Top 10 Google Doc Tips for Productivity!
About this video
Jeff Su shares 10 Google Docs tips for working more efficiently. He starts with Version History under File to see who made changes and restore an earlier version, plus naming the current version to save a snapshot before making big changes. He then shows two set-and-forget settings: changing the default font by updating Normal Text to match a chosen font such as Verdana instead of Arial and saving it as default styles, and using Tools > Preferences > Substitutions to auto-replace abbreviations, acronyms like PO for purchase order, or shortcuts like a typed phrase that expands to a full URL. Other tips cover changing capitalization to uppercase, lowercase, or title case via Format > Text, inserting a Drawing inside the doc to sketch a rough concept for feedback, and three URL tricks: replacing ’edit’ with ‘preview’ to share an anonymous view-only preview, replacing it with ‘copy’ to force recipients to make a copy, and changing the end to ’export?format=pdf’ so the link downloads a PDF directly. He closes with emailing the file with its content embedded in the email body instead of as an attachment, and starting from pre-made templates via File > New > From Template to save formatting time.
Key takeaways
- Use File > Version History to identify who edited a shared doc, restore a previous version, and name the current version as a snapshot before risky changes.
- Set a custom default font by updating Normal Text to match your selection and saving it under Format > Paragraph Styles > Options > Save as my default styles.
- Use Tools > Preferences > Substitutions to auto-expand acronyms, repeated phrases, and URLs you type frequently.
- Change sharing behavior in the URL: ‘preview’ for anonymous viewing, ‘copy’ to force a copy, and ’export?format=pdf’ for a direct PDF download.
- Reduce friction for reviewers by using File > Email > Email this file with ‘don’t attach, include content in the email’ so they read the doc inside the email.
Episode details: published April 6, 2021 · 9:24 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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