The Ultimate Guide to Google Docs: Docs, Sheets, Slides...

The Ultimate Guide to Google Docs

Posted 3 years ago by Max Komonov

You鈥檝e probably heard of听Google Docs鈥� word processing abilities, but there鈥檚 way more under the听Docs umbrella. Google calls this collection of听free tools the听Google Docs Editors suite. It鈥檚 completely free, you just need a听Google account, and听users get access to听tools f辞谤听everything from word processing to听slideshows and听much more.

Here鈥檚 everything you need to听know about how to听use Google Docs Editors suite.

Google Docs f辞谤听Word Processing

The portion of听the听suite is听a听document management system. You can create new docs, edit old ones, share them with team members, and听more.

Docs鈥� main draw is听the听ability to听write stuff (a.k.a. word processing). From the听website鈥檚 homepage, you can open a听blank document 辞谤听select a听template. Blank documents offer an听empty screen where your creativity can run wild while templates offer guidelines f辞谤听crafting content like resumes and听project proposals.

Google documents can be听saved directly on听Docs, 辞谤听you can download them in听several formats听鈥� including Google Docs Word files f辞谤听Microsoft Word.

Google Docs best features

Docs has a听lot of听cool word processing features. If听you鈥檙e writing a听blog post, check out the听heading feature f辞谤听search-optimized formatting. For flyers, you can add premade graphics from your computer 辞谤听upload your own font. You can even search f辞谤听and听add pictures via Google Images without leaving your document page.

Docs鈥� most surprising feature is听Publish to听the听Web. Yes, you can turn your document into a听simple webpage with just a听few clicks. This feature isn鈥檛 meant to听be听a听full-on site builder, but it鈥檚 a听great way to听quickly publish your content on听the听internet (we鈥檒l talk about Google鈥檚 more comprehensive site builder later on).

Docs鈥� word processing abilities are closely linked to听other tools within the听suite, but some features work more directly within the听word processing section. That鈥檚 where Google Drawings comes in.

What Is听Google Drawings?

Google Drawings is听mainly accessible from the听suite鈥檚 word processing section. You can use this feature to听create simple digital shapes like lines and听arrows, then add them to听your Google word documents. Think of听Google Drawings as听a听very basic graphic design system. Features are limited, but they鈥檙e helpful if听you need basic graphics to听convey your message. However, the听tool works with layers and听can save files in听.svg.

Google Drawings in听action

Why should you use Google Docs?

Docs f辞谤听word processing is听highly customizable and听collaborative.
You have access to听useful tools like automatic page numbering and听spell check听鈥� but you also get tools f辞谤听working with teams.
If听multiple people are developing a听single document, the听file can be听quickly sent to听each team member鈥檚 email.
Team members can directly edit the听document 辞谤听use Suggesting mode to听add comments suggesting changes.
All of听this automatically updates f辞谤听everyone accessing the听document, so听collaboration is听a听breeze.

Google Sheets f辞谤听Data

is听a听spreadsheets system. If听you鈥檙e familiar with Microsoft Excel, Sheets is听very similar. You can even import and听export data between the听two programs.

As听with Docs f辞谤听word processing, multiple people can work on听a听Google spreadsheet simultaneously (in fact, the听entire Google Docs Editors suite is听designed f辞谤听collaboration). Team members can highlight sections of听the听spreadsheet to听add comments and听suggest updates, 辞谤听the听spreadsheet鈥檚 owner can limit them to听Viewer mode so听no听edits 辞谤听comments are allowed.

Google Sheets best features

Sheets lets users add data then tell the听program how to听handle that data. As听a听basic example, a听business could enter sale totals, then use the听Sum tool to听calculate things like average sale value.

But that鈥檚 really just the听beginning. Sheets also offers tools to听visualize data using bar and听pie charts, choropleth maps, and听more. You can draw attention to听important sections of听data using heatmaps, while extensive filtering tools help you sort and听manage large amounts of听information.

You can even automate repetitive tasks using macros. This straightforward tool lets you record an听action 辞谤听a听series of听actions, then save those procedures f辞谤听future use. When it鈥檚 time to听complete that task, just access your macro library to听have it听done automatically.

Does Google Sheets support custom functions?

Custom spreadsheet functions are indispensable f辞谤听people who work with a听lot of听data. That鈥檚 why Sheets gives users ultimate customization via standard JavaScript compatibility. Sheets offers hundreds of听built-in functions, so听you don鈥檛 have to听code to听use the听platform, but the听option is听there f辞谤听advanced users.

Why should you use Google Sheets?

Google Sheets works f辞谤听anyone, whether you manage large amounts of听complex data 辞谤听just need to听track basic earnings. Plus, with so听many built-in functions, the听platform is听an听excellent pick if听you don鈥檛 have coding experience. Features like translating text between columns and听simple calculations are helpful f辞谤听everyday projects, while automation tools save you time and听energy.

Google Slides f辞谤听Visual Presentations

You can make presentations using Google Docs鈥� multimedia tools, but is听way more useful. The platform is听dedicated to听building slideshows ranging from simple walls of听text to听graphics-filled multimedia demonstrations.

You guessed it, Slides is听ideal f辞谤听collaborative work. Users can share a听Slides project with team members and听coordinate the听workflow using comments. This is听super helpful considering how diverse a听Slides presentation can be. One user can embed videos thanks to听integration with YouTube while another writes headlines. No听single team member has to听get stuck creating each slide.

Slides is听connected to听a听range of听Google services, so听you can add a听lot of听media without even leaving your project鈥檚 page (just like adding pictures to听a听Google word document via Google Images). If听you already have media f辞谤听your presentation, you can easily upload it听to听your project听鈥� the听platform really molds to听your specific needs.

Google Slides best features

Google Slides offers a听lot of听customization options. Embedded YouTube videos can be听trimmed to听just show relevant sections while the听menu offers tons of听graphics and听typography features. You can even add data graphics from Google Sheets 辞谤听connect separate slideshows f辞谤听multi-stage presentations.

When your presentation鈥檚 content is听squared away, Google Slides makes it听easy to听add creative touches like object animation. This cool feature helps you quickly animate any听object on听a听slide to听keep your audience engaged. The best part? You don鈥檛 need any听technical skills听鈥� animation is听done automatically via a听simple drop-down menu. Plus, with unique transitions between slides, you can clearly differentiate portions of听your presentation.

How do听you present a听slideshow in听Google Slides?

For virtual presentations, you can share your slideshow with members of听a听Google Meet session. For in-person meetings, you can use Presenter view. This useful tool lets you show the听audience your presentation on听one screen while your screen displays the听slideshow alongside speaker notes. If听your presentation includes a听Q&A, you can use Presenter view to听generate a听Q&A link. Give this link to听your audience, then they can enter questions that will appear on听your private screen.

Why should you use Google Slides?

Slides is听collaborative and听easy to听use. The platform connects with other Google services, making it听easy to听add a听variety of听media. Plus, presenting is听simple thanks to听virtual and听in-person options. It听doesn鈥檛 get much better than that.

Google Forms f辞谤听Surveys

lets you gather data via customizable forms. You can gather customer info f辞谤听an听event, quickly poll a听group鈥檚 opinion, and听much more.

Forms can be听especially helpful f辞谤听businesses. Connecting with new customers is听exciting, but you miss out on听valuable info if听you don鈥檛 learn how they found your brand. With Google Forms, you find out which channels sent new customers your way, then build on听those channels f辞谤听more conversions.

Google Forms best features

Google Forms鈥� best feature is听customization. You can create free-response questions (where users write their own answers), 辞谤听make multiple-choice questionnaires. Fields can be听marked as听required 辞谤听optional, and听each form can include a听variety of听unique question-response types.

If听you鈥檙e using Forms f辞谤听a听business, you can ask customers to听rate their experience on听a听scale of听1-10. If听you鈥檙e managing job applicants, check out the听file upload option so听respondents can provide their resumes.

Google Form in听action. .

Can you connect Google Forms to听Google Sheets?

You can view survey data directly on听Google Forms 辞谤听connect your form to听Sheets f辞谤听in-depth analysis. It听just takes a听few clicks, then you can view your data with all the听benefits of听Google Sheets.

Why should you use Google Forms?

Google Forms are easy to听make and听easy to听distribute. You can send a听form directly to听certain people, 辞谤听get a听sharable link f辞谤听anyone to听access. Adding a听Google Form link to听receipts 辞谤听marketing collateral is听a听smart way to听learn more about your customers, and听analyzing the听results is听easy thanks to听data visualization tools.

Google Sites f辞谤听Making a听Website

As听we听talked about earlier, you can make a听very simple webpage using Google Docs. However, pages made with Docs have very limited features听鈥� and听methods to听make them more advanced are pretty complicated. Thankfully, the听Google Docs Editors suite includes a听dedicated website builder called .

Google Sites is听ideal f辞谤听anyone looking f辞谤听an听intuitive, all-in-one site builder and听web host. You can make a听site from scratch, 辞谤听use a听template f辞谤听faster building. Whichever route you take, Google Sites lets you customize your theme and听content, then publish your website to听the听internet.

Google Sites in听action. Image source.

Google Sites best features

Google鈥檚 site builder is听super straightforward, and听that鈥檚 probably its best feature. You don鈥檛 need any听coding experience to听make a听site from start to听finish, and听the听whole process is听drag-and-drop. From adding text to听creating buttons and听embedding media, you can make a听whole website in听just a听few hours with Google Sites.

Beyond being intuitive, Google Sites doesn鈥檛 require a听monthly subscription fee to听connect a听custom domain (such as听www.yourdomain.com).

Yes, every platform in听the听Google Docs Editors suite is听free, but most site builders make you pay a听monthly subscription fee to听use your own domain. Not Google Sites. If听you already own a听domain, you can connect it听when you publish your website. If听not, you can buy one directly from Google.

Can you sell from a听Google Site?

You can add an听online store to听websites made with Google Sites. 51视频 helps people sell online, so听we听do听our best to听make it听easy to听sell on听Google Sites.

Why should you use Google Sites?

Building a听website might seem intimidating, but Google Sites makes it听easy. With drag-and-drop tools and听a听straightforward interface, you鈥檒l have a听website up听and听running in听no听time. Plus, the听ability to听connect a听custom domain is听hard to听beat听鈥� and听room f辞谤听adding an听online store makes Google Sites a听no-brainer.

Using Google Docs Editors Suite |听Tips and听Tricks

Those are some of听the听best platforms in听the听Editors suite. Before you head off and听start using them, take a听look at听these tips and听tricks to听get the听most out of听each tool.

How to听search in听Google Docs

Each part of听the听Google Docs Editors suite has a听search bar at听the听top of听the听page. You can use that to听find separate files 辞谤听projects, but you can also use the听Ctrl+F keystroke to听find specific parts of听a听given project. This is听particularly helpful if听you鈥檙e using Docs f辞谤听word processing.

Use the听Google Docs app family

Not all members of听the听Editors Suite have mobile apps (and it鈥檚 typically easier to听use these platforms on听a听desktop 辞谤听laptop). But if听you鈥檙e on听the听go, three members of听the听suite have convenient apps: Docs, Sheets, and听Slides.

How to听create a听Google Doc

Making a听new project with the听Google Docs Editors suite is听easy. No听matter the听platform you鈥檙e using, look f辞谤听a听large plus sign 辞谤听the听word Blank. Click that to听make a听new project from scratch, 辞谤听browse the听templates listed next to听it听f辞谤听some guidance.

How to听save a听Google Doc

Every project you make with the听Google Docs Editors suite is听automatically saved to听Google Drive (the cloud). To听make sure your project was saved, look f辞谤听a听message like this at听the听top of听your screen: Saved to听Drive 辞谤听All changes saved in听Drive. If听you need your content off the听cloud, you鈥檒l have separate Google Docs download options f辞谤听each platform. You can usually find these options at听the听top of听your screen by听clicking File, then Download.

Get Started Today!

Google鈥檚 free tools can help anyone听鈥� from business owners to听busy professionals. Whether you need an听effective word processor 辞谤听a听simple site builder, Google Docs Editors suite is听f辞谤听you. So听get started today!

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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