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Microsoft OneNote is really a fabulous, yet often over-looked program. In this post I will highlight a few of the features and uses of OneNote.

1. Organize your "stuff."

The core strength of OneNote is its ability to help you to get and stay organized. You will love you could store, tag and manipulate almost anything, such as for example pictures, text, digital handwriting and even voice.

One of the best reasons for having OneNote is you could write anywhere on a page and/or move each note box anywhere on a page. Not only that, nevertheless, you can drag and drop whole pages, sections and also notebooks.

It is very easy to take screenshots of website s or documents. The only caveat is that the screenshot is automatically saved being an unfiled note instead of right to the page you are currently working on. (It's not a really big thing though - you can move it to where you will need it to be.)

You can create Microsoft Outlook tasks directly from OneNote and vice versa. Also you can send info backwards and forwards between OneNote and Microsoft word, as well.

OneNote synchs with mobile devices in order to access OneNote from anywhere. It is possible to send pictures or text from wherever you are directly to OneNote and make sure that you remember or lose that valuable little bit of information.

2. Tag and search.

OneNote includes a powerful search function which allows you find what you need quickly and painlessly. Additional info is simple to search by tag; however, if you need to find something you didn't tag, you can actually search by word or phrase.

Tags are a great way to keep track and find your important messages, notes and to-dos. The tags may also be customizable, in order to change, create or delete tags at whim.

You can also create a summary page of all your tagged notes to help keep them organized and easily accessible. You'll love this! By developing a summary page of most your tagged notes, you'll be able to see all your tagged items at once.

3. Set your privacy settings.

Working on a group projects with clients, associates or other groups? No problem. OneNote allows you to store notebooks in a shared location or SharePoint site, so everyone has usage of the notebook simultaneously. Every time someone adds, takes away or modifies the notebook at all, it really is immediately and automatically updated for everyone.

Want to share a note page with someone who does not have OneNote? No problem. It is simple to email an email page directly from OneNote. The note is either sent being an html attachment or sent in the body of the email.

Want to keep a notebook, page or section for your eyes only? No problem. You can easily create password protected sections or notebooks to make sure privacy. Keep in mind, though, if you forget or lose your password Microsoft can not retrieve it. So write the password down and keep it in a safe place, just is case!

4. Side note.

Another handy feature of OneNote is "Side Note." Side Note acts such as a "sticky note" where you could jot down snippets of information, ideas or things you intend to remember without needing to keep OneNote open constantly. Side Note is unobtrusive and hides under your other windows until you need it.

You can use it to do an instant "drag & drop" for website links during studies, type in an instant note to yourself as a reminder, or use would be to keep your to-do list in a safe place that won't get lost! All the information is automatically put into the unfiled notes section of OneNote so that you can organize later.

5. Other features.

A fun thing that you can do is create page templates to change the look and feel of one's notebooks or to create a customized template to suit your needs.

Other features include automatic save and back up of your notes, basic calculator functions, ability to create drawing and tables, insert files as printouts, and the ability to attach files to your notes.

6. Ideas for use.

The ways you can use OneNote are endless. The secret is to use OneNote and its own features in a way that best serves you. To really get your ideas flowing, though, I'll let you know a little about how I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OneNote.

Each client (and potential client) gets her or his password protected notebook. Each section contains all of the projects and pertinent information linked to that client. When ever I've a brainstorming session or telephone call with a client, all the notes, ideas and suggestions get sorted into the appropriate section or page.

I also have notebooks for marketing, writing (ideas & drafts of articles, blogs, ebooks, etc.), resources to look at or remember, a notebook for private personal use, a notebook linked to training and continuing education, a notebook of my wish list and vision board, a miscellaneous notebook for stuff that doesn't match other notebooks and a few other kinds of notebooks.