Web Worker Daily

Last week, I took a look at what I called “Brain Tickler Tools” - Notefish and Instapaper - tools that went beyond bookmarking but actually helped me create some kind of writer’s tickler file where I could return anytime and browse over content to get ideas for articles and blog posts. I promised to check out a few more recommended by the WWD community.

I have to say that my experience with two other apps - Evernote (still in limited beta) and Google Notebook - was quite different from the first two I tried. They didn’t work as well for me. Hey, I’ve got to be honest here but also should clarify my criteria for what “works well for me” means.

1. This is just my opinion.
2. I need things to be very intuitive.
3. Because I don’t read instructions.
4. Because my brain would explode if I did and starts to smoke when I try.

So in the name of saving my brain, I jump right into using an application and then see how often I use it. Does it become second nature to me? Or am I constantly having to think about using it and how to use it properly?

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Where do you get your ideas? Much of my work on the Web involves content development which is my fancy way of saying I write articles, monthly columns and bi-weekly blog posts for clients. Coming up with new ideas to publish on a regular basis for a variety of media outlets can be a daunting task, but I work hard to be “fresh and original” for each client. So far, so good, but my biggest challenge? Finding a super simple way to save sites and portions of articles and blog posts that I can access easily at a later date as I’m looking for content ideas.

I blogged about a “dream tool” I could use and called it Ticklr, and several WWD readers threw out some possible options of Web tools that actually exist, so I thought I’d try them out.

This is the first of two posts where I’ll test out these tools specifically for creating an online tickler file of potential story ideas. Read the rest of this entry »

As I search high and low for tools to make my work easier, more efficient and more productive, I start having dreams about the Perfect Web App. I become obsessed, thinking through the details of the features, functionality and even toying with names.

Unfortunately, I’m not a programmer, so the ideas for these apps simply take up valuable space in my brain. So I thought I’d do a brain dump of a few of them to make some space. When someone actually comes up with a Web App that gives you more brain capacity, let me know. I’ll sign up for the beta. But until then, here are two of the apps I wish existed (and if they do, please point me to them).

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