If you have a G-mail account, you have Google Drive, the free cloud storage space that allows you to share files and folders without having to email them. When you are signed in to Google and you open a new window, to the right you will see nine gray dots in a square. That’s your menu and if you click on it, you will be amazed at all the features that are available to you - most of them are free as well.

So in that menu, click on the little triangle with the the word "drive." You will have a blank folder but you can fill it up with files and folders. So start on the right and select “new folder,” name that one “taxes” for instance. You could name another one “vacation pics,” and so on. You can upload either files or folders into the new folders you’ve set up. For instance, in your vacation folder, you could upload your 2018 spring break folder and then upload your holidays 2019 folder. For 2020 you could upload your selfies folder too.

You can download an image or file to your desktop, name it so when you finish your edits, you can upload it and you’ll have your original and your edited version. At the same time, you can simply work on documents without leaving Google. You’ll notice in that menu they have Google Docs - like Word or other document platforms; Google Sheets - your database worksheets like Excel, Google Forms - your wonder survey platform. Google forms puts your survey or questionnaire responses in a Google Sheet automatically!

Our company pays for storage because we have so many large files like videos and photos - still, it is only $2.99 per month. The best part is SHARING. There are a couple ways to share files but we use the link. Often I will have created a multi-page program, report or print piece that needs to go to the printer or department heads and it is too big to email. I click on the folder I want to share, select the link icon on the top right, select “anyone with the link” and then drop down whether they can edit, comment or just view. Copy the link and send it to anyone who you want to access the file.

We’ve worked with clients who use nothing but Google Drive for their documents and don’t ever have to leave the platform to get work done. You can also upload photos to your Drive from your phone. Simply go to your app store, download Google Drive and get uploading!

Questions? fresh@342mad.com