like we may be able to do that with your IQTELL. Off to check it out. 😉
Thanks for blogging about this! Looks like this could help me a lot.
I'm fairly new and just launched my first website. And I'm basically finding my way around how things work. I usually jot down notes and brainstorm ideas on my android while on public transport. Then when I get home, I'd manually retype my notes in my laptop (not very efficient, I know!). I'm downloading it now...
Hi Lynn,
I have just downloaded Evernote and can't wait to start using it! Thank you for sharing so many good tips and ideas!
Do you keep your blog post drafts in Evernote after you Publish or do you remove them?
Still wondering about this as there is still no reply
I delete them once they are published. The same with guest posts or other content I am working on. With my info products though, I keep all the notes and source files in a notebook - even after the finished product is published.
OK. Thanks for clarifying. Evernote has a storage limit and I was trying to figure out what to keep saved in it long term.
Hi Lynn,
I started using Evernote, per your suggestion. My files are a little hap-hazard but they are there. Most of the time I can find anything I need by searching.
I think I have had only one instance where I could not find something; maybe I forgot to tag it or even save it, not sure.
I have almost everything in Evernote now, except my sign on information for sites.
Thank you for the suggestion. Monna
I learned a little trick to right click on a note and "copy note link" - then I paste those links into my task list or into a "table of contents" file for that notebook. It hyperlinks to the actual note from my task list or from anywhere to make it easy to find/organize your notes. 😉