Evernote Sings a Nice Tune, Part II

On April 23, 2009, in Technology, by Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
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Image representing Evernote as depicted in Cru...
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Welcome to Evernote, part deux.  Missed the first post? No worries, I’ll tell you about it.  Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ron Toledo, Marketing Manager at Evernote and he had wonderful things to say about it.  This week, an old OTR friend – Jim Deitzel – is weighing in and sharing his two cents.  He’s been using Evernote for almost a month now (is that right, Jim?) and he likes it!  Check out what he has to say below.

Do you like it, too? …or have some other application you like better?  Leave a comment to lemme know…

Jim Deitzel of Rubbermaid
Jim Deitzel, Sr. E-Marketing Manager at Rubbermaid & Evernote Fan

[Deb] What’s a typical day like for you?

[Deitzel, Jim] I start early. I’m usually in the office by 7:00am.  I always start by checking all the new Twitter followers, responding to DMs, looking for @replies. I then move on to emails. After emails I check my to-do list to review outstanding items.

[Deb] What tools do you use to keep yourself organized and on track?

[Deitzel, Jim] There are three main tools I use to keep myself organized. (1) In Outlook I have lots of rules setup to manage emails.  I have rules for newsletters, tweets, facebook notifications, ecommerce orders, etc. Using rules helps keep my inbox clean.  I also tag my emails with different levels of follow-up flags. This helps me identify emails that require action. (2) I use Evernote to manage my to-do list. I have a master to-do list that lists all the project or tasks that I won’t be immediately attending to.  If a project requires notes I will create a unique note for that specific project to document all the details. (3) I use physical file folders to manage projects.  All my folders are labeled (using a Dymo labeler).  I have two piles for folders.  One for active items and one for ‘on hold’ items.  I sort these folders by priority.  Also, the closer the folder is to me, the higher priority.

[Deb] You just recently started using Evernote.  Do you use it just for business or for personal stuff, too?

[Deitzel, Jim] I use Evernote for both business and personal.  I have a folder for each. The great thing about Evernote is the ability to access my notes from any computer.  I often create notes for personal lunch errands which I access from my work computer just before lunch.  Having an online notes system is really great.  Another online sharing tool I use is Xmarks. This is a bookmark tool where I can share bookmarks between different computers. I use it just like Evernote. A main folder for work bookmarks and a folder for personal bookmarks.  I actually have this installed on 4 different computers.

[Deb] How does it compare to other applications you’ve used in the past?

[Deitzel, Jim] I really like Evernote.  I had been using the Yahoo Notes widget for a few years but it stopped working.  I received a recommendation via Twitter to try Evernote.   Evernote is so much more robust.  It’s a full blown application.  You can upload files, tags notes, search, use standard word processing text formatting, and more.  I probably haven’t even tapped into 25% of the possible uses.  I had a conversation with Ronald from Evernote the other day. There is so much you can do with it. Text within a digital photo is even searchable using Evernote.  Below are some of the ideas Ronald provided in regards to how to use their tool.

Here are a few ideas for how Evernote is useful as an organization tool.

  • We have mobile versions which make it easy to capture whatever you are working on easily.
  • Simplify your move or redesign.  Take a snapshot of the layout of your room  before you move. Call up the image in Evernote to remember how to put it back together.
  • To do lists are always in sync across all the platforms and available whenever you need them. You can even add check boxes and mark tasks complete in some mobile clients (iPhone).
  • Scan or take a picture of those loose papers lying around.
  • Create a digital shoebox and get rid of the post it notes.  Once in Evernote, the text is searchable including handwriting so you can find what you need later easily.
  • Take a picture of a paint can, tag it with room so you have an archive of the color you used. Take a picture of the contents of Rubbermaid :-) containers labels and tag them accordingly to create a digital archive.
  • Take pictures of the labels of containers to have a inventory of closets, sheds, etc.
  • Create an archive of collections (DVD’s, CD’s, Books).

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Evernote Sings a Nice Tune

On April 16, 2009, in Technology, by Deb Lee, Certified Professional Organizer®
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I recently heard someone one Twitter say that they really liked an application called Evernote So, being the nosy person that I  am, I decided to get more information about it.   I thought Evernote was a way to track your tasks so that you could stay organized.  I learned after talking with Ron Toledo, Evernote’s Marketing Manger, that I was wrong.  Here’s my interview with Ron.

Ron Toledo, Evernote Marketing Manager
Ron Toledo,  Marketing Manager at Evernote

 1.  So,  what’s Evernote all about?

Well, it’s not a reminder system like you thought it was.  It’s like a digital shoebox that helps you to capture all those things that you want to hold on to for a later date.  Think of it as a central repository  for anything you’re working on (e.g, pictures, documents, notes, etc.).  It’s an open system that’s customizable and tailored to each user.  We have a powerful search engine that allows you to search by date, time, location, or just a simple keyword.

2.   Why would someone use your application over another?

We make it really easy for you to put your stuff in Evernote.  Rather than using bookmarks, you can use our web clipper and get a nice note instead of just text.  It’s free (though there is a paid premium version for $5/month) and available across platforms (i.e., Mac and PC).  There are a lot more things you can do with it, too.

3.  Do you use Evernote?

I use it all day every day.  I use it with my iPhone and my laptop.  There’s a lot of freedom with it because I know that no matter where I am, I will always have access to my notes.

4.  What do you like most about it?

I’d say I use the web clipper the most.  It’s so easy, especially for people who are in front of their computers a lot.  You can clip stuff to read or do later.  Before I started using web clipper, I’d lose the things I wanted to  get back to, but not any more.

5.  So, you know I have to try it out now.  Is there support for folks like me who might have questions?

Yes, there is.  You can check out the Evernote blog or my own tips and tricks on how to get the most of out of it.   You can also find us on Twitter at @evernote and Facebook. You really have to try it.

Evernote

So, I know what you’re thinking.  Of course the Marketing Manager will have great things to say about his company’s product, right?  Remember that someone who was raving about Evernote on Twitter? Well, I interviewed him and he’s none other than Jim Deitzel from Rubbermaid.  Rubbermaid makes great organizing products and Jim and I have interviewed each other in the past.  So, I trust my source!  Stay tuned for my next post where Jim tells all…and don’t forget to leave a comment on how Evernote works for you. 

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