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Leveraging the Cloud - AR Zoom Webinars

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Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

This coming Tuesday (January 19, 2021), I have the opportunity to take you on a virtual tour of some more AMAZING cloud-based tools that you'll want to know about. This is via the ActiveRain Zoom Webinar series that happens every Tuesday at 2:00pm EASTERN.

My theme is "Leveraging the Cloud".

You may be aware of, or heard of ideas like "cloud backup" or "cloud storage" or "cloud docs" but maybe hadn't explored why these are useful. Part 1 of my presentation covered some of these basics. Hopefully you joined me back in December. I'd love to hear in the comments of anything you've had a chance to implement since we last met! My outline of the previous presentation is at the bottom of this post if you want a quick review.

This coming week, I'm going to explore 3 more aspects of how to Leverage the cloud in some other amazing ways!

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE cloud apps is Google Photos. I literally use it EVERY DAY.

Google Photos

I want to take you on a tour of all if the main features Google Photos.
The subtopics and strategies I will cover include:

  • Backup of your Photos
    (lost or stolen phone, no loss of pics! Hard drive crashes, photos not lost!)
  • Sync to all your devices
    (e.g. take a pic on phone, look at it immediately on your computer)
  • Single Library of all your Photos - how many different phones have you had through the years that you used to take photos? You can't save all your photo library each new phone, there's not enough phone storage! Yet what if you want to show somebody a photo from 2010. Good luck with that, unless you have a cloud based photo library (#gamechanger)
  • Editing - Cameras on our phones just take better and better quality photos with each new generation of technology. However, even with these great cameras, it is amazing how a little post post processing tweaking can take the photo to a new level. We'll look at how to make your photos look better with some amazing post processing tools built into the app.
  • Curating - you may take hundreds of photos every month. How can you organize your pictures so that you can easily locate the best ones in the future as well as make these shots ready for sharing
  • Sharing - remember when we used to go on trips and got to go to fun places? (#sadtrombone #covidonhold) and you want to share your best pics with friends and family. How can you make online albums to share? (we'll be travelling again, hopefully soon, and sharing more memories via our photos!)
  • Search & FIND! - Google has amazing artificial intelligence (AI) built into the app. It recognizes people and objects without you having to spend your valuable time tagging everything. This is a real super-power when you are trying to find "that photo" from so many years ago.

 

Communication

Email has for many years been the standard of digital conversations. However email is TERRIBLE for longer conversations. It is very hard to follow the development of a topic with each reply of the message. Email is better for asking a single question and getting a single response. What happens when there is more back and forth collaboration needed? Time to break out of email mode! Let's look at some of the terrific tools available now for better conversations.

 

Cloud-Based Notes

I have an amazing photographic memory and usually within a few seconds I can recall critical information that I need as I work on my projects. (Ok, truth... I really have a less than perfect memory but I do have a secret weapon in my arsenal and it is called OneNote and it is like having a photographic memory). This app is one of the most used apps in my toolbox and I want to share an overview of why it is such a beneficial tool for productivity!

 

Is your schedule free this coming Tuesday at 2:00pm eastern?
I hope to see you there


Zoom Link

(cc: George Souto - Debe Maxwell, CRS - Kathy Streib )


Leveraging the Cloud (Part 1)
Outline from ActiveRain Zoom Webinar
Craig's Clasroom - December 15, 2020

Google One

  • Free - 15 GB
  • $19.99 yr - 100 GB (or 1.99/mo)
  • $29.99 yr - 200 GB (or 2.99/mo)
  • $99.99 yr - 2 TB (or 9.99/mo)

Microsoft

  • Free - 5 GB OneDrive
  • $1.99 mo - 100 GB
  • $69.99 yr - Microsoft 365 Personal (or 6.99 mo)
  • $99.99 yr - Microsoft 365 Family (or 9.99 mo) up to 6 people

Dropbox

  • Free - 2 GB
  • $9.99 mo - Dropbox Plus - 2 TB
  • $16.99 mo - Family - share 2 TB 6 users

Apple iCloud

  • Free - 5 GB
  • $0.99 - 50 GB
  • $2.99 - 200 GB
  • $9.99 - 2 TB

Amazon Photos

  • Free (with Amazon Prime) - unlimited photos, 5 GB video
  • $1.99 - 100 GB
  • $6.99 - 1 TB

File Backup

Hard drive fails - where is your backup?
Files on the cloud, you just need to get back on a working computer!

Files Wherever You Are!

  • Primary Computer
  • Phone
  • Tablet
  • Do you have secondary computer, laptop? At office + home?

Sharing Files

Email providers are different, but most max out with attachments around 25 MB.

What do you do if you need to send a bigger file, e.g. a video file?

Cloud storage you can right click a file, or whole folder and "get link" --> share the link
Then the recipient gets the link and DOWNLOADS the file from your cloud storage.

Files "On-Demand"

Your cloud storage is possibly/probably bigger than your hard drive on some devices.

Eg. Your laptop hard drive is 250 GB and your cloud is 1 TB

Files on demand will list all the files on your cloud in whatever folders you organized them into.
HOWEVER, all the files take ZERO space until you need them. When you click to open, THEN it downloads them.

Project Folder Collaboration

If you are working with somebody else on a document, revising, emailing back and forth can be troublesome.
How do you know you have the "latest" version? Difficult searching through your emails to even locate it.

Cloud folders can be shared with others. Store the files in the shared cloud folder.

Latest version is always just looking at the folder.

Web based documents

No app to install - work entirely in a web browser.

Google had the head start for web based editing (Microsoft is now catching up)

  • Google DOCS (compare to MS Word)
  • Google SHEETS (compare to MS Excel)
  • Google SLIDES (compare to MS PowerPoint)

Ease of Multiple People Reviewing and/or Making Edits

If multiple people are collaborating, all can see latest revision IN REAL TIME.

Additional people can actually edit document or just leave "comments" about suggested edits.

Shortcut URLs to Know

  • DRIVE.google.com - all your cloud docs
  • DOCS.google.com - documents
  • SHEETS.google.com - spreadsheets
  • SLIDES.google.com - slides

Google Slides for COMPOSITION & COLLABORATION

The first thing thought of with slides is to make formal slideshow presentations.
Craig's favorite use of the app is NOT THIS AT ALL!

It is a great workspace to COLLABORATE with others on ideas being worked out (website design, inspiration, etc)
It is also fantastic for COMPOSITION for graphics (e.g. to use on websites, blogs, etc)

Add multiple photos, logos, text into a composite graphic that you can save and insert into your pages/posts.

SCREENSHOT SHORTCUTS

Collaboration and Composition as noted above …
Critical to have screen capture ability - Pro Tip - Know your shortcut keys
Windows and Mac both have built in snapshot ability (no addition app to install!)
Windows is WindowsKey + Shift + S
Mac is Command + Shift + 4 - sends to file on desktop (add Control key to go direct to clipboard)

 

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I appreciate every new subscriber
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Craig Daniels
This blog is all about technology and helping you to use it smarter! Your digital footprint is your chance to attract new clients. What kind of impression are you making via your website, blog, and social media? We’ll be talking about that! Are you as productive as you can be? What apps might help you out? Do you know how to use all the best tools inside the apps? I enjoy photography and videography, you can expect to see those topics also on this blog.
Are you ready to learn?
Welcome to Craig’s Classroom!

PS - get ready for some homework… :) 

Comments(26)

Show All Comments Sort:
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good afternoon Craig Daniels ,

I am so bummed! I was able to get in for the COVID vaccine shot and it is at noon (CST). I doubt if I can make it back in time..your presentation is one I didn't want to miss😡

Jan 16, 2021 04:08 PM
Craig Daniels

sorry you will miss Dorie, your priority is a good one though! watch the blog for some followup tips afterward

Jan 16, 2021 05:28 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Oh please, please let my schedule allow me to take part this week.  You do such a great job of teaching. 

Jan 16, 2021 04:14 PM
Craig Daniels

thanks Debb! hope it works out to see you there

Jan 16, 2021 05:30 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Craig- I love Google and Google Photos!  Our family uses it to share photos after an event...we can upload photos to one album and everyone else can upload theirs so we all get to see them. I can't wait for Tuesday!!!!!

Jan 16, 2021 05:15 PM
Craig Daniels

thanks Kathy - Google has given us some life changing tools. I look forward to sharing some insights to give you some new things to try out. glad you have a big head start though :)

Jan 16, 2021 05:35 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Having a large reserve for storage that can be accessed easily is a value that  few use much less understand.  Should be a very informative meeting on Tuesday

Jan 16, 2021 05:38 PM
Craig Daniels

I hope I'm shedding a little light on the subject so more can benefit. thanks Ed!

Jan 17, 2021 05:32 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

The cloud has a seemingly endless supply of space to do what we need to do with his many people as we do.

Jan 16, 2021 08:04 PM
Craig Daniels

life on the cloud

Jan 17, 2021 05:33 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Craig... I, for one, am looking forward to your presentation. I was sorry not to have been able to attend the last one.

Jan 17, 2021 05:12 AM
Craig Daniels

thanks Nina, hope you can make it!

Jan 17, 2021 05:33 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Wow, I am definitely looking forward to learning about these tools!

 

Jan 17, 2021 05:14 AM
Craig Daniels

Hi Kat - thanks!

Jan 17, 2021 05:34 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Craig,
See you on Tuesday! I hope there is enough room in my pea brain to absorb all you will share with us.  😃

Jan 17, 2021 06:43 AM
Craig Daniels

I hope you enjoy the takeaways on this one! :)

Jan 17, 2021 03:48 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Craig thank you for giving us a preview of what you will be presenting on Tuesday.  I provided a link to this blog in the blog I posted this morning.  Hopefully we will have good participation on Tuesday

Jan 17, 2021 07:40 AM
Craig Daniels

thanks George for all of your work to promote the AR zooms!

Jan 17, 2021 03:53 PM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

I look forward to this class!  I have always wanted to be able to take my photos directly from the cloud and drop them into my blogs, the MLS, etc.  Hopefully you will be able to show some work around for that and for using Google storage with Windows 10 since Microsoft makes it very easy for One Drive, but not for Google.

Jan 17, 2021 08:54 AM
Craig Daniels

Google photos is great for coming back from a photo shoot, selecting the best shots (curating), tuning, and then downloading so you can upload to MLS. I'll try and show that process tues!

Jan 17, 2021 03:58 PM
Rocky Dickerson
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Superior Service!

Hello Craig Daniels I am really looking forward to your talk on Tuesday. I really hope to get your opinion sometime on a couple matters besides cloud services. I respect your knowledge.

Jan 17, 2021 02:21 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Craig:

I am among many who are looking forward to your presentation about cloud services. There's so much to learn.

Jeff

Jan 17, 2021 11:14 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Craig Daniels - there is so much information here.  I will be on today.

Jan 19, 2021 03:32 AM
CANDACE (Candy) STEVENS, EA
Number Cruncher LLC - Overton, NV
Helping Taxpayers Resolve IRS problems

These are awesome tips.  Thank you for sharing.

Jan 30, 2021 04:49 PM
Craig Daniels

thanks Candy - lots of stuff to explore but perhaps that gives you some ideas to check out! :)

Feb 23, 2021 11:01 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I kind of like how the cloud seems to implement this kind of infinite stream of possibility.

Feb 01, 2021 11:15 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

CANDACE (Candy) STEVENS I would recommend more posts like this to spark your ideas. They really help me out.

Feb 01, 2021 11:16 PM
CANDACE (Candy) STEVENS, EA
Number Cruncher LLC - Overton, NV
Helping Taxpayers Resolve IRS problems

Thank you for the idea Laura Cerrano.  I will look into this.

 

Have a Happy Day!

Feb 02, 2021 09:45 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

There are so many webinars to choose from and that’s only a good thing, in my opinion.

Feb 05, 2021 09:49 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

CANDACE (Candy) STEVENS You’re very very welcome! I love to help out where I can whenever I can! :)

Feb 05, 2021 09:51 PM
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I missed this, looks like a great topic with lots of information.  Thanks for sharing. 

Feb 23, 2021 10:42 AM
Craig Daniels

thanks Melissa! glad you came back to check it out :)

Feb 23, 2021 11:01 AM