Cool Tool - Use Evernote to Track Content Ideas, Links and Resources

Content, content, content. While many people believe they have nothing to say or feel stuck about what to write about, others are deluged with ideas. In my article on 6 Ways to Constantly Produce Quality Blog Content, tip #3 is to keep a running list of ideas as they occur to you. But what's the most efficient and effective way to do that? Of course it will depend on personal preferences.

Over the years I've tracked content ideas in many ways, most of which haven't been very efficient:

• scrawled handwritten notes in notebooks
• called in ideas to my voicemail
• added as tasks in my calendar
• post-it notes scattered around my desk
• kept an open text doc on my computer and typed in ideas as they occurred

How do you keep track of your blog post ideas? I've finally found a system that works well for me.

I discovered, or actually finally checked out, Evernote. And I love it.

Evernote is a free multi-platform system to help you remember everything. When you set up an account, you can access it on the Web, on your desktop and on your mobile phone. I have access everywhere as well as an add-on for Firefox so I can easily save anything I find on the Web. Everything you save is synced to all your access points.

Let me back up. With Evernote you can save text, clip web pages, record audio, and snap photos that are automatically saved to your account. You can organize your content any which way you want.

You create notebooks by topics and then tag your entries so you can cross reference all your content.

Back to blog content ideas...I have a notebook called "blogging articles." Any time I read an article about blogging that I think may useful to either share or serve as inspiration for my own articles on Build a Better Blog, I save it to the notebook. Now, no matter if I'm on the road with my netbook or at my desktop computer, when I need content ideas, I check my blogging articles notebook and I'm inspired.

I use the Android app on my phone to call in ideas during my runs or take pictures of things I may want to inlcude in my posts. Everything syncs up seemlessly in the background so I can access it anywhere, anytime.

I only recently started using Evernote and I wonder what took me so long to check it out. I've known about this tool for a long time and it's now an invaluable resource I use every single day.

Recently, I started collecting quotes that relate to business, taking action and success. I set up a notebook for quotes and everytime I find one I like, I copy and paste it into the Quotes notebook.

TIP: If you have multiple blogs, set up a notebook for each blog, or you can go deeper and set up a notebook for each category on your blog. You can set up notebooks for resources, photos and links you want to share on Facebook and twitter as well. It's an efficient way to track and plan your content strategy.

Are you using Evernote? If so how do you use it for blogging, or for your business? Do tell so we can all learn how to leverage this tool even better!

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Related Posts:

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Get more tips about how to get the best out of your blog with my free audio program: 5 Critical Tactics for Business Blog Success.

Comments

[Zane Safrit]

Excellent recommendation! I use Evernote daily. I keep finding more ways to use it. I keep a daily diary complete w/photo. I clip links to articles I want to read later, closer. I write rough drafts, I compile lists of ideas or daily to-do's. I scan and save receipts. It's excellent.

I have Evernote on several computers so I can always have access to this content regardless of where, when, how I'm working.

[Cindy King]

Denise, I read this when it was published I said, nah, I'm happy with my Delicious system...

But now with today's news of Yahoo shutting down Delicious I've changed my mind. I'm definitely going to take the time and set things up on Evernote.

Thanks for the timely post! (And a really big "Ouch" for Delicious closing down)

[AreMorch]

Hi Denise.

I absolutely love Evernote. Probably one of my favorite tools for 2010. And will use it even more in 2011.

I think Evernote will see some more people come over there now after Yahoo seems to soon be closing Delicious.

So I will start working on reorganizing my content and bookmarks. And add some of your advise here for Evernote.

Cheers.. Are

[Gregory Cox]

I, too, love Evernote! We both even called it a cool tool!

I really wish it had integrtation with nirvanahq.com, though.

Thanks for the article, and I'm checkin' the blog for more articles!

[Margie Mintz]

Hi Denise,
Glad you found Evernote. It's a great tool. I have folders for everything, even articles and eBooks that I haven't had a chance to read, but will - on my ipad, which integrates perfectly.
I've never been so organized!

[Susan French]

Great information, Denise. My haphazard system left a lot to be desired. I had unnecessary duplications everywhere and no real organization. I'll enjoy this. Thanks for sharing it.

Susan French, M.A., Cht
Clinical-Medical Hypnotherapist

[Johnn Four]

I tried Evernote in 2009 but did not like it. I see they have added more ways to sort and filter information since I tried it before. Thanks to your post I will give it another shot.

Would love to hear more ways people have organized their info in Evernote.

[Jo Skehan]

Hi Denise, I am just getting started but go to love this Evernote! definitely helping me streamline everything and save time. Thanks for your recommend.
Jo Skehan
Healthy Living Consultants

[Bobbi Linkemer]

I really like the ideas in this post. I found myself wondering why I hadn't thought of something as simple as carrying around a little notebook. I do have a digital recorder in my purse but often forget it's there. Evernote sounds interesting. I may check it out. Thanks so much for you great ideas!

[Leslie Hogan]

I started using Evernote after downloading Noteshelf onto my iPad. I was persuaded to choose Notepad because all the reviews touted its integration with Evernote and Dropbox - 2 apps I knew nothing about. I'm a convert now, but need to buckle down more and learn about the categorizing capabilities. I'm sure it will help me once I make it more of a habit. Thanks for the reminder. I am loving all these new tools, but have been flitting from one amazing app to another (have you tried Flipbook? it's incredible...). Tomorrow I will devote some time to Evernote. Who knows there may be a blog post hiding in there...
Leslie H.