How I Use TextExpander to Work Smarter

I’ve been using TextExpander for years. Even still, I’ve only scratched the surface of what it can do.

TextExpander is a web-based tool that allows users to create keyboard shortcuts (snippets) for oft-used phrases or pieces of text so that they can use boilerplate content whenever (and pretty much wherever) they want.

Here are just 3 things — major things at that — I use TextExpander for:

1. Commonly entered personal information

I don’t want to enter my address, email information, current date, and other similar common items by typing them in full every time they are required on a form or in an email. So I created TextExpander snippets that take care of that. This feature alone has saved me hundreds (if not thousands) of keystrokes. And saving keystrokes equals saving time.

2. Speeding up my team

Once TextExpander moved from being a Mac-only app into a web-based one that is usable on any platform, I was able to start creating snippets that anyone on my team could use. Now I’ve got my assistant Claire using them. I’m going to be showing my wife Anne the merits of TextExpander shortly as well. Once I’ve rolled it out to the primary team members at Productivityist, our team productivity will improve radically…