When it comes to getting work done, your web browser can be your greatest friend or your worst foe. Most often, it manages to be both at the same time.
The same portal that gives you instant access to a world’s worth of research, expert opinions, Google Docs, and email also serves up the constant temptations on Instagram, YouTube and of course, email.
But realistically, it’s a tool most of us simply can’t live (or make a living) without. The right Chrome Extensions can help you take full advantage of all its productive benefits.
There are thousands of extensions listed in the Chrome store ranging from the silly to the incredibly useful. I've pulled together a more manageable list of 6 of my favourite Chrome extensions that I consider essential for anyone who wants to stay on the productive side of the web (at least most of the time).
As an added bonus, all of these extensions can be used for free, though many have a paid Premium version with additional features.
1. Toggl – Track the time you spend on tasks
Toggl lets you track the time you actually spend completing each task. If you already do a lot of your work on the web, the Toggl Button extension makes remembering to track your time much easier.
Clicking on the Toggl icon in your extensions drawer will give you access to a mini-version of Toggl where you can see your more recent time entries and start and stop the timer.
I use Toggl as I love the reports feature - you can run reports per project or client just by a simple click. The reports contain colourful pie charts with analysis of how much time you've spent on a specific task. - Ideal for downloading as a pdf to forward to a client when it's time to send invoices out.
2. Grammarly – Write mistake-free
Ever used the wrong “they’re/there/their” in a tweet? Or accidentally misspelled a word in a blog post? With all the writing you do in a single day on the computer, embarrassing little mistakes are bound to happen. That’s why you need Grammarly.
Not only does the Grammarly extension check for the usual grammar and spelling mistakes, it will also give you suggestions on style, tone, and word choice to make all your writing inside Chrome “bold, clear, and mistake-free”.
To summarise, the Grammarly extension is your constant writing assistant to make you a more effective communicator.
3. LastPass – Save and autofill your logins
If you’re still writing your passwords down on paper or trying to keep them in your head (or worse yet, using the same password everywhere), stop whatever you’re doing and download this extension right now!
LastPass is an amazing (and free!) password manager that saves your login credentials across your devices. With one master password, you’ll be able to manage all your passwords from a “password vault,” generate strong passwords to replace weak ones, make quick purchases by adding credit card details, and more.
The Chrome extension then signs you in automatically to sites you’ve previously saved passwords for.
It is incredible how much time and hassle this Chrome extension will save you. LastPass is a must for using the web securely and efficiently in your business.
4. Zoom - Video conferencing at the touch of a button
If you use Zoom for your conference and video calls, download the extension so that you can quickly make zoom calendar appointments straight from your browser. You can then quickly send a link and arrange zoom meeting at the last minute - extremely quick and efficient.
5. Trello - To collaborate and project manage tasks
If you use Trello as your collaboration tool then it is well worth adding the extension to your Chrome browser as you can quickly create Trello cards and access your Trello boards from the extension.
Create Trello cards directly from Chrome without ever going to Trello and hunting down the board and the list.
Access your boards easily as you can search Google. Go to the address bar, enter t followed by a space and then start typing the name of the board you are looking for - How handy is that?
6. WiseStamp - Professional email footers and branding
Empower your emails!
There is a huge opportunity lost every time an email is sent without a person or a company's brand information.
WiseStamp enables you to share your social profile and promote information you care about in every email you send.
With WiseStamp you can easily:
- Link to all your Social networks and profiles
- Use Apps to promote the items you sell, your Blog post...
- Share your latest statuses, funny quotes, green footers, legal disclaimers
- Add you Company logo, use multiple signatures
I, in particular love the fact that you can click the button in Chrome to switch WiseStamp on and off. Also, the multiple signatures function is fantastic for Virtual Assistants supporting several clients.
On a final note.......
It is also worth keeping in mind that many platforms and software packages also have a Chrome extension, so if you use a software package frequently, it is well worth checking if they have an extension you can download for quick access.
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