App tips

The internet is a nightmare now, but reader mode makes it better

It's not just you: the internet is actively hostile to readers—and it keeps getting worse. Most pages are so cluttered that it can be hard to find where the article even is. Here's a solution.

What is data validation in Google Sheets? 

Spreadsheets are anarchy. You can type whatever you want in any cell and no one can stop you. I could write "orange" in a column labeled "birthday" and no one could stop me. Like most freedom, this is great until you make a mess.

What even is GitHub?

Spend enough time on the internet, and you'll end up on a GitHub page, usually when you want to download an app or tool that doesn't have its own website. As you fumble your way through that process, it's pretty clear that GitHub isn't designed to do that.

A conversation with no-code innovators

4 no-code innovators share their insights into the benefits and challenges of no code—and what the future of no code holds.

How to add your pronouns on Zoom

Zoom recently added easier pronoun sharing, but the setting isn't easy to find. Here's how to use the official pronoun feature, along with a workaround if your organization decides not to enable it.

5 Trello Power-Ups for solopreneurs and freelancers

As a technology writer, I'm embarrassed to admit that I used to manage my freelance business with paper to-do lists and a whiteboard hanging above my desk. Then I discovered Trello.

How to evaluate and choose a cloud storage app

At their best, cloud storage apps are more than just a tool to free up space on your computer. (An external hard drive could accomplish that equally well.) They're also able to help with organization, collaboration, and security.

Wait, is Skype shutting down? 

Microsoft recently announced that Skype for Business Online is shutting down on July 31, 2021. But the consumer version of Skype, which you can download for free, isn't going anywhere. So: what's happening? 

How to make the most of your project management software

The worst mistake you can make when it comes to project management is creating workflows based around your tool's infrastructure—instead of your team's needs.

How to use Slack during meetings without anyone noticing (and other reasons to schedule messages)

I don't mind useless Zoom meetings—they're a great time to get some work done. The problem: you can't really respond to Slack messages during meetings without your coworkers noticing that you're working instead of paying attention to the meeting.

What is a CMS? An actual explanation 

I've run multiple blogs in my life, but you know what I've never had to do? Manually add a byline field, publish date element, or related articles section to a post. Those are all taken care of by a content management system (CMS). 

Why won't Google Docs let me paste without installing an extension? 

You try to paste something in Google Docs. You get a cryptic message instead. Here's why—and how you can get around it.

How to stop Chrome from hijacking your media keys

You open a video link while listening to music. You reflexively hit the play/pause key on your keyboard to pause the music. The video pauses; the music keeps playing. Here's how to fix that. 

How to share a presentation on Zoom without sharing your browser tabs and address bar

If you're doing a presentation on Zoom, and I can see the top of your browser, I am not listening to a word you're saying. At all. 

Work software also works at home

The tools you use to coordinate at work can also work for other parts of your life. Here's how two Zapier employees brought their work apps home.

How we run onboarding, support, and operations in one tool

When you consider that there are tens of thousands of SaaS companies, it's not surprising that jumping from tool to tool throughout your workday becomes a very likely scenario.

How we use data to keep our recruiting processes running smoothly at Zapier

Successful hiring is a multi-faceted process of deciding who you're looking for, finding that person, and then getting them started on the right foot. We like to think of it as four broad steps: kickoff, sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding.

How to read newsletters without clogging up your inbox

Newsletters are the new blog. Most of the web's best essays and curation have moved to the inbox, for tech and economic reasons I won't break down here. The problem: some of us don't like reading things in our inbox.