6 Chrome Extensions that Have 10x’d Our Time

If you’re a Chrome user like we are, we’d love to share with you 6 Chrome extensions that have 10x’d our time.

Loom

Loom is free online video and screen recording software that enables you to create a recording right from your Chrome browser. This extension has recently become a favorite here in our office.

Because not all of our design team works from our office location in Fort Collins, we often need a way to communicate website design and development ideas with those people in a way that won’t be confusing. Honestly, typing up an explanation and including screenshots to get an idea across isn’t always the most effective or efficient. We love using loom to take a quick screen recording that allows us to explain and show exactly what needs to be done on a certain project. We can choose to record the entire screen or just a specific tab. The videos we create are stored in our personal online accounts where they won’t take up computer space. We can then easily attach the link to the video in an email, in a task management app, or in an instant message. You can also grab the link that will allow you to embed the video directly to a desired page.

Just recently, we published a blog post about creating a content calendar. We created a content calendar template and then attached a video tutorial created with Loom to show people how to use our template. There is so much you can do with this tool!

Buffer

Buffer is a social media management tool that allows you to create and schedule posts ahead of time. The Buffer extension makes it extremely easy to share content that you are enjoying from wherever you are on the web. All you have to do is click on the Buffer extension icon, add the message you want to share (they already attach the webpage link for you), and then either add it to your queue, publish it immediately, or schedule it for a different time. You never have to leave the current webpage you are on.

NOTE: Paid buffer users can also take advantage of Pablo. Pablo allows users to create social media graphics directly within the Chrome browser.

HootSuite

HootSuite is another social media management tool that we love to use. And like Buffer, they also have a Chrome extension. The Hootlet extension for HootSuite allows you to share content from the page you are browsing. You can choose to use the pre-populated message or create your own along with the attached link. You are able to post it immediately, schedule it for later, or have Hootsuite auto schedule for you.

OneTab

Ever find yourself with a nearly unmanageable number of tabs open in your browser? We have. And we’ve found ourselves enjoying OneTab for that very reason. When you install this extension, you are able to click on the icon in your extension bar and immediately convert all of your tabs into a neat, clickable list in one tab. You can then choose to individually open tabs as you need them or you can restore them all at once.

If you need to share multiple pages with someone, you can use OneTab to send them the list of pages in one URL instead of sending multiple links. You can also export your tab URLs to conveniently copy them into a document or spreadsheet.

LastPass

Using a secure password manager is a time saver in itself. The one we love to use is LastPass, and the Chrome extension is something we might not be able to live without. From being able to fill in passwords and forms to instantly generating new secure passwords, we’re saving plenty of time. You don’t have to click back to your LastPass tab to find login information to copy and paste. You can also search your password vault right from the extension.

Check out our post, “Password Security: Tools and Tips For Small Businesses,” to learn more about using a password manager. If you would like to support us, consider clicking the LastPass banner to sign up for a free premium trial of the service. You’ll never want to go back!

Mailboost

If you’re looking for a great extension that will increase your email productivity in Gmail, you may want to try this one. This extension allows you to schedule emails ahead of time, set up email reminders so you don’t forget to respond to a client, track when your emails are opened, and create email templates that you can select right from your email composer window.

Those are just a few tools that have helped us save time. What are your favorite time-saving tools? Let us know on Facebook; we’d love to hear about them!

For more productivity tips, check out this post: Google App Hacks You May Not Have Thought About Using.