Why and How to install Evernote Web Clipper

Source: Evernote.com 

Introduction

Evernote is a big complex ecosystem of capabilities.  A veritable bullion cube of GTD possibilities.  This howto shows how to add the Evernote Web Clipper to your Google Chrome web browser…. 

But … why would I want Evernote Web Clipper?

Simple answer is that while you may not want Web Clipper, you likely need Web Clipper.  Web Clipper is yet another example of new to the world capabilities that create incipient demand.  That is demand you have that you don’t know you have.  If you’ve ever promised to send a colleague a web page, and later you could not find the URL of the page, Web Clipper is for you.  Never loose another web page is the gateway to capturing Web Clipper’s value.  

What is it? 

Web Clipper is an add-in utility for Google Chrome (and FireFox) that allows you to take a snapshot of a passage of text, an entire web page, or a single graphic, and insert the snapshot into your Evernote archive.  

Source: Evernote.com

How does it work? 

The snapshot can be tagged as it goes in and you can select which notebook inside Evernote, that the snapshot is stored.  

The URL of the web page is stored in parallel with the snapshot, so you can always find your way back to the source page in three steps.  

Step 1: Search on the one word that would only be on the web page you are thinking of.  

Step 2: Click on the link for that page.

Step 3: open the page, and email link to your colleague.  

What is the strategy? 

Evernote’s goal is to put every customer into cognitive-golden-handcuffs.  Evernote is expanding the number and intelligence of “on-ramps” for users to capture data and information that is important for getting things done.  In addition to Web Clipper Evernote has a number of other add-ons.  

Source: Evernote.com

Evernote’s viral marketing strategy is to look like the host, not like the parasite.  That is, the more of your short term memory that Evernote can trick you into outsourcing to it, the more likely Evernote has you locked up for all time as a customer.   

What are the objections? 

•  I don’t need Web Clipper or Evernote! 

If your brain is not full, you can get away with this “my brain is all I need” approach to work for a while.  But, it is not if your brain will get full, but when.  It may be your MBA, it may even take a PhD to clog your neurons with enough unrelated stuff that you won’t need external memory.  But you just wait, grow old, you’ll find out what it is all about.  :-) 

 

• I don’t have enough bandwidth to learn what Web Clipper is, or what Evernote is! 

Web Clipper is a printer that puts whatever web page you want to keep, in an electronic in-box.  By the way, Evernote is the electronic inbox.  Next objection? 

• It is pissing me off that you are so enthusiastic about Web Clipper, Evernote, GTD, and most of all, your stupid Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M!  

My bad.  But in my defense, God put me on this earth to spread ideas.  And God gave me enthusiasm to power the spreader.  Because I was a late comer to GTD, to electronic organization, and to guerrilla fabrication of trusted systems, I’m trying to make up for lost time.  In particular, I’m trying to get to other people before they hit age 49 (my age when I read GTD).  So, sorry to piss you off.  But, really, it isn’t that much thought to comprehend all of these things.  And, the upside is considerable.  

 

Ok, I give up, how do I install Web clipper in Chrome? 

 Step 1: Open Google Chrome 

 

Step 2: Go to /Window/Extensions

 

Step 3: Then click on “Get more extensions” 

 

Step 4: Type “ever” in the chrome web store search box 

 

 

Step 5: Click on “evernote web clipper” and then click on “+ ADD TO CHROME” and then click “Add” when Chrome asks you if you REALLY REALLY want to install Evernote Web Clipper.  

 

Step 6: Sign in to Evernote the first time you click on Web Clipper

Conclusion: What just happened? 

If you have an Evernote account, this exercise should acquaint you to why you need Web Clipper even though you don’t want to learn a new piece of web mumbo jumbo.  The reason to use Web Clipper is to avoid open loops that you can’t close.  For example, web addresses that you can’t find when you need to share them, or pictures that might be great to include in a newsletter, or essays that really grab you and that you don’t want to forget.  Web Clipper and Evernote are short term memory substitutes and steroid injections.  

Many GTDfolk use Evernote to do their entire GTD system.  I use Evernote only for reference filing.  Because Evernote rules and my memory drools, I’m content to wear Evernote’s cognitive-golden-handcuffs.  Once you start clipping to Evernote, your hit rate on sending colleagues great web pages goes from less than 50% to almost 100% in less time with less aggravation.  

Hope this helps!

 

bill meade