With so many digital tools available, you might be wondering how people figure out which one to use.
By identifying your goal and then following the steps to Navigate, Select, Use, and Review, you can make this process work for you any time you need to find the right digital tool for the job.
In the Navigate step, you will decide what kinds of digital tools would help accomplish your goal.
In the Select step, you will decide which tool would be most helpful and efficient in accomplishing your goal. You should also consider which tool would be most comfortable for you to use.
The Select step focuses on choosing from among your options to decide which tool would be most effective and efficient in accomplishing your goal.
Then you’ll continue with the Use and Review steps, where you practice using the tool regularly and then consider what worked well and what was difficult.
Though many digital tools work on a variety of devices and across operating systems, some are designed to work only with a specific system (such as windows, Apple or Android).
Therefore, you will need to know which operating system you’re using, along with which version, so you can determine whether the digital tool you find will work with your device.
Once you find a potential program or app to help you meet your goals, look at the description on its website or in the app store to get some additional information and find out whether it will work with your device.
Note: Knowing which operating system your device uses is an important question for the Navigate step, because you will need to find a digital tool that works with that operating system.
There may not be just one tool that is clearly best; selecting what works best for you is often a matter of personal preferences and needs. When selecting a digital tool consider;
1. Cost
Many apps, programs, and online services are free. Others cost money, or may offer both a basic free version and a paid version with more features.
A free version may have everything you need, but remember that there’s often a trade-off with free software or services; they may include advertisements or collect data about you based on your usage, so make sure you’re comfortable with any fine print attached to the tool you choose.
If you think you want to use an app or service that costs money, take advantage of any free trials available—this will let you try it out and make sure you’re comfortable before you have to pay.
2. Ease of use
Software’s and apps are designed to help you understand how to use them without having to think about it too much.
A program (software) that feels easy to use lets you focus your energy on your goal instead of trying to figure out how to access a menu, or which button to click.
Always take advantage of a free trial version if possible and play around with the program or app to see how easily you can figure out its features.
If you can test out a trial version of the app, do it. Being able to use the app yourself and test its features is probably the best way to determine whether you will enjoy using it.
Also, read user reviews on the product page or in a trustworthy publication. Reviews can often give you a sense of whether other users like the tool, or what problems they may have had with it.
3. Features it Has
The app or software product page include a description of its features. Use this to confirm that the tool has whatever features you need to accomplish your goal.
Also, product reviews can help you determine how well various features have worked for other users.
Finding Help About a Software or an App
The best place to find help about an app or software is usually on the official website of the program or app that you are using. These websites generally feature information (product manuals) about the product and its features, basic instructions to get users started, and other helpful information like FAQ page.
Official websites contain product pages, which give an overview of the program, describe the requirements (what kind of operating system you need for the program to run properly and other system requirements), and offer reviews from other users. They also contain support pages that can help you navigate any issues that occur while using the program.
Official product websites is considered a credible source for product support because the company is responsible for the creation of the product, therefore, able to offer the most detailed and accurate information about how it works.
(2) Frequently Asked Questions Pages
A variety of websites compile answers to the FAQ (FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions). These lists commonly asked questions about the app or software and are very helpful, as long as you can be sure the answers provided are coming from a trustworthy source.
(3) User Forums
User forums are online discussion sites where people post messages in order to converse with each other. In a forum, different topics are called “threads,” and individuals can continue to respond to questions or add to threads.
Forums can be a good place to get advice on basic issues and troubleshooting. However, it is important to remember that user forums consist of user-generated content (UGC), which means that the advice and information on display are likely not coming from an expert or from an official source associated with the product.
Note: The information you find on user forums is not necessarily correct, and it needs to be verified.
(4) How to Do Videos
When you’re trying to complete a new task that you have never worked on before, you might find it most helpful to watch someone else so that you can see how the process looks at each stage.
Instructional (or “how-to”) videos can be more effective than simply reading through a list of steps, because they give you a visual walk-through of the process.
Using an instructional video allows you to see where to click, or how the screen changes as you work with your digital tools.
You can find “how to” video on YouTube. You can access our "how to:" videos on YouTube on the below link.
By identifying your goal and then following the steps to Navigate, Select, Use, and Review, you can make this process work for you any time you need to find the right digital tool for the job.
In the Navigate step, you will decide what kinds of digital tools would help accomplish your goal.
In the Select step, you will decide which tool would be most helpful and efficient in accomplishing your goal. You should also consider which tool would be most comfortable for you to use.
The Select step focuses on choosing from among your options to decide which tool would be most effective and efficient in accomplishing your goal.
Then you’ll continue with the Use and Review steps, where you practice using the tool regularly and then consider what worked well and what was difficult.
Though many digital tools work on a variety of devices and across operating systems, some are designed to work only with a specific system (such as windows, Apple or Android).
Therefore, you will need to know which operating system you’re using, along with which version, so you can determine whether the digital tool you find will work with your device.
Once you find a potential program or app to help you meet your goals, look at the description on its website or in the app store to get some additional information and find out whether it will work with your device.
Note: Knowing which operating system your device uses is an important question for the Navigate step, because you will need to find a digital tool that works with that operating system.
There may not be just one tool that is clearly best; selecting what works best for you is often a matter of personal preferences and needs. When selecting a digital tool consider;
1. Cost
Many apps, programs, and online services are free. Others cost money, or may offer both a basic free version and a paid version with more features.
A free version may have everything you need, but remember that there’s often a trade-off with free software or services; they may include advertisements or collect data about you based on your usage, so make sure you’re comfortable with any fine print attached to the tool you choose.
If you think you want to use an app or service that costs money, take advantage of any free trials available—this will let you try it out and make sure you’re comfortable before you have to pay.
2. Ease of use
Software’s and apps are designed to help you understand how to use them without having to think about it too much.
A program (software) that feels easy to use lets you focus your energy on your goal instead of trying to figure out how to access a menu, or which button to click.
Always take advantage of a free trial version if possible and play around with the program or app to see how easily you can figure out its features.
If you can test out a trial version of the app, do it. Being able to use the app yourself and test its features is probably the best way to determine whether you will enjoy using it.
Also, read user reviews on the product page or in a trustworthy publication. Reviews can often give you a sense of whether other users like the tool, or what problems they may have had with it.
3. Features it Has
The app or software product page include a description of its features. Use this to confirm that the tool has whatever features you need to accomplish your goal.
Also, product reviews can help you determine how well various features have worked for other users.
Finding Help About a Software or an App
(1) Product Official Website
The best place to find help about an app or software is usually on the official website of the program or app that you are using. These websites generally feature information (product manuals) about the product and its features, basic instructions to get users started, and other helpful information like FAQ page.
Official websites contain product pages, which give an overview of the program, describe the requirements (what kind of operating system you need for the program to run properly and other system requirements), and offer reviews from other users. They also contain support pages that can help you navigate any issues that occur while using the program.
Official product websites is considered a credible source for product support because the company is responsible for the creation of the product, therefore, able to offer the most detailed and accurate information about how it works.
(2) Frequently Asked Questions Pages
A variety of websites compile answers to the FAQ (FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions). These lists commonly asked questions about the app or software and are very helpful, as long as you can be sure the answers provided are coming from a trustworthy source.
(3) User Forums
User forums are online discussion sites where people post messages in order to converse with each other. In a forum, different topics are called “threads,” and individuals can continue to respond to questions or add to threads.
Note: The information you find on user forums is not necessarily correct, and it needs to be verified.
(4) How to Do Videos
When you’re trying to complete a new task that you have never worked on before, you might find it most helpful to watch someone else so that you can see how the process looks at each stage.
Instructional (or “how-to”) videos can be more effective than simply reading through a list of steps, because they give you a visual walk-through of the process.
Using an instructional video allows you to see where to click, or how the screen changes as you work with your digital tools.
You can find “how to” video on YouTube. You can access our "how to:" videos on YouTube on the below link.
