On the subject of quick, casual on-line analysis, the Google Maintain Chrome extension might be the ticket. Simply save a hyperlink—together with a label and be aware—then export your Maintain notes to Google Docs.
Photograph: Andy Wolber/TechRepublic
Casual net analysis, whether or not for skilled or private functions, typically entails a small set of repeated duties: an internet search adopted by a evaluate of the outcomes, saving of related hyperlinks—typically with notes—after which sharing your findings and ideas. As a know-how marketing consultant, I repeat this course of each time a shopper seeks recommendation as to what {hardware} or software program to purchase. The sequence is analogous for college students who collect net sources for educational studies or vacationers who search websites to go to and locations to remain or eat: Search, evaluate, save and share.
Three Google instruments—Chrome, Google Maintain and Google Docs—streamline the online analysis course of. The Google Maintain Chrome extension, particularly, permits you to save, annotate and categorize net hyperlinks, then export a particular set of saved Google Maintain notes to a Google Doc. In my expertise, the Maintain extension eliminates the necessity to choose a web site’s URL, copy it, paste it right into a doc, add a be aware, then return to browse further search outcomes.
To streamline the entire course of, ensure you have Chrome put in and are signed in along with your Google account. The steps beneath cowl the right way to set up the Maintain extension (a one-time course of) in addition to the routine analysis sequence.
SEE: How you can shortly add to Google Maintain from Chrome (TechRepublic)
How you can set up the Google Maintain Chrome extension
First, go to the Google Maintain Chrome extension web page, then choose Add To Chrome (Determine A, high). When the immediate shows, choose Add Extension (Determine A, backside). This provides the extension to Chrome.Â
Determine A
Set up the Google Maintain Chrome Extension, as proven right here. First, choose Add To Chrome (high), then choose Add Extension (backside).
Subsequent, I like to recommend you pin the Google Maintain extension, so that you could be entry it with out having to evaluate the listing of all put in extensions. To do that, choose the Chrome extension icon (the puzzle-piece formed icon within the higher proper), then choose the pin icon to the appropriate of the Google Maintain extension (Determine B, left). The Maintain icon ought to now show within the space to the left of the extension icon (Determine B, proper).
Determine B
To all the time show the Maintain extension, choose the extension icon (left picture: arrow), then the pin subsequent to the Google Maintain Chrome Extension (left picture: circle). This shows the Maintain extension (proper picture).
Internet analysis: Search, evaluate, annotate, label and save
As you search and browse the online, anytime you need to save an internet hyperlink, choose the Maintain extension. This mechanically captures the URL for the web page, creates a Maintain be aware with the hyperlink, and locations the cursor within the Maintain Observe discipline (Determine C). Add any related textual content within the be aware (e.g., why this hyperlink is related, vital gadgets concerning the web page or any commentary on the contents). Optionally, it’s possible you’ll add a title to your be aware.
Determine C
Choose the Maintain extension to create a be aware with the hyperlink to the online web page. Optionally, it’s possible you’ll add textual content, labels, and a be aware title.
You should use labels to categorize Maintain notes. Choose the label icon, then both sort textual content to create a brand new label or choose a beforehand added label from the listing that shows. You might apply multiple label to a Maintain be aware (e.g., for printer analysis, I would apply not solely a “printers” label, but in addition an “all-in-one” label for gadgets with a scanner).
SEE:Â How you can use Google Meet (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
On each net web page you need to save, repeat the method: Choose the Maintain icon and add textual content and labels.
Go to maintain.google.com to evaluate your saved hyperlinks and notes. Choose from the listing of labels (displayed on the left) to filter your Maintain notes and solely show these with the chosen label (Determine D).
Determine D
At maintain.google.com on the net, choose a label to point out solely notes with that label.
You possibly can export a set of Maintain notes right into a single Google Doc. There are a number of methods to filter and choose notes. Choose a label (alongside the left) to show all notes with that label. Press Ctrl+A to pick all displayed notes. Or, transfer the cursor over a be aware, then click on close to the circle with a test mark in it (within the upper-left part of every be aware) to pick or deselect it.
After getting chosen the set of Maintain notes to export, choose the Extra menu (the three-vertical dot menu within the higher proper) and select Copy To Google Docs (Determine E). Select Open Doc (within the decrease left, as proven in Determine F) to show the Google Doc created out of your chosen Maintain notes. At this level, your Google Doc comprises the hyperlinks, notes and titles from your chosen Google Maintain notes (Determine G). Now you’ll be able to edit your Google Doc and publish (File | Publish) to the online or share it (File | Share) with different individuals.
Determine E
After you may have chosen notes to export, choose the Extra menu (three vertical dots within the higher proper), then Copy To Google Docs.
Determine F
Choose Open Doc to entry the Google Doc created out of your chosen Maintain notes.
Determine G
The ensuing Google Doc contains full URL particulars and hyperlinks from the saved Maintain notes, together with any textual content and titles you added.
What’s your expertise with Google Maintain notes for net analysis?
Do you employ the Google Maintain Chrome extension to save lots of net hyperlinks? If you happen to’ve used different strategies to save lots of, annotate and export hyperlinks, how does the mixture of Maintain notes exported to Google Docs evaluate? Do you may have any suggestions for creating and utilizing labels to arrange Maintain notes? Let me know your suggestions for conducting and organizing casual net analysis, both within the feedback beneath or on Twitter (@awolber).Â
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