Wait a minute. Isn’t the expression: “Get Your Head Out of the Clouds”? Normally, it is. Not today. Not when you’re dealing with computers.
In my previous lesson, we discussed some of the cloud services available on the web. Now we want to show you some tricks and techniques to make your cloud service more user-friendly and you more productive.
Not all of these tips and techniques span all the cloud services. Some do. But we want people to be aware of them to help pick which cloud service is best for them.
Here goes…
1. Otixo
Otixo is great for people who have multiple cloud services (Google Docs, Dropbox, etc.). As this instructional video explains, you can put all the services in one place and manage all your files.
Once you have your cloud services uploaded, you can put certain files together in a project and collaborate with other Otixo users. Otixo gives you the ability to consolidate the files, invite collaborators and keep an activity log of who did what in the file. This might come in very handy for each house you flip, wholesale or rehab and rent. Check out this follow-up video for more.
It also has the ability to upload files directly from your computer to your cloud services, share files with other non-Otixo users (although they won’t be included in the project section) and some other handy features you can learn about here.
Otixo gives you 2GB of bandwidth to play with for free. If you invite other Otixo users to collaborate, you receive an additional 100MB of bandwidth for each user you invite. You can upgrade to unlimited bandwidth for around $10 per month.
2. Mover
Mover makes it easy to transfer files from one cloud service to another. You can basically move files from cloud to cloud. Once you create an account, you can load up your clouds, and move files effortlessly, like this video shows.
Mover saves you having to download files from one cloud service, and then uploading the files to another cloud service. It also keeps detailed records of which files have been moved, in case you have trouble locating a file.
You can move an unlimited number of files for free with Mover. It also has the capability to regularly backup all your files either manually or automatically on a scheduled basis. To backup files costs $20/month.
3. Cubby
Separate your files to sync on multiple devices…
Many of the cloud services out there put one file on your desktop. That file then syncs with the cloud across all your devices…
There is a service called Cubby that allows you to put all your individual cloud folders onto your computer and sync them across all your devices. This saves you the time of uploading files to the overall cloud folder, then separating them out into the folder you want. Check out more about Cubby in this video.
Dropbox has similar features to Cubby, but Cubby starts you out at 5GB for free, compared to 2GB for Dropbox. You can also add free storage by inviting friends or pay for more storage.
4. AirPrint & Presto
Print from the cloud and any device no matter how old your printer is. Many printers today have the ability to pick up the internet and allow you to print files from your tablet or phone. Apple’s AirPrint also allows you to do this, but it just works for Macs.
A software program called Presto will allow you to print files from any device to any printer. If you have an older printer, just hook it up directly to a PC, load the Presto program on it, and voila – you can print as long as that PC is connected up to the internet. Have a look at this helpful video.
The Presto (also called Finger Print) software has a one-time cost of $19.99. Seems much cheaper than buying a new printer.
5. WordPress Backup & Updraft Plus
Automatic backups of your website to your cloud service...
Look, sometimes it’s a pain to back up your WordPress website with your hosting service. If you pay someone to run your website, they might charge you extra to back it up.
Forget all that. There are several WordPress plug-ins that will automatically back up your WordPress site to your cloud. Here are some plug-ins for the most popular cloud services:
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Wordpress Backup to Dropbox does just what the name says it does,
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Updraft Plus will back up your site to Google Drive. Here’s how to do it.
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The paid version of Updraft Plus will also back your files up to OneDrive (and several other cloud services).
Be a Pal and Share
Cloud services are becoming more and more a part of people’s online life, and can really help your real estate business. Have you seen other tips and techniques to make your cloud interaction better? Please share them in the comments section below.
Investigate the world of cloud computing – Having a cloud drive on your computer can allow you to protect, back up and share files easily for your business.
Focus on your objectives, not on the technology – Cloud services can be helpful, but don’t spend your time researching all the latest gizmos associated with the cloud. Once you have one that meets your needs, run with it.
Don’t dictate – collaborate – Ask people you work with on a regular basis what works for them. The trick is to make things as easy as possible for them. Then they can concentrate on increasing profitability for you.
JP Moses
is a real estate investor in Memphis, TN, with experience ranging from land lording to note buying, rehabbing, and wholesaling. However, wholesaling is the area that he enjoys most and where he bring the most experience and expertise to his students.