I published an update to my WIP a few months ago and got a lot of curiosity about Google Keep so thought I’d repost this article I wrote several years ago about it, with appropriate updates.
As some of you know, I first used Google Keep when my daughter was buying a house. I’m a real estate broker so she wanted help making sure she asked all the right questions. We wanted a simple way to share a ToDo list that would be available on phones, iPads, and computers, and would auto-update with our ideas. I looked at a variety of options but found something wrong with each of them.
Until I found Google Keep. It is marketed as a note-taking app — which it is — but trades sophisticated note-taking tools (like formatting) for simplicity. It is similar to iPhone Notes but is more visual and syncs across all devices. You can add thoughts by typing or speaking (mobile devices only) a narrative note or a bullet list, and include images from your collection, your camera roll, or by taking one with the native camera (mobile devices only). The title is auto-formatted to stand out from the rest of the note. You can organize notes by category or color, search for a particular note, pin the most important to the top, and re-arrange the collection by dragging-dropping. As in Google Reminders, you can set a location-based reminder to pull up your grocery list when you get to the store or a time-based reminder to make sure you never miss a parent conference.
It requires a Google account and — as with other Google Apps — the amount of space you get for saved notes depends upon your Google Drive size. It works on iOS, the web, Chrome (with an add-on), and Android.
Pros
Because Keep doesn’t include a lot of (rarely-used) tools, it is intuitive to learn, simple to use, and really quick to start up. Just tap the icon to open the program, tap to start a new note. That’s it. This is ideal when you want to quickly jot down a phone number or email address, or take a photo. You don’t need to fumble through an armload of start-up functions while whatever you wanted to note down disappears or is lost in your short-term memory. If you’re driving or both hands are busy, simply tap the microphone and talk. Keep records your audio and adds a text version of the message.
One of the most amazing features of Google Keep is that it will pull text from images (such as pictures of pages from a book) into typed text.
Cons
There are few formatting tools available (all you can do is color the note and add checkboxes). For some, this is a negative
Writing applications
Here are nine suggestions for using it as an author:
- Bookmark interesting links. While researching a topic for your next novel, copy-paste the links to a Keep note for reference. Most links show a preview in a list below the link collection so it’s easy to see what’s covered on that site.
- Write notes to yourself. Because it’s easy to take and categorize notes, this is an ideal way to jot down quick notes and reminders like an appointment or phone number.
- Share information with others. Because notes are easily shared, this is great for an editor working with you on your work. Data that can be shared include links, images, screenshots, videos, camera shots (mobile only), and more
- Color-code a note for “WIP” and pin it to the top of the Keep canvas. This makes it quick to add ideas that come to mind anytime and then make sure you blend them into your WIP.
- Set time-based reminder alarms for notes and bookmarks. This alerts you to anything that is based on a due date. It might even be to remind you to take a break from your writing and pet the dog!
- Set a location-based reminder. This reminder goes off based on the GPS location of the user (and phone) in relation to whatever event you programmed the alert for. For example, you may set a reminder to bring a flier to your book club meeting that is tripped when you leave your home.
Overall, Alan Henry over at Lifehacker said it best:
Comparing Google Keep to Evernote is a bit like comparing a screwdriver to your favorite cordless drill. One is a generic, basic tool that can be used in multiple ways, but has its limits. The latter is a tool that can be used in place of the former, has a broader set of use cases, and is admittedly more powerful.
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the Man vs. Nature saga. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Against All Odds, Summer 2020.
Thanks, Jacqui for this tip. I like the idea that it’s simple to use. I’ll check it out. 🙂
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Thanks jacqui – I must look into this … I remember you posted before and I noted …. that was as far as I got – I hope to get back to it … cheers Hilary
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I got so much positive reaction to the last post, I did another. But this is it. Digital notetaking isn’t for everyone. People like me who struggle with arthritis or losing pen-paper–fits us perfectly!
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I love google notes. It’s great for quick notes.
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An authentic user! Thanks for adding your comment.
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I’ve got a notes app on my smart phone, will pursue this further to see how else to use it as you describe. Thanks Jacqui, sounds great!
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It works best for those that have their phone with them a lot. I do, mostly because it and I are in my home office!
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Thanks Jacqui! Lol, I use it on my phone already for quick notes, never even realized it was Google keep! Could you elaborate on how to pull information from a page and save it? I will add this article to my next Writer’s Tips and links 🙂
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Many Google apps have the option to save something to Google Keep. This is great when you’re researching or drafting a blog post, notes in Keep.
Welcome back! What a wonderful trip you had. A lovely bright spot in this horrid environ.
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Thanks! Now just stay safe and tucked in! 😉
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Jacqui, because I’ve known you for a few (maybe more than just a few) years, I know about your love for most Google apps. I looked at Keep and didn’t like all the things it didn’t have that I need because of minor cognitive issues I deal with. I’ll stick with Evernote.
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It is definitely scaled down and I’m glad you posted your thoughts. I’m going to keep that in mind for the future.
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Nice
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🙂
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Good
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Thank you
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You’re also a real estate broker? What don’t you do? 😉 I think I’m going to have to give this Google Keep a whirl. I’m always worried my computer will crash and I’ll lose my current note app’s data.
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I haven’t done real estate for a while but it gave me a solid understanding of that market across the US. Love this blog hop, Raimey!
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I’ve never used this before, but it looks good. 🙂
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If you like OneNote but think it’s too complicated, or EverNote but think it’s too expensive, this is good.
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You’re such a great techy, Jacqui. I’m afraid I’m just going to stick with Excel. Lol. 🙂
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A good one, Diana!
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Excellent article.
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Fun stuff though I have to say, I’m pretty distracted by Events. Sigh.
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No, um, kitty litter. Sigh for sure.
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Definitely something I shall now look into. Thanks 😊
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I never have to hunt for a pen anymore. Especially the one I lent out and never got back.
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I use Google Keep too. I like because I can have it on my phone, plus I can pin in my Gmail to the side to refer to.
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Did know about the Gmail-to-the-side. I like it!
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I’ve never heard of Google Keep before. I’m definitely going to check it out!
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I use it for shared shopping lists, shared notes, and to jot down ideas when I’m out.
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Sounds interesting… 🙂
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It took me a bit of getting used to but now, I can’t live without it.
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I like how it sets it up in a corkboard effect. Easy to read.
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It is. Top are pinned notes and the bottom are the rest. It help me organize ideas for multiple books.
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I hadn’t heard of this tool before. Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to check it out as I regularly use so many of the other Google tools.
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It collaborates well with other Google tools, too. You’ll like that.
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That one does sound simple. You’re right, half the time you never need all the extras.
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That’s why I pick this over OneNote or EverNote. I just need a virtual pad and pencil.
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Thank you for the tip. I added it to my phone and my computer. I will share it with the Midwest Writers /Association membership
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I love how fast it loads and the simplicity of using it.
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I’ve never heard of it and bookmarked it immediately. Thanks for the tip.
Anna from elements of emaginette
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For anyone who carries a phone everywhere they go (and who doesn’t anymore), this is perfect.
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Well, that’s a new one to me. I’ll have to check it out.
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How do you take digital notes?
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umm, well, you see – I don’t. I still have a pad of paper (real paper) next to my computer …
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Oh. I shed a little tear for you, Andrew.
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I’ve never used this, Jacqui, but it does sound like it could be useful in many ways!
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It’s an app on my phone and comes up really quickly. I can take notes, thoughts, whatever in an instant. And then view from my phone, desktop, iPad.
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You’re convincing me I need it, LOL!
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So your real estate broker too? Of course you are. So many hats too little time. I was in real estate for twenty years. Mostly commercial side, marketing, property management and sold houses for two years.
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I did commercial real estate for KinderCare for years but–of course–my license only covered California. It did give me enough background to ask the right questions (my territory was the western half of the US).
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This is fantastic! I never knew about it. Thank you!
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My handwriting is illegible so I’m always on the hunt for good notetaking tools. This one qualifies.
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Many thanks Jacqui. Google Keep sounds like a very helpful tool for authors.
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It’s especially great for meetings where you want to jot down bullet points.
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Thank you for sharing a new tool with us. I do like using Google tools since they link together and it’s easier to get to my information. Happy Hop Day 🙂
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And you can save between Google Drive–Google Docs–and Keep.
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Sorry, Jacqui, but I cannot get to your post. I am sure that is very useful for those who need it. Joanna
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Don’t know what’s up with that! Thanks though for the comment.
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This sounds so useful 🙂 At the moment I’ve got a notepad program on my phone but it doesn’t have images or sync across devices!
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Oooh, you might like this Louise. And if you already have one, you’ll feel comfortable pretty fast. Do you like my pretty picture of all my notes?
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I love your picture, your notes look so organised 🙂 I’m really excited about the ability to colour code and add images. I’m imagining different colours for each Work in Progress, a colour for chores, research, etc. I think I’ll love this app, thanks for sharing your experience with it 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this, Jacqui. It sounds like something I could benefit from. I’ve never poked around the program, but now I’m very interested.
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I can also share with anyone so nice for group task lists.
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