In this blog, I’ll walk you through some of the best beginner-friendly Google tools and how they can make life and work a whole lot easier:

• Google Docs - Think of this as a free version of Microsoft Word. You can write letters, notes, reports—anything you need - and it saves automatically as you type. You can even share it with others to view or edit in real time.

Great for: writing content, collaborating, or keeping your notes organised.

• Google Sheets - This is Google’s version of Excel. You can use it to keep track of finances, create to-do lists, or organise any sort of data. It may sound complicated, but it’s great for beginners and includes simple templates to get started.

Great for: budgets, checklists, planning.

• Google Calendar - Never miss an appointment again! Google Calendar helps you plan your week, set reminders, and even invite others to events. You can colour-code things and get alerts on your phone.

Great for: managing your schedule and staying on track.

• Google Drive - This is your online storage space. It lets you save and organise your files (documents, photos, PDFs) in the cloud, so you can access them from any device, anywhere.

Great for: backing up important files and sharing documents easily.

• Google Forms - Need to collect info, take bookings, or run a quick survey? Google Forms lets you create simple forms or questionnaires and automatically collects the responses.

Great for: event RSVPs, feedback, or client onboarding.

Why These Tools Are Perfect for Beginners

• They’re free with a Google account (which is also free!)

• You can access them from your phone, tablet, or computer

• No complicated software to install

• They all work together seamlessly

Getting Started If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to all of these tools. Just visit https://www.google.com and click the small grid of squares (top right) to find them.

If you don’t have a Gmail address, you can create one for free and unlock all these time-saving tools instantly.

Final Thoughts Whether you’re running a small business, managing a household, or just trying to stay a bit more organised, Google’s free tools are a great place to start. They take the stress out of planning and paperwork, and they’re simple enough for anyone to use.

Want help getting started? Feel free to get in touch - I’m always happy to guide you through it.

If you have found this useful, you may like to download my FREE guide on Google tools here.

Written by Danielle at Marshall Admin Services – Making tech simple, useful, and less scary.
18th February 2025