I am a big-time app and extension nerd, so whenever I hear about cool, new Google Chrome extensions, I usually just install them without asking any questions. Typically, I will cycle through a few new ones each month. I will test them for a while and, if they help me to work more efficiently, I keep them. If not, I toss them. In my experiments, I have found 5 gems that I would like to share with you here.
1. Buffer
If you have read any of my posts, you’ve seen me write about Buffer before. This is actually one of the reasons I think they have the best social media tool on the market. You can easily share images within a post, simply by right-clicking the image and choosing “Buffer this Image”. Also, by highlighting desired text before clicking on the icon in your browser, it will pull that text and place it in the draft box, along with the link. There’s also no need to choose a time for your post, though this option is available, as it simply drops into your pre-set posting schedule in Buffer.
2. LastPass
LastPass has become absolutely essential to my marketing career. With so many different programs that I use every day, it would be impossible to keep track of every username and password, without having to reach for my Moleskine every 5 minutes. LastPass allows you to save login credentials the first time you use them. From now on, the username and passwords will be pre-populated whenever you use the site again. It can also easily store multiple logins for the same site. You can also safely store credit card info so you can quickly and easily make purchases online.
3. Evernote Web Clipper
I am such a big fan of Evernote that it has become sort of a running joke with my colleagues. I make no apologies, the Evernote Web Clipper is an amazing tool, as it allows you to save any web page directly to your Evernote account for later use.
Pro tip: Grab the Web Clipper’s companion extension called Clearly. It strips away all the non-essential aspects of a web page and shows you a simplified article view. You can even highlight specific text as you read. Great for research.
4. SoundGecko
SoundGecko is one of the better apps for productivity that I have found recently. You can save an article with one click, and later, you can access the mobile app and it will dictate the article back to you. It is a great way to catch up on articles while in the car or going for a run.
Pro tip: I really like using this for longer-form articles that I just don’t have time to read. Perfect for sitting in traffic.
5. Asana
I love Asana as a task manager and this extension allows me to add new tasks without having to visit the main site. A nifty little feature lets you add the URL of the page you are currently on, which is especially helpful if you or a teammate needs to return there to complete the task. You can even choose which project you want to apply to the task and even leave a little description of the job that needs to be done. Sometimes, I will even assign myself a task to come back to a site at a later time, especially if something else comes up in the middle of what I am doing. It helps me to leave placeholders in all my open loops.
What are your favorite Google Chrome extensions?