Beyond Lists: 2 Genius Ways to Use Google Keep for Daily Communication
I use Google Keep as a bridge for texts and templates. It works well for these communication hacks because it syncs instantly between your phone and your computer.
Think of Google Keep as a universal clipboard between your devices.
Genius Way #1: Your Go-to Texting Bridge
Using Google Keep as a Texting Bridge is a simple solution to these scenarios:
- You read a great article on your laptop and emailed the link to yourself so you could text it to a friend from your phone.
- You have a short message to text to several people.
- You need to send a long message to one person.
First, open Google Keep on your laptop as a temporary staging area for texts. You’ll appreciate having the full keyboard for typing, copying, pasting, and attaching files.
(Look, Ma, no thumbs!)
Next, open the Keep note on your phone and send your text.
How to Set Up Google Keep for Texting
Many of my readers already have Google Keep on their laptops with Google Suite, so you only need a few more easy steps to get set up.
Texting Bridge Step 1: Install the Apps
- Download the app for your phone and sync it with your Google account.
- Instead of using Google Keep in Chrome or Edge, install the desktop app and pin it to your taskbar (see screenshot above). Then follow this YouTube tutorial: How to Install Google Keep as a Desktop App.
Texting Bridge Step 2: Create the Text on Your Laptop
Follow these steps in Google Keep on your laptop.
- Click “Take a note…” at the top of the screen.
- If you want to share a photo, click the “Add Image” icon at the bottom of the note.
- Type in your message.
In general, use the same Keep note as your staging area for texts (see the yellow image above and the pro tip below).
Texting Bridge Step 3: Send from Your Phone
- Open the Google Keep app on your phone.
- Open your Keep note.
- You have two options to send your text:
- Click the three dots in the lower right to “Send” your text from Google Keep.
- Copy and paste your text into your messaging app.
When needed, I create a new Keep note for any unique texts. (See the first text in the screenshot. I blurred the name and face in this image for privacy in this blog post.) I sent the photo and text to three different neighbors to invite their kids to our church’s soccer camps in July. I’m holding on to this Keep note for a while so I can text the information to other neighbors I meet on my morning walks.
Pro Tip: Use One Pinned Keep Note
- I have one Keep note with the pencil theme for all my texts.
- Pin it so it’s always near the top (the pin icon is in the upper right).
- Next time you want to text from Google Keep, just type over the old text message.
If you want to go further, search the Internet for more Google Keep suggestions.
Genius Way #2: Your Mobile “Gratitude Staging Area”
I’ve written often on eQuipping for eMinistry (e4e), encouraging readers to send regular greeting cards and thank-you notes. I rotate the wording for these every five years and paste them into Google Keep notes.
Mobile Gratitude Step 1: Create the Master Template on Your Laptop
- Click “Take a note…” at the top of the screen.
- Click the “Add Image” icon at the bottom of the note (optional). I put a colorful photo on top of each note to catch my eye.
- Pin the notes.
- My MPD Keep notes are purple and labeled “MPD.”
- Type in your messages.
Every year, I rotate the greetings and thank-yous in the note. Feel free to use my rotating messages:
Mobile Gratitude Step 2: View the Templates on Your Phone
When I’m away from my home computer and have some spare minutes, I can write a thank-you note. I have stationery and addresses with me. Then I open Google Keep and start writing our ministry partners.
Which of these hacks will you start using?
How could you use a pinned Google Keep note to text a new contact about MPD, evangelism, or discipleship? Create a business card? Grab the latest event announcement from your campus’ social media account so you can text it to a student? I’d love to hear your creative ideas!
NOTES:
- Bonus: I just learned how to use checkboxes to queue several short messages for sending later. If you want to know more, contact me; I’ll be glad to share how.
- Read more about my thank-you note strategy at How Often Should You Send a Thank-You Note?
- MPD is Ministry Partner Development.
- The photo of the Golden Bridge near Da Nang, Vietnam’ by Erik Fiala is on Unsplash.
eQuipping for eMinistry 