ip: Do you love using Templates in Gmail to send similar emails easier? Want to send those emails that look custom all at the same time?? Want to use custom fields like First Name or certain stats, updated automatically? You can! With Mail Merge in Gmail/Sheets!  

How to use: In a Gmail compose window hover over the To field and click Mail Merge. Add individuals to the To field then in your compose window type the @ symbol to see options to insert tags where information will be pulled automatically from the Contacts information. (Preview the field before sending to see what that is!). Then click Continue and agree to terms before sending! For large groups or more customized fields click "Add from spreadsheet" and link to a Google Sheet* or upload a file with information (uses column headers for what fields you can insert)

When you send a message with mail merge turned on, Gmail delivers a unique copy of the message to each recipient individually with a unique unsubscribe link.

When recipients open your message, they can’t check who else you sent the message to. If anyone replies, you'll get their replies in separate threads, which makes it easier to manage conversations.

Don't forget, if you would like to export contact information from an existing Google Group into a Sheet you can use Google Groups interface or the Expn tool (as long as you have group permissions to view members). 

Keyboard Shortcut of the Week: C in Gmail: open Compose window

Tip: Do you find yourself writing the same email over and over? A canned response to a typical problem? Do you copy/paste an email from a Doc where you have your saved language? Sending a weekly newsletter with a similar format each time?? ;)

Use Templates in Gmail for saved drafts of emails! 

How to use: In Gmail Settings go to Advanced > Enable Templates. Now you can create, save, modify, and insert Templates from the Compose window > three dots > Templates

Keyboard Shortcut of the Week: C in Gmail: Open new compose window

Tip: Want to embed your camera feed directly into your Slide? Want to share a recording of your presentation afterwards where individuals can see your face and not just the slides? Want to deliver a training virtually where you flip through your own slides but the image of you is still visible on the slide itself? 

Use Speaker spotlight in Slides! 

How to use: In Slides go to Insert > Speaker spotlight on the slide where you'd like to embed your feed. When you press the Slideshow button you will be prompted to allow access to your camera and then you will see your slide and a bubble of yourself! Afterwards the camera feed of you during that slide will be visible in the recording(great for sending it out after!) If you want the bubble on every slide go to Slide > Edit theme and put it on the Theme slide to automatically apply to all slides! 

Keyboard Shortcut of the Week: Cmmd/Cntrl + Enter in Slides: Slideshow mode