Like most of you I spend lots of time working on my Internet businesses. I’m always on the lookout for time-saving applications that actually save time and help me organize my files and to-dos.
There’s no sense complicating a business that promises fewer hours with greater return. The following is a list of my most favorite application programs. I use them constantly. They definitely work for me simplifying my work day.
I encourage you to check them out. My word of caution – do not download unless you believe you will actually use an app. Why clutter your PC or laptop with stuff. Download only what you will use. Keep your PC, Mac, and all mobile devices clean.
You can thank me later.
Here’s my list of apps I cannot do without:
I want secure passwords. I use many password protected sites. LastPass securely stores all my passwords using a high level encryption algorithm. . I then access LastPass via one very secure password.
When I say secure I mean 12 or more digits of symbols, upper/lower case letters, and numbers in an unintelligible random order.
There’s a lot I’d give up in life before letting go of LastPass.
Evernote allows users to create a “note” which can be a piece of formatted text or a full webpage. Or webpage excerpt, a photograph, a voice memo, or a handwritten “ink” note. Notes can also have file attachments.
Notebooks can be added to a stack while notes can be sorted into a notebook. Each note may be tagged, annotated, or edited. You may insert comments. Then the “notes” are easily searched, and exported as part of a notebook.
I curate content and share it across the web. When an article appeals to me I simply click on the Evernote icon and it’s copied and stored for quick retrieval whenever needed.
Evernote supports a number of operating system platforms (including OS X, iOS, Chrome OS, Android, Microsoft Windows, Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10, and webOS) and also offers online synchronization and backup services.
I post frequently to social media. Buffer is a software application that manages my social network activity. It allows me to schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Buffer also allows me to attach images to posts for greater effect. I increased Twitter followers 300% simply by Tweeting more often via Buffer scheduling.
PushBullet is a great app. I use it mainly for texting from the desktop. That allows me to do more business from my keyboard without working my Android. PushBullet can be installed on Android, iOS, Chrome, and Firefox. Every device you install it on becomes a destination that you can “push” things to. You can send links, photos, videos, files, and much more.
I get text messages and social media notifications in an unobtrusive popup window at the lower right of my screen. I control which social media notifications I want to see within each platform. That way I don’t get a pop-up every time someone I follow Tweets or posts on Facebook. However, the text message popup saves me lots of time. I can instantly respond if I want or leave it for later.
Now here’s a real timesaver. I curate a lot of content. Instapaper lets me ‘save’ articles for reading later on my laptop, desktop or Android. Instapaper syncs the articles and videos you save so that they’re waiting for you on all your devices – iPhone, iPad, Android, or Kindle. Instapaper makes it easy to highlight and comment on text in any article so you can easily store it, retrieve it, quote it and share it.
I think Todoist (no, that is not a misspelling) is the best online task management app and to-do list tool.
Us it on the Web, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome, Outlook among others. I manage tasks and projects anywhere with Todoist. And I mean anywhere.
At home. At school. At work. Online. Offline. And across 15+ platforms. With apps and extensions for 15+ platforms, your tasks are always there: on mobile devices, web browsers, in boxes, and more. Share unlimited tasks with anyone – colleagues, family, and friends – and collaborate in real-time on shared projects and goals.
*****
That’s my list of important apps. Some of these apps are fremium – that means you can use them at no cost or upgrade for a modest fee and get more robust features.
I upgraded Buffer and pay $10/month to schedule more posts at one time. That allows me to set time aside to set-up my social media posts a week ahead.
I pay $12 a year for a LastPass upgrade. I use the free version of the other recommended apps.
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