Instead of Handouts
At an event I was at recently, a presenter made sure to provide the participants with 13 printed pages of the PowerPoint. The packets were provided outside of the venue for people to pick up. As might be expected there was not a massive rush to the table to pick up the handout. Only 2 people came by to get them. But what are they going to do with them? Any handout I have ever been given never makes it out of my car. How do you find that information when you need it?
Google Keep
Google Keep is basically post it notes that are digital. Since it is a Google product you are already logged into Google Keep and have access to all of your notes across devices. As would be expected, Google Keep has a search function. You can search for and find your notes much more easily than you can track down a conference handout and find what you’re looking for in the handout.
Color Code
When you create a Google Keep note you can assign it a color. Google Keep allows you to filter by color. Suggestion to choose a color for notes and resources at conferences and trainings. This will help you find the resources and notes much faster.
Label
In addition to or instead of, use a label with the note to help find it quickly. Include a hashtag in your Google Keep note to assign it a label. Use the event hashtag in your notes to find your notes from that particular event.
Instead of the hashtag in the note you can click on the 3 dots “more options” icon in the note. Choose a label you used previously or create a new label.
Take a Picture
If paper resources are handed out, take a picture of the handout into a Google Keep note. As a bonus, you can extract the text from the picture image you took! This can even be copied into a Google Doc if you wish.
Digital Handouts
More and more presenters will share a digital handout with you. The link to their presentation or resources rather than paper. Rather than jotting this down on a scrap of paper you are likely to misplace, simply put that link into Google Keep. Using the tips of color coding or using a label you will be able to find the link.
App and Website
Google Keep has an iOS app, an Android app, and is available in the browser at keep.google.com. There is also a Chrome extension.