March 2019 Summaries

You can use Google Analytics to monitor your website's traffic and user behavior, but adding it to a WordPress site requires some setup options. To add Google Analytics to a WordPress.com site, you can simply go to the Settings > Traffic section and paste the embed code provided by Google. For self-hosted WordPress sites, you can install a plugin like GA Google Analytics or manually edit your theme's code to add the tracking ID. Both methods require some technical expertise, but they offer flexibility and control over how you track your website's analytics. Once set up, you can use Zapier to integrate Google Analytics with other apps and tools to get more insights from your data.

Twitter allows users to add polls to any tweet as they write it, using the graph icon underneath the textbox. Instagram limits its polling feature to Instagram Stories and requires a sticker icon at the top of the story editor to create a poll. Facebook offers the most in-depth social media polling option, allowing users to set the duration of their poll and customize answer choices with photos or GIFs. Social media polls are limited compared to dedicated poll apps but offer an easy way to gather quick opinions from social audiences. Dedicated poll apps like Poll Junkie, EasyPolls, Poll Everywhere, Polltab, and Xoyondo provide more features and options for creating polls, including question types, voting security, and detailed results. While social media polls are convenient, they have limitations such as not being easily exportable or embeddable on websites, and only viewable on the social network where they were posted.

To add a file to your Google Drive, you can create new documents directly in the browser, upload files or folders from your computer, or use third-party services like Zapier to automatically copy files from other applications and cloud services. By using these methods, users can easily manage their files and collaborate with others in real-time.

You can create a one-time backup of all your files stored in Google Drive using Google Takeout, which also allows you to automatically back up new files to another cloud service like Dropbox or OneDrive with the help of Zapier.

Managing multiple Google accounts can be a nightmare, but there are several tools and tactics that can help streamline your workflow. The account switcher, a built-in Google feature, allows you to view and interact with each of your email inboxes and calendars in a single browser window across multiple tabs. Alternatively, Chrome profiles can be used to maintain different bookmarks, passwords, and extensions for each Google account. Consolidating accounts by merging all of your Google accounts into one primary account is another option, although it requires significant setup time and effort. Finally, using an app like Shift can provide a comprehensive solution for managing multiple Google accounts, including Gmail, Contacts, Drive, and other apps, as well as non-Google accounts.

You can merge multiple notes from the same notebook or different notebooks using the desktop version of Evernote. To start, select all the desired notes and click the Merge button in the right panel or right-click to merge them. The merged note will be named after the first selected note on Windows and the top note on macOS. If you want to undo the merge, restore your pre-merged notes from the Trash folder, delete the merged note, and then remove any remaining duplicates. Evernote also offers integration with over 1,000+ apps for further customization.

Here's a neutral and interesting summary of the provided text: Salesforce is a powerful customer relationship management (CRM) software that offers a flexible platform to manage sales cycles, track leads and contacts, generate in-depth reports about customer segments, and much more. To get started with Salesforce, users need to understand basic terminology such as objects, leads, accounts, contacts, and opportunities, which are the core components of the platform. The setup process involves customizing objects, setting up roles, profiles, and user permissions, and navigating the dashboard to create reports and track sales pipeline progress. With its vast customization capabilities, Salesforce can be tailored to meet specific business needs and processes, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their sales cycles and gain insights into customer behavior.

Dropbox is a cloud storage service designed to be an invisible app, providing users with a folder on their computer that automatically backs up and syncs files across all devices and in the cloud, allowing access from any computer worldwide. Users can use Dropbox to create backups, share files with teams, and send large files via email. The desktop app creates a folder where files are synced across devices, and users can add files to this folder using their computer's file browser or by uploading them directly through the web interface. Dropbox offers various features such as selective sync, online-only storage, and camera uploads, allowing users to customize their experience and automate tasks with Zapier's integrations. The mobile app enables users to browse and view files, but not download copies, unless necessary for sharing purposes. Sharing files is a crucial function of the service, offering multiple ways to share files directly from the computer or through links. By setting up selective sync, users can choose which folders to sync on specific devices, ensuring they only have the files they need available.

Passwords are a necessary evil in today's digital age, but they're often reused and insecurely stored, leading to data breaches and compromised accounts. Reusing passwords is frustrating and can lead to security mistakes, as seen in an OpenVPN survey where 1 in 4 people use the same password for every enterprise system. Data breaches occur daily, exposing passwords and allowing hackers to access multiple sites. Trying to create a clever algorithm for generating unique passwords doesn't work, as most algorithms are predictable and common, making them vulnerable to hacking. The solution is to use a password manager, which stores encrypted files of all passwords, eliminating the need to remember individual passwords. Password managers with cloud storage offer convenience, while those with local storage provide greater control over data security. To create strong passwords, start with a passphrase, using letters, numbers, and symbols, and remove only what's necessary for the site's requirements. Only two passwords should be memorized: one for device login and one for password manager access. Using passphrases can make account security questions more secure by making them harder to guess or research. Two-factor authentication is also essential for adding an extra layer of security, protecting digital life from hacking attempts.

You can add reminders to your Google Calendar using the mobile app or web version of the application. To start, tap the plus sign at the bottom right and select "Reminder" instead of "Event". You can set a date, time, or recurring reminder, and then save it. Reminders also appear in Google Keep, allowing you to add more detail before tracking them using the calendar. Completed reminders are marked as done and appear crossed out on the day they were completed, making it easy to review your accomplishments.

With Zapier, SelectQuote Insurance Services was able to streamline their insurance quote delivery process, saving at least $15,000 in developer resources by automating cross-application functions without needing a developer to build APIs. The seamless experience provided to customers lends trust and authority to the brand, leading to customer loyalty and higher conversions. By integrating apps like Mailparser and Twilio with Zapier, Dan Savino was able to simplify his team's tedious tasks and automate processes, freeing up time for more important efforts while reducing errors in data extraction from emails. The use of Zapier enabled a simple and automatic experience for customers, making the process of obtaining insurance quotes faster and more efficient.

You've successfully onboarded new customers, but they're leaving as soon as the initial transaction is complete. This can be a costly mistake, with consequences including missed feedback opportunities, lost trust, and decreased customer loyalty. To avoid this, it's essential to create a well-structured onboarding process that prioritizes customer success and provides ongoing support. By making your onboarding experience cross-functional, focusing on customer-centricity, developing a customer advocate persona, and helping customers win early on, you can increase customer retention rates and drive long-term revenue growth. Automating key processes like welcome emails and delivering status updates can also enhance the overall experience. Additionally, collecting feedback through various channels, such as surveys and chatbots, and creating cross-channel content that speaks volumes, can help you better understand your customers' needs and improve your onboarding process over time. By implementing these strategies, you can create a scalable and repeatable customer onboarding flow that supports the growth of your business.

You can import appointments from your old calendar into Google Calendar by exporting the iCalendar file and then importing it into Google Calendar. Additionally, you can use Zapier to automatically add appointments from various apps, such as Office 365, Trello, Todoist, Eventbrite, and Toggl, to your Google Calendar without having to manually import each one individually.

Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM tool that has evolved from its original purpose of tracking sales-related data to help users conduct various activities such as creating and executing campaigns for marketing tactics like email, social media, search engine marketing, and telemarketing. To create an email marketing campaign, users need to add the Campaigns tab to their Salesforce home screen, select "New Campaign", enter key details, associate specific contacts with the campaign, execute the campaign activities such as sending emails, track the results and activities within the Campaign tab, and analyze the impact of the campaign on sales opportunities. By creating, executing, and tracking campaigns through Salesforce, users can streamline the process of turning targeted individuals into warm leads, opportunities, and closed sales, while also gaining a more holistic view of each contact, lead, and account within the platform.

There are numerous task management methods and apps available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The "Grocery List" method is a simple and popular approach that involves organizing tasks in lists, while Getting Things Done (GTD) is a more advanced method that uses tags, notes, and calendars to manage tasks. Other methods include using text editors, Kanban boards, spreadsheets, team-based productivity apps, and even pen and paper. Each method has its pros and cons, and some may be more suitable for certain individuals or teams. Ultimately, the best method is one that works for you and helps you stay productive and organized.

In 2018, American Express reported a significant increase in the number of women-owned businesses, with 40% of all businesses now owned by women, many of whom are solopreneurs. Two female business founders, Robyn Rosenberger and Vanessa Prothe, have leveraged automation tools like Zapier to streamline their operations and focus on customer connections. Robyn's TinySuperheroes uses Zapier to automate order fulfillment, while Vanessa's Speak English with Vanessa uses it to manage courses, payments, and emails, enabling her to maintain a one-woman show with a focus on students. Both founders emphasize the importance of using automation tools to save time and increase productivity, allowing them to concentrate on their core strengths and passions.

You can create multiple projects in Jira for different teams, releases, or workspaces to separate and manage work efficiently. To start creating a project, you need to choose the right template based on your team's workflow and requirements. The template selection will impact various features within the project, such as sprint management for Agile teams or Kanban board management for other teams. You can find detailed descriptions of each template by clicking the "What's in this?" link below any project template. Once you've selected a template, you can create your first project and start adding issues to it. Additionally, if you want to create multiple projects, you can click on the "Create project" button from the Jira dashboard and select a different template for each new project.

What if you could take a pill that improved your productivity at work? And what if the pill were free? Oh, and it made you feel really good? And improved your overall health?` No such pill exists, but science suggests an alternative does: sleep. Mounting evidence suggests that a good night's sleep seriously boosts productivity. One study of 4,188 U.S. workers found "significantly worse productivity, performance, and safety outcomes" among those who slept less, and estimated a $1,967 loss in productivity per worker due to poor sleep. Yet, paradoxically, what is the main driver of poor sleep? `Work overload,' according to another study. So many of us are not getting enough sleep because we're working too much. And we're not working efficiently because we're not getting enough sleep. Sound like a bad pattern? It is, according to Matthew Carter, PhD, a sleep specialist at Williams College, who explores this paradoxical productivity crisis in his TEDx talk "The Science of Sleep (and the Art of Productivity)." Carter argues that you're able to get more done on a good night's sleep, not less. Dr. Carter isn't alone in sounding the alarm about poor sleep, as Ariana Huffington has also focused her attention on the topic, delivering a TED Talk and penning a best-selling book on sleep and productivity. Research shows that a recent study of 1,000 adults tracked productivity and sleep quantity and quality, finding "sleep duration (both short and long), insomnia, sleepiness, and snoring were all associated with decreased work productivity." The conclusion was clear: `Sleep should be considered an important element in workplace health.` Researchers have known for years that poor sleep dramatically reduces performance for activities ranging from athletics to academia. A 2012 meta-analysis of 24 studies found "significant impairments" in problem-solving and memory capacity among poor sleepers. Another study of interior design students found that students who maintained short sleep durations, highly variable night-to-night sleep durations, or had fragmented sleep demonstrated pre- to poststudy declines on the laboratory measure of creativity. Dr. Carter explains that one of the biggest reasons people don't get enough sleep is because they feel they have too much to do or are stressed about what they need to work on. So many of us continue to lose sleep because we're so busy. Carter argues that you're able to get more done on a good night's sleep, not less. He also emphasizes the importance of quality of sleep, stating that "most people need somewhere between six and eight hours," and that "it depends." Research shows that sleep duration matters as much or more than quantity. One study of college students found that `average sleep quality was better related to sleepiness than sleep quantity.` Carter advises creating a routine at night to signal to your body that it's time to wind down, suggesting behaviors like turning down the lights, changing into sleepwear, and reading a book before bed. Even if you follow all these practices, you might still have trouble getting enough sleep. Dr. Carter offers advice on how to overcome common obstacles, such as snoring partners or working at night. Ultimately, research shows that good sleep improves productivity, and improving your productivity can actually improve your sleep, creating a virtuous cycle.

Google Docs is a cloud-based word processing app that allows real-time collaboration and sharing of documents. To get started with Google Docs, users need to create a Google account and can then access the app through their browser or by creating a new document directly from Google Drive. The app offers various features such as templates, organization tools, image insertion, tables and charts, commenting, sharing, and downloading options. It also includes voice typing, translation, and add-ons that provide additional functionality to enhance user experience. With its integration with other Google apps and services, Google Docs is a powerful tool for individuals and teams looking to create, share, and collaborate on documents in the cloud.

You can collaborate on Google Docs by sharing a document directly with others via email or creating a shareable link, allowing them to view, comment, or edit the document in real-time. You can also leave comments and recommend edits to facilitate collaboration. Additionally, you can integrate Google Docs with other applications such as Zapier to automate tasks and workflows.

To achieve an avid reading goal of 40-50 books per year, consider making a book list using Goodreads to stay on track and discover new titles. Read at least two books simultaneously to accommodate changing moods and energy levels. Break up long reading sessions into smaller chunks, utilizing digital reading apps that save your place and allow for easy switching between devices. Learn to increase your reading speed with apps like Spritz or Spreeder, which train you to eliminate subvocalization and other bad reading habits. Supplement your reading with audiobooks from services like Audible, Scribd, or Overdrive, and be selective with your reading choices by not forcing yourself to finish a bad book. By implementing these techniques, you can supercharge your reading and fill in the gaps of your day with books that will feed your brain and provide valuable experiences.