I’m using the phrase “productivity hacks” because it sounds a lot sexier than saying “tools I found online to help me do my job a little better or a little easier.” And, yes, my best hacking days (such that they exist) are ahead of me.
This edition is a little bit of this and that – tools to help you snag data, make pretty graphics, and e-sign documents.
Find the perfect data chart.
Atlas is a charts and data site that has everything from economic forecasting to the most emoji-crazed countries (Finland is #1). It’s a useful site to bookmark if you are looking for information on a particular business topic, or want a chart for a blog post or report. Images can be downloaded or embedded.
Identify the perfect font pairing.
This little font combination tool from Canva helps you find complementary typefaces. As an example, I asked for pair options for Montserrat and it generated four different ways to use the fonts, along with visual examples. And here’s a quick social media hack primer on Canva.
Sign documents — right in Gmail.
If you’re tired of printing out, signing, and then rescanning contracts and other documents (and making your clients do the same), then HelloSign might be your solution. This handy e-signature software works with a variety of apps, including Google, OneDrive, and Evernote. There’s even an extension to sign documents right in Gmail. I haven’t tested it yet, but it is definitely on my to-do list. Plus, it’s free to use for up to three documents per month.
PS: This is the sixth in an occasional series on productivity hacks. In case you missed any, here are productivity hacks one, two, three, four, and five.
Feature photo by Antonio Pardo (Flickr).