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Derek is very into systems and folders and files and being hyper-organized.

In short, I am not.

I have about 700 random thoughts in one day and would like to keep track of them instead of creating .txt after .txt or .doc after .doc and dropping them in my To Do folder in Dropbox.

I was very reluctantly coaxed into using Evernote after complaining that I lose emails in my Gmail inboxes (this was before my ascent and triumph over Mount Inboxes – 5 in all) that were my reminders to do “stuff,” and after I failed at Google Tasks.  (Remarkable insight – If you fail to add an email to the Task List, it won’t be there.)  Then I resorted to the tried-and-true method of affixing Post-It notes in my DayTimer, which only resulted in my DayTimer looking like an ugly, rainbow-colored quinceanera dress.  Also, I lost several of those notes, and am only now recovering their dirty, torn remains from the underside of my car’s floormats.  Clearly, I needed an intervention.

Enter Evernote.

First, I downloaded Evernote to my desktop.   This was fabulous for keeping track of random ideas when I have 18 tabs open on 3 browsers as I sometimes do.  [Side note: I've heard Mac users have even niftier features, which if true increases my Mac envy.]  However, even the most lazy of real estate agents has to escape their computer at some point.

So, yes.  I went mobile.  And yes, Virginia, there is an Evernote app for that.

With relative ease, I downloaded and enabled the Evernote app on my HTC Android Incredible.  What do I use it for?  Well, when I walk the dog, I think of random snippets of things or that really, super-important thing I was supposed to do ASAP and which I will most certainly forget in the next 30 minutes.  But now, I can leave myself voice reminders to do things.  This is also handy for when you’re in the car – especially when stuck in the infamous NoVA/DC traffic – and want to “write” a blog post or a reply letter to someone.  I can also take snapshots of things, or attach pictures/audio/video to notes as supplements to what I’m creating.  Finally, I take notes.  Lots and lots of notes.  Anything from grocery lists to “you MUST do this today to emailing myself really interesting blog posts that I want to read later.

The glory is I can search what I’ve recorded to my heart’s content, whether I’m on my home laptop, online remotely (using Evernote.com web login), on my work laptop or on my phone, because everything is synced.  I can even be more anal, like my friend Mr. Massey, and tag my notes and/or arrange them into different notebooks so the content is even easier to find.  (Note: I’m not there yet.)  So now I have no more excuses, at least when it comes to remembering things.

Evernote.  Electronic Post-Its on steroids, and I’m never looking back.

(1) Evernote

(2) Floor Plan Online & Toor.me

(3) Postlets/Vyoo.it

(4) Even More Google Goodness (Goo.gl, Google Maps w/Foreclosures, Wonder Wheel)

(5) Posterous

Being the tease I am, however, I’ll address each one of these in-depth in separate blog posts, the first to arrive Jan 6th.

‘Til then, keep learning!

Shall I compare it to a summer’s day? It is more lovely and more temperate.

Yep, I’m deeply in love with my phone. Why? Because I can do ANYTHING with it – I have my text messaging and my phone service, of course. But my voice messages are Google Voice, my Calendar is Google Calendar, some of my Docs are under GDocs now, Google Navigation always gets me home and my umpteen Gmail accounts are all synced. Blah, blah, blah, Google. I get it. But wait. There’s MORE.

I have an Evernote app to keep track of random notes (that also sync to multiple desktops), a Kindle app so I can read if I don’t have my actual Kindle with me, my TripIt app (which I’m about to upgrade to Pro) so I can keep track of all my flight information & timing, Pandora ’cause I love my music, Dropbox which syncs to my Asus eee and my Dell Inspiron, NFL Mobile (FOOTBALL!), Tweetcaster for my Twitter, Handcent SMS for my text messaging (looks just like iPhone’s text service), Bump for instant exchange of info between phones, DC Metro Transit Info to keep up to date on what the Metro is doing, Dolphin Browser so I can have multiple tabs in a mobile browser, Fandango for my movie tickets, Mashable to keep up on almost all pertinent news in my world, Verizon Fios DVR to set my DVR recordings even from the office, USAA app to tap into my bank accounts (it even lets me cash a check by taking a picture of it!!!!) and WordPress.

And have you downloaded the Yelp app and played with the Monocle feature yet? SUPER FUN!!!!

Of course, there’s more…many, many more out there…but those would give you a good start. Let me know if there’s any you can’t live without!

If you’re a real estate agent, though, there are few Google musts you’d best know about.

First of all, do you have a Google Profile? Here’s mine. It’s one of the easiest ways of getting your face, name and business out there for when people search for you (see, I nearly said “Google you”).

Second, have you added your business to the Local Business Center? Again, when people are looking for you, they need to be able to find you. This is a great way of putting yourself literally on the map.

Third, learn how to use Google Maps. You can put maps on your site. You can learn how to create Place Pages. Also, make sure your listing is popping up on Maps (or find competing listings nearby) by going to your address on Google Maps and then clicking the “More” button [located between "Traffic" and "Map"]. Scroll down to the “Real Estate” category and check the box. Watch the magic happen.

Finally, Google is working to help you reach your customers through their Google for real estate professionals page. Visit it and see what works for you.

These are, of course, just some of the basics (I haven’t even touched Google Mail or Calendar or Reader or…), but just start exploring how Google can work for you!