What’s Notion? All the things it’s essential to know

Whereas shopping the interwebs, you’ll have heard of an app decided to knock Evernote off its perch. Notion is an online tool inflicting ripples proper now with its quite a few options to assist with productivity, net design, planning, to-do lists, and extra. Principally, something that Evernote thought it was the very best at, Notion is now decided to show in any other case. However what’s Notion? In case you’re a newbie to the app and contemplating leaping on board, what do it’s essential to learn about it?

Let’s begin with Notion’s personal description of its service —

Notion is a single area the place you possibly can assume, write, and plan. Seize ideas, handle initiatives, and even run a complete firm — and do it precisely the best way you need.

Now chances are you’ll assume that this beautiful a lot sums up any note-taking app. On the floor, you’d be proper. However in the event you delve deeper, you will note that Notion is far more. Notion can be utilized as:

• a note-taking and brainstorming app. Collaborators can depart feedback, similar to Google Docs.
• a webpage-builder.
• activity administration.
• a wiki (inside or exterior.)
• a web site bookmarking software.
• a database for cataloging and retrieving data (a bit like Airtable.) You’ll be able to entry Excel-like instruments for automatically calculating values.

Like its rivals, Notion syncs all the things through the cloud, and you’ll entry it on its web site, its standalone desktop app, or its smartphone app. Like Evernote and Google Keep, Notion is principally your “mind dump.” Kind all the things in, and sync it throughout your units, so that you don’t neglect what it’s essential to do. After utilizing Evernote for over a decade, I attempted Notion on a whim and was immediately gained over. They even offer you a free software to import all of your Evernote notes.

How does Notion work?

Notion is like constructing a web site. You begin off with one web page, and from there, you possibly can construct different pages linking to 1 one other. Every web page is made up of a number of blocks, whether or not it’s a picture block, a heading, a desk, a hyperlink, and plenty of extra. As Notion succinctly places it, “all it’s essential to begin is one web page with one block.” Then you definately go from there.

You may have two areas — a workspace and a non-public space. Something you select to make public can be added to your workspace. Your workspace is, subsequently, the general public facet of your Notion account. If you’d like no one to see one thing in your account, preserve it away out of your workspace and as a substitute put it in your non-public space. The workspace can be accessed by any company you resolve to let into your account.

Creating a brand new web page on Notion

Let’s begin by creating a brand new web page, as that is the way you begin with Notion. Bear in mind, all of it begins with the primary web page and the primary block.

First, resolve whether or not the brand new web page goes into your public workspace or non-public space. Then transfer your cursor to the fitting and click on the + icon. This opens a brand new web page.

The brand new web page now offers you the assorted options obtainable. First, kind the title of the web page. After that, you possibly can:

• Begin typing.
• Choose a template.
• Import a file from an exterior service.
• Begin a database.

So let’s begin with a plain textual content notice. After typing your title, transfer your cursor towards the highest of the web page. You’ll now see you may give the web page an icon, a header, or a remark.

In case you click on Add icon, it should randomly insert one for you. However you possibly can instantly change it to one thing else.

In case you click on Add cowl, once more, it should randomly add one. However you possibly can simply change it.

Already, you possibly can see how Notion can be utilized to place up fast net pages.

Then, whenever you’re prepared to start developing your web page, Notion takes a leaf out of Slack‘s ebook with the / command. By typing the slash command, a field seems with an enormous variety of choices — far too many to indicate right here. In addition to formatting choices, you possibly can embed tweets, movies, and PDFs, pull in data from different exterior platforms, add hyperlinks and code snippets, and far more. You can too arrange automations to usher in Slack messages and Trello messages….the listing is infinite.

Including a sub-page on Notion

All the things you add to a Notion web page will be linked to its personal distinctive subpage. So whenever you make a subpage, the hyperlink to the subpage will immediately seem on the primary dad or mum web page.

Making a subpage is so simple as mousing over the + icon of your predominant web page and clicking it. A brand new web page pops up, and you’ll proceed as earlier than.

You can too embed hyperlinks to inside and exterior pages into your Notion pages.

Now, right here’s the very best half. In case you immediately resolve you wish to make this web page a dwell net web page, simply drag it over to your workspace. Then within the top-right nook, click on Share, after which toggle on Share to net.

You’ll be able to resolve if you wish to grant any permissions to web page guests. When it’s prepared, copy the net hyperlink and ship it out. The web page is now dwell, and you’ll see it for yourself.

Notion’s templates gallery is solely enormous. By selecting the template possibility, you possibly can select from all kinds of pre-made databases, tables, and design parts. Most of them are free, however there are a number of creators on the market making an excellent dwelling making and promoting Notion templates.

A fast Google search will throw up plenty of websites promoting Notion templates, in addition to freebies given away by those self same builders. Folks on LinkedIn additionally give away Notion templates now and again. It’s a great promotional software.

The opposite massive characteristic of Notion is constructing a database. If you wish to save time, you may get a database template and tweak that to your liking. However you may as well begin from scratch in the event you’re feeling adventurous. Databases are splendid in the event you’re compiling a list of one thing, interactive photograph galleries, or merely an inventory of TV exhibits you wish to watch.

When you begin typing into the fields, every entry creates its personal web page, which may create one other web page, and so forth. All the things is totally searchable ultimately, and you’ll, in fact, publish your database on the internet if you want. You don’t even want to recollect to avoid wasting your adjustments — like Google Docs, Notion saves all adjustments immediately.

Notion affords a free plan and three paid plans. As you possibly can see, the free plan could be very beneficiant and can doubtless be sufficient for lots of people. However the paid plans are unbelievably low-cost and offer you enhancements similar to limitless file hundreds, limitless blocks, longer web page historical past, extra company to your workspace, and extra. You save barely by paying yearly, however the saving just isn’t that a lot to get enthusiastic about.

One different factor to notice is that Notion offers you alternatives to build up account credit score. By doing the next, I used to be in a position to knock $26 off my first annual invoice.

It actually all relies on your use case. Informal customers might discover Notion to be a bit overkill for his or her wants. Have a look at what Notion affords and resolve if you really want it. Do it’s essential to make fast webpages, wikis, and databases? If not, then perhaps Google Maintain or Evernote could be extra of your factor.

Nonetheless, in the event you plan to make use of Notion for skilled functions, then it’s extra prone to be your cup of tea. You’ll be able to actually run an organization from Notion. Arrange your web sites, databases, wikis, assist pages, worker onboarding, automations, and collaborations. Brainstorm with colleagues, depart feedback on inside discussions, and the listing goes on and on.