15 Chrome Extensions You NEED to Know About
As you may have guessed, being a Virtual Assistant means working long hours in front of a computer screen. And, if you're spending all day on the computer, you've probably opened Google Chrome a time or two.?
Google Chrome is the premier web browser in use today, and it has plenty of customizable features to keep you engaged, focused, and productive. Many of these customizations come in the form of Extensions, and a good Chrome extension can mean the difference between getting your work done and wasting time scrolling through Facebook.?
In fact, Chrome has several extensions that can help your business thrive in today's digital world, and most of them are free to use. To get you pointed in the right direction, here are 15 of my absolute favorites!
Email is a HUGE part of our life, but it can be a hassle to pause what you're doing to check your email. Thankfully, Checker Plus is here to help. With this extension, you can read (or listen), reply, and delete emails without having to open yet another tab to do so. It's a huge time-saver and one of the best ways to keep track of multiple accounts.?
Another email productivity tool, but the difference is that Boomerang lets you schedule messages, track email chains, monitor replies, and schedule reminders- all from your toolbar! And, if you're ever stuck on what to say, you can use Boomerang's AI system to compose the email of your dreams.
An alternative to bookmarks, Evernote lets you clip the website and save it directly into your account. You can also highlight relevant information, take notes, organize screenshots, and access it from any device. Perfect for the VA who likes to research everything.?
If you have a presence on Pinterest and Instagram, then you want Tailwind on your side. Tailwind allows you to schedule posts, pin images directly from your website, optimize your posting schedule, and more. It's an easy, effective way to get your images out into the world!
Speaking of Pinterest, their extension is also a fabulous way to pin articles from any website directly into your favorite "board." Even if your Pinterest is nothing but a place to gather ideas, you still need this extension. It can help you reach beyond the website and pin the information you need most.
While we're on the subject of social media, let's talk about those hashtags. Ritetag will not only give you hashtag suggestions for your images and text posts, but it will also tell you how strong the hashtag is with a unique colour-coded system. That way, you can tell at a glance if your hashtags will make the right impact. It even comes with a handy "click to add" feature, saving you a few precious clicks per post.?
Do you need a quick way to skim information? Then TL:DR is for you! TL:DR, or "Too Long, Didn't Read," is an extension that will summarize an article or website with the click of a button. You can also determine the length of your summary, opting for the bare-bones if you're in a hurry or a more detailed version for when you've got some time. Either way, it's an easy way to gain information without having to read every line.
If you do any writing for your business, you need to throw it through Grammarly. Grammarly is a spell-checker on steroids, and I use it for all of my writing needs- including this article! The extension will check spelling, clarity, engagement, and delivery for any piece of writing you give it, and you can use it on websites, email, social media replies, and more. It's incredible, and I don't know what I'd do without it.?
Loom is a video-recording app that lets you record your voice, computer screen, and/or face to get your message across. However, if you don't like pausing to open the website, you can record the video straight from your toolbar with the Loom extension. Then, you can capture your screen and produce high-quality, instantly shareable videos with the click of a button. It's the perfect way to send visual information to your clients, instructions to your team, or simply make a video to remind yourself of an important point. Whatever you use video for, Loom has you covered.
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I hate remembering my passwords, so I let LastPass do it for me. The app is easy to set up, and you can store all your (and your client's) emails, passwords, addresses, and other information in a secure location. Plus, the extension will automatically give you the login details to whatever website you need. It's a super easy, convenient, and secure way to keep your sensitive information organized.?
It's a well-known fact that I'm a sucker for a good To-Do list, so what could be better than having one on my browser? Todoist is a fun, simple way to create lists, but it also lets you add websites to your tasks, save blog posts to your reading lists, and help you organize your life in real-time. Just don't forget to check off the task once you've done it.?
If you've ever found a colour you love but couldn't find its name, then you should try Eye Dropper! Much like a tool on paint, Eye Dropper lets you select and add colours from any website into your own colour history.?
As the name implies, this extension lets you find the font of any website without having to scour lines of code. It's the perfect extension for web developers and graphic artists, and you can also use it for clients who already have a font they like but don't know what it's called. It just makes life a little easier.?
If you need a little extra help focusing, then travel to the Forest. Forest is a unique extension that keeps you focused by giving you a sense of responsibility. It works like this: You add distracting websites (like Twitter or Instagram) to your blocklist. Then, you plant a seed. In the next 30 minutes, that seed will grow into a tree- unless you visit the "forbidden" sites. If you do, your tree will die- and no one likes being a tree killer.?
And, if the idea of killing a tree doesn't keep you focused, you can always use Blocksite. Not only will Blocksite keep you away from distracting websites (often with funny pictures), it can also block adult content, help with time management, and keep you focused. There's no more room for procrastination with Blocksite on the scene.
Since we Virtual Assistants practically live on the computer, we may as well make it work for us.
These 15 Chrome extensions will keep you organized, focused, inspired, and ready to tackle the day- and they're all free to use. I use several of them in my business, and I can't tell you the difference they've made in my daily life.
Since I've downloaded them, I've become more efficient, more productive, and less likely to waste my valuable time scrolling Instagram or browsing Facebook.??
Now, my internet has a purpose. Does yours??
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