Tool: Google drive – documents, speadsheets, calendar, forms
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
About: Google Drive comprises a whole selection of useful tools, similar to Microsoft Office. You can use Google Drive to make word documents, spreadsheets, presentations and surveys and then easily share them with others so they can view or contribute.
To create an account head to https://drive.google.com/, enter your email and create a password. Google Docs is Google’s equivalent to Microsoft Word. It is free and very simple to use. It updates in real time so multiple people can edit a document at once. It’s easy to share with others and users can comment and ask questions about aspects of the text.
Google’s version of Microsoft Excel is called Google Sheets. It’s easy to create spreadsheets and budgets with simple calculations and formulas are available with a click.
Pros: Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) combines all of Google’s online productivity tools. It is reliable, incredibly easy to get started with and will allow you to start collaborating with others in your Big Local area.
Cons: You’ll need an internet connection to be able to work on the most recent version of a document or access a one that you haven’t already downloaded to your device.
Tutorials: Getting started with Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Calendar
You can learn more about these tool through our partners the Good Things Foundation’s program, Make it Click.
Tool: Zoom – Video conferencing
Level: Beginner
Cost: A Basic account is free. Premium account is £119.90/year.
About: Zoom is a platform for running video call meetings, hosting webinars or breakout sessions in conference rooms. No doubt many of you will have used it at some point during lockdown.
Pros: It’s user-friendly and is one of the most popular online meeting tools. It’s also great for hosting events; from meetings and coffee mornings to yoga classes or crafts sessions.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can call into Zoom meetings but will be charged at your local provider’s rate.
Cons: The free account limits group sessions to 40 mins and 100 participants.
Tutorials: Get started with Zoom’s own online guidance.
Tool: Slack – Messaging and chat
Level: Beginner
Cost: A basic account is free. A standard account is £5.25/month.
About: Slack is a messenger app that brings your remote team together and makes communication quick and easy.
You can create channels for topics of discussion, share documents and folders and search conversation threads easily.
Pros: It’s excellent for large groups or teams. You can create channels for specific types of discussion, and decide which co-workers have access to which channels.
Sharing and collaborating happens in real time, and it’s free and easy to get to grips with.
Cons: On the free version, you can only do a video call with one other person.
Tutorials: Take a look at Slack’s guidance on YouTube.
Tool: WeTransfer – File sharing
Level: Beginner
Cost: It is free to send files up to 2GB. A Pro account is about £10/month.
About: WeTransfer is a file transfer tool that enables you to send large files like photos or videos to other people. This can be very useful when you want to send files that are too large for email.
To use WeTransfer, simply enter your email address, the recipient’s email address, upload the file and hit send – that’s all!
Pros: Straightforward to use. Lets you transfer large files for free.
Cons: You need to pay for sending files that are over 2GB. However, this is equivalent to around four hours of standard-definition video, so it’s a generous allowance.
Tutorials: Get started with WeTransfer guidance on YouTube.
Tool: WhatsApp – Messaging and chat
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
About: WhatsApp is a widely used messaging tool, primarily for mobile devices, although it can also be accessed on your web browser via WhatsApp Web.
It’s an excellent and very reliable social tool for keeping in touch with others.
Pros: Easy to use. Likely that many people are already using it.
Cons: Can be hard to track back through discussions. Can also be intrusive; most people have their phones with them wherever they go, so using WhatsApp for work as well as personal messaging can make it harder to keep work and personal time separate.
Tutorials: Visit the WhatsApp website to get started.
Tool: Doodle – Scheduling
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
About: A straightforward, easy-to-use scheduling tool that helps organise meeting times. Create a Doodle poll with suggested times, share with your colleagues and immediately find the best time for everyone to meet.
Pros: Very intuitive and easy to use. Online support is available if needed, and it can sync with Google Calendar.
Cons: Not as visually appealing as some other apps.
Tutorials: Get started with Doodle’s YouTube videos.