If you are still managing your day to day calendar, your contact's, and to-do list in a myriad of paper lists, day planners, and refrigerator calendars than this tip is for you.
Facebook has introduced people to the idea of creating event's online and inviting people to attend, and many have been doing this at the office for many years. For many, the use of an email address as a way to contact family members, acquaintances, and co-workers is easier done through social media. Those doing so have come to see the benefit creating events and sending out invites, managing contacts, etc., but may not realize you have the ability to do so using the powerful device you carry around in your pocket or the provider you use for your email.
Below are some examples, benefits, and options as it relates to keeping an address book outside of social media... and the best part, is there are now a lot of tools to tie your address book to your favorite social platform to "sync" information giving you the best of both worlds. The purpose of this article is to enlighten those are unaware or have interest in making life more efficient by leveraging devices and services they already have.
Mobile + PC/Mac + The Internet = Synchronized, Always Connected, Your Info Anywhere, anytime
The Cloud is a relative term for the internet, within the context data storage and functionality being done "Online" instead of locally on a PC. If you are accessing your email via a website, then essentially you are doing so in s "in the cloud". We have always have had the mindset of the internet as "www" and Internet Browsers, however unlike 10 years ago the world-wide-web is just one of the ways to interact with and leverage the potential of the internet,; hence the "The Cloud" is simply a reference to how we access the data and information.
Mobile Devices & Smartphones:
Woven into the fabric of our daily lives, smartphone sales have far outpaced the demand for simple cell phone, as tablets will eventually do for laptops and PC's. The smartphone and tablet revolution gave us the APP '(application), which is simply a portal to access information "the cloud", where the interface and functionality relates to specifically to the functionality (i.e. mobile banking ): simplifying and improving the end user experience, addition and minimizing the extra work necessary to conform the restrictions of web-browsers, operating systems etc.
While the practical benefits of these devices requires little explanation, it is necessary to define their scope for the purpose of this article as it relates getting the most benefit from their user. In my opinion, innovation and availability of the latest technology has exceeded the pace of which people are able to comprehend, and is the basis for my this article as well as the value proposition and helping those look at the overwhelming landscape of options, and decide what is best suited for their needs and availability.
Web-Based Email
In addition to smartphones and Tablets, many people have web-based email Gmail, Yahoo, Apple, Hotmail, AOL etc for many years. Since all email is email is in the cloud since it's coming over the Internet, it again comes down to how that information is accessed and the easy of which is can be synchronized between different devices. While nearly all email providers offer the "Standardized" protocols (methods of transferring data back and forth) most people are using one of these major providers, which have the added benefit of native connection special configuration and 3rd party software) with major device model and operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, etc) NOTE: It is important to note that as of the last few years, the battle for market share has had an impact on the consumer (e,g, - Syncing more than just email with Gmail has become a little bit more difficult on iOS and popular Desktop Clients such as Microsoft Outlook. I have done extensive research and configuration on a variety of system in order for various scenarios and can help you achieve the desired result.
The benefits to using desktop, web (cloud), and mobile device together:
Calendars
- Create On-Time or recurring appointments or "meetings" (birthday parties, work events, etc.)"
- Set a "lead" reminder - how long beforehand you wish to be reminded of th meeting
- "Invite" co-workers, family, friends using thier email address - automatically sends email with meeting dettails
- Invitees with calendar can automatically receive the appointment and can "Accept", "Decline". or Indicate "Tentative" attendance
- Meeting responses are automatically updated on your calendar (automating/eliminating the need for RSVP)
- Changes, updates etc. (e.g. new time, or additional details) are automatically sent to atteendees
- Create Public Calendars or Subscribe to Public Calendars (e.g. Office Event Schedule)
Contacts/Address Book - More Than Just Firstname and Lastname
- Email Addresses
- Phone Numbers / Fax Numbers / Work Numbers
- Addresses Info
- Birthdays
- Spouse, Groups, and Relational info (i.e. "friends" or "The Smith Family"
Tasks/Notes
- Create one-time or reoccurring reminders
- Set the "lead" time for warning
- Included in your daily "Agenda" or view customized view
- Some applicatiions such as Outlook allow you to "Assign" tasks, or send "Status Reports"
What about inter-compatibility?
These days, inter-platform (Android smartphone, Mac desktop, Gmail Account) is an entirely feasible problem. While a lot of devices account for this, often there may be a certain piece of functionality that one does not offer or allow you to "sync" with.
At SimpleAssist, we can provide you with a myriad of options for bringing this together. Visit www.simpleassistme.com for additional tips or r Contact Us today for a free consultation!
