Monday Magic - Free Screenshot Tool You'll Love

I've been away from the office for about a week. That was totally unplanned so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Let's start with a Screenshot Utility that you're going to love because it's so much better than the one that comes with Windows which most of you use.

GREENSHOT

This lightweight screenshot software is free and offers a bunch of advantages over the basic  version in Windows.

• Quickly create screenshots of a selected area of the screen, a window, or the fullscreen.
• Capture complete (scrolling) web pages from Internet Explorer.
• Annotate, highlight, or obscure parts of the screenshot.
• Export the screenshot in various ways: save to file, send to printer, copy to clipboard, attach to e-mail, send ti Office programs or upload to photo sites like Flickr or Picasa, and others.
• Greenshot is easy to understand and configure. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

To learn more and see this app in action click Greenshot to visit the website which is also the download page if you want to get the latest release. 

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Monday Magic _AI Tech Advice

Hold on to your hats. I'm about to recommend what seems to be an AI YouTube Channel for this week's source to remember.

I know, I know. I've complained a lot about Artificial Intelligence taking over the world. I still don't like the intrusion of AI on every app I use.

I really hate the fact that people are using AI to generate ebooks and clog up all the publishing pipelines.

I also hate that people are using AI to generate YouTube videos that purport to be doctors offering medical advice, financial experts offering investment advice, etc. ad nauseum.

TECH AUTHORITY ZONE

The YouTube video channel I'm blogging about today which offers offers step by step advice on how to clean up problems on your computer may actually have a Human behind it. I checked the channel's videos back to the beginning, and the man who narrated those videos seems to have English as a second language. Perhaps, he chose to use an AI voice for narration in order to attract more viewers.

In any event, I've used several videos from the channel to aid in my effort to keep Windows from slowing down my computer processing. Videos like Here's Why Chrome Slows Down Your PC, Windows 11 Lag Problem Solved, Microsoft Secretly Resets Your Settings, Why Your Windows PC Is Slow, Windows Eating Your Memory, and many more.

The channel offers advice on smart phones, computers, Windows, Android, etc. The thing I like most is that the instructions are clear, concise, and they work as promised.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're not a tekkie and have problems with your computer or cell phone, give the channel a try. It may have the answer to your problems.

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Monday Magic - Free Sceenshot App

If you're frustrated with the Screenshot offered by Microsoft, upgrade to the free app Greenshot, reliable open-source screen capture tool. 

The Greenshot app is safe, but only if you download  it from the official source. This is true of all apps I review on SlingWords. Download from the true source so you avoid bloatware, adware, or malware.

NOTE: Older versions of Greenshot did have security flaws, but those have been patched in recent updates which is another reason to download only from the Greenshot website.

WHAT GREENSHOT OFFERS

Although a light-weight screenshot software tool for Windows, it offers some grreat features:

• Create screenshots of a selected region, window or fullscreen
• Capture complete (scrolling) web pages from Internet Explorer
• Annotate, highlight or even make part of the screenshot unclear
• Export the screenshot: save to file, send to printer, copy to clipboard, attach to email, send to Office programs, upload to photo sites like Flickr or Picasa, etc.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

So many benefits make Greenshot an excellent tool. Try it today. I think you'll like it.

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COME TO THE BEACH PARTY

I need a vacation because I'm SO tired of all the construction here at my hacienda.

Just when I think we're getting close to the finish line, the weather throws a meteorological monkey wrench at is and construction stalls again.

If I can't take a vacation, then at least I can go to a Beach Party in the comfort of my home.

You can come too because I bet you could use an easy and cool getaway too!

BEACH READS AND SUMMER LOVE

Is there anything more fun than a good book on vacation? I think not. If that book is a romance novel, then you're guaranteed to have a good time. So here are the details:

WHAT: Facebook Beach Party

WHO: Hosted by the Romance Gems Authors

WHERE: Romance Gems...Where Authors and Readers Meet

WHEN: Tomorrow, July 14, 2026, starting at 9AM EST and running to 8PM EST

WHY: Because we all need a break and some fun!

HOW TO ATTEND: Go to Romance Gems...Where Authors and Readers Meet and click to join, answer the Participation Questions, agree to the rules, and someone will review your answers and give you admittance if all is in order.

WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO THE PARTY: You can chat with the Authors "live," take part in the Giveaways, and shop the 99¢ Sale Book Fair.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Don't risk FOMO. Come to the party!

Romance Gems...Where Authors and Readers Meet

Monday Magic - Free Media Player

Media players seem to be a dime a dozen on the internet. Maybe that's because what 1 user loves, another hates.

Here's another one for your consideration that plays video files and also audio files for your favorite music and podcasts.

VLC Media Player is an open source media player that's simple, fast, and powerful. 

More importantly it plays everything but Blu-ray movies. If you're looking for something that will play videos, audio files, Webcams, Devices and Streams, this may be it.

VLC Media Player plays most codecs with no codec packs needed: MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, MKV, WebM, WMV, MP3, and it runs on all platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Unix, iOS, and Android. You can also customize the look of it if that's important to you.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This open source media player is completely free and contains no spyware, ads, or user tracking. Give it a try. If you love it, come back and leave a comment about it.

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Monday Magic - Rewire Your Brain

Today's Monday Magic Tip is a little different. Instead of telling you about an app that may make your work life easier, I'm going to tell you about a YouTube video that may do the same.

I'm always urging SlingWords readers to keep a journal, to write your goals, to write an action items list, etc. even though I know many of you never put pen to paper in this digital world.

You make lists on your smartphone or a web app.

Guess what? There's sound science behind writing with pen and paper. Watch this video on The Upgrade with Makai Allbert channel which has over 42K subscribers. 

His video Handwriting Literally Rewires Your Brain has well over 2K comments, but what I like is the explanation of the science behind the premise. If you don't believe me, try it for a couple of weeks. I think you'll be shocked at how much you remember when making notes with handwriting and how much clearer your thinking is.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is one of many videos I've seen and articles I've read about the effects of digital reading and/or learning and retention of what was learned. The truth is startling.

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Monday Magic - Free Meal Planning App

I, like most of you, lead a very busy life. I work all day at writing, marketing, graphic design, and publishing—yes, it takes all of that to be a successful author in today's world.

I try to plan meals a week in advance, but sometimes I just can't get that done. I really hate it when six o'clcok in the evening rolls around, and I'm scrambling for something to prepare for dinner.

With that thought in mind, I checked out meal planning apps and found one that I think might work for most people.

EAT THIS MUCH

This website app is more than just a meal planner. Eat This Much creates personalized meal plans based on your food preferences, budget, and schedule. It can help you reach dietary and nutritional goals with their calorie calculator, weekly meal plans, grocery lists and more.

You can use it to create 3 meals a day based on the amount of  calories you want to consume—carbs, fat, etc. The FREE Forever level allows you to generate daily meals plans, track what you eat, add foods from barcodes, and create custom foods and recipes. 

You can click Generate, copy the meal plan, click ti again to get another meal plan, etc. until you have 7 days of meal plans.

There is also a Premium level for $5.00 a month if you want to unlock extra options, and a Professional level with a price that varies.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Solving the "what's for dinner" problem is huge and that's a big relief for me.

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Monday Magic - Landscape Design App

Spring is coming, and I'm excited that gardening season is here again.

Every spring I make plans to finish landscaping the front and back yards, but I never quite get it done the way I like it.

Darling Hubby gets frustrated because I'm always changing the plan so this year, I thought I'd do something different.

I searched online and found a few free landscape design apps. I thought I'd post about them so you can try them along with me.

First up is Neighborbrite, an AI powered landscape design app that is always free to use unless you decide to upgrade to the pro version for more control and custumization for plant types, placements, and some other features. 

HOW IT WORKS

Neighborbrite uses advanced AI technology to help you design. Upload a photo of the outdoor space  you want to design, choose a garden style, and get design ideas for your space.

That's it. There's nothing to download and install since it's an online site to use. You don't need any special tech skills or knowledge because it's designed to be user-friendly and intuitive.

To learn more before you try, check out their FAQ page.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm photographing my yard front and back. I'm excited to try this, and I hope it's as easy as it sounds. I'll let you know next Monday when I post another free app blog. Let me know if you also try Neighborbrite.

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Monday Magic - Free Alternative to MS Office Suite

One of my projects this year is to move from a Windows platform to Linux. Actually, my Darling Hubby will be helping me with this.

We are part of the millions switching from expensive cloud-based subscription software and Windows operating systems to Linux and free open source software.

There are a few reasons for this: tired of the constant updates, the virus/worm threats, the  expense associated with all of that, and the time required to deal with it as well as re-learn software that worked perfectly well until it changed.

Like I said, the Linux operating system is free as is most of the software needed to replace the software I currently use.

That brings me to the free software today's post is about: LibreOffice.

I'm making changes in my Work Life

LibreOffice is an entire suite of applications that is open source. It's a viable and very popular alternative to Microsoft Office.

Writer is the word processing software—like MS Word. 

Calc—like Excel—is for spreadsheets. Impress—like PowerPoint—is their version of presentations. Draw is for vector graphics. Base is for databases, and Math is for math formula editing.

COMPATIBILITY

The files created in LibreOffice are compatible with Microsoft Office files, i.e. docx, .xlsx, .pptx, and OpenDocument formats, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

It's backed by The Document Foundation which provides a powerful, private, subscription-free experience for millions worldwide. 

Included in LibreOffice are all the essential tools for productivity. You can open, edit, and save in Microsoft Office formats which makes it easy to collaborate with users of other suites. Some complex documents might need minor adjustments so be aware of that.

There is no cost and no subscriptions to be paid. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with unofficial support for other systems. You can also use it to work offline, giving you privacy and control over your files, unlike cloud-based alternatives.

Even better, there are a gazillion YouTube videos discussing how to make the switch from Windows to Linus as well as videos about all of the software to replace software you currently pay for—like LibreOffice.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm testing LibreOffice since I can use it on my Windows computers and haven't come across any problems with it. I definitely think it's worth trying, and the price—FREE—can't be beat.

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Monday Magic - Show Me the Money

Today is the first Monday of the New Year, and I have a website to tell you about that may enrich you—if you find your name on one of the lists at MissingMoney.

MissingMoney is the official Unclaimed Property website of the National Association of State Treasurers.

The website is provided by the US State Governments and several Canadian Provinces in partnership with the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA).

The NAUPA is the leading, trusted authority in unclaimed property.

If there's any chance you, or a relative, had a bank account or owned property that was never claimed, you should visit the website.

Enter the appropriate names or business names in all the data bases listed on the website. The instructions on how to conduct a search and what to do if you find unclaimed funds or property are on the home page.

New properties are added daily so you can search immediately and check back whenever you wish. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

You may have a windfall waiting for you. Happy hunting. 

99¢ New Year Sale

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Monday Magic - Shopping Reward Apps

It's Monday. Let's make something happen.

Frankly, I should have shared these apps before December, but, better late than never, I guess.

One of my daughters and one of my granddaughters are in contention for Reward Points Queen. They both actually earn quite a bit of cash and products because of their merchant reward apps.

Most of us know about getting digital credits for taking a slight delay on Amazon deliveries, but there are so many more rewards that can be claimed.

PAYPAL HONEY

If you use PayPal, you need to sign up for PayPal  Honey. It will help you find cash back offers and coupon codes while you browse online. You can add this shopping extension to your browser. It will automatically search for any rewards or discounts and present them when you check out with PayPal.

Click to find out more about PayPal Honey.

SLICKDEALS

If you don't use PayPal, you might be interested in SlickDeals, a community-driven platform where users find, post, and vote on discounts, coupons, and freebies from across the web, with top deals promoted to the "Frontpage" by community votes and expert verification.

The site earns money through affiliate links, getting a commission when users purchase through links posted on the platform, and also features sponsored content. Users benefit from crowdsourced validation, forums, deal alerts, and browser extensions that help them find great savings. 

Click to find out more about SlickDeals.

IBOTTA

Ibotta has been around a long time. I can't remember how many years ago I put the app on my phone. If you shop for anything, you should get the Ibotta app. Reward points equal cash.

I know someone who regularly gets $50. a month because she's in the Ibotta habit. It's second nature after a while. It's easy  like 1, 2, 3.

1 - Add offers. Add your cash back offers to Your list by tapping (+). You can see your Ibotta offer list in the app before you head to the store.

2 - Submit your receipt. After shopping for your items in-store, head to the retailer page in the app and tap Submit receipt to earn your cash back.

3 - Withdraw earnings. Link a bank account or choose a gift card to withdraw earnings when you reach $20. 

Click to learn more about Ibotta.

FETCH REWARDS

FetchRewards works like Ibotta. You take photos of any shopping receipt (or link accounts for e-receipts) to earn points, which you redeem for free gift cards to your favorite stores.

You get bonus points for buying specific partner brands or completing offers; it's a simple, free app turning everyday spending into rewards without needing specific coupons. 

Click to learn more about FetchRewards.

Of the apps I've listed, I've only used Ibotta, but I'm going to try PayPal Honey since I do most of my shopping online. Maybe 1 or more of these would work for you. Just be sure to read the information about eacy including Terms of Service so you can make an informed decision.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're not taking advantage of these opportunities, maybe you should start.

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Top 10 Funny Christmas Songs

Christmas music is fabulous, isn't it? From Christmas carols to Christmas rock songs and pop songs, there's something for everyone.

Most of the popular Christmas music that's played tugs at the emotions. A lot of it moves us to tears because of those emotions.

That's okay, but for many, the emotions that rise to the surface swamp listeners with feelings of sadness. The holidays can be a mine field for many. 

Listening to songs about longing to be home, lost love, and longing can lead to a serious case of holiday blues. We know those songs: I'll Be Home for Christmas, Please Come Home for Christmas, If We Make It Through December, etc. If those make you feel sad, then try this list...

10 BEST FUNNY CHRISTMAS SONGS

1. Christmas Don't Be Late aka The Chipmunk Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks. This novelty song hit big in 1958 and sold millions. 

It was #1 on Billboard, won three Grammys, and remains a perennial favorite. In today's world, it charts digitally as new generations discover it. It's one of the best-selling and most recognized holiday tunes ever. 

2. Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms, 1957, or Brenda Lee, 1964. Many artists have recorded this song, but Brenda Lee's version remains supreme. Since 2019, her version has charted every year on the Billboard Hot 100. 

3. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. In 2023, it reached #1 on the Billboard Top 100.

4.  A Holly Jolly Christmas aka Have a Holly Jolly Christmas was most famously performed by Burl Ives. The recording was used in the classic 1964 stop-motion animated TV special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, in which Ives also voiced the narrator, Sam the Snowman, who sang the popular tune. It's one of the top 25 most-performed holiday songs.  

5. Feliz Navidad was written and first recorded by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. The song is upbeat and has a great message. It taught the world how to say Merry Christmas in Spanish. I love the song.

6. Let It Snow was written by the famous duo of lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heatwave as they imagined cooler conditions. The version by Dean Martin remains popular today.    

7. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, a novelty song

 written by Randy Brooks was originally performed by Elmo Shropshire in 1979 under the brand of Elmo and Patsy,  his then-wife Patsy Trigg.

8. Santa Claus Is Back in Town was written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and first recorded by Elvis Presley for Elvis' Christmas Album, the best-selling Christmas/holiday album of all time in the United States. The song has become a rock and roll Christmas standard.

9. Baby, It's Cold Outside was written by Frank Loesser and his wife Lynn in 1940s as a playful flirtatious duet. Sadly, in today's world, the song has been banned because of complaints from radio listeners who decry the male singer as maliciously coercing the female.

I don't see it that way—perhaps because I write romantic comedy. I see the song as a flirtatious scene from a romcom set to music. The version recorded by Dean Martin made the song a pop hit. 

10. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released that same year by pop singer Andy Williams. His recording of the musical celebration of all the reasons Christmas is a wonderful time remains popular today.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is my Top 10 List. Most of these songs have been covered by numerous artists over the years, but the ones cited above remain at the top of the charts. All of these are guaranteed to make you smile. What's your Top 10 list?

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Monday Magic - Holiday Free Apps

Believe it or not, today's Monday Magic Free Apps are from Microsoft. 

Go to the download pages in the links and sign into your Microsoft account then download the apps.

Animated Snow Fall.  See the world painted white with the colors of snow. Chill your environment with snow falling on your screen. This snow app is designed with the animated view of the snow and soft background music. Use the background music pre-loaded in app for the perfect ambiance. 

Click to Download Animated Snow Fall from the Microsoft Store. (Be sure you're signed in.)

Holiday Watch helps you count down to Christmas. You can track the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds until Christmas. A festive snowfall image shows on your desktop.

This is great if you have young children who are constantly asking, "When will Christmas get here?" It's also great if you're tight on time and need to know exactly how much time you have left to fulfill all of your holiday requirements.

If you still need to do some Christmas shopping, it will display a  list of the hottest gadgets and toys of the season which means it has ads and offers in-app purchases.

Click to Download Holiday Watch from the Microsoft store. (Be sure you're signed in.) 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Avoid getting overwhelmed. Smile and be of good cheer!

(Try reading a funny Christmas romance like Nobody's Cinderella for an attitude adjustment.)

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Kindle Colorsoft - Special Deal

Did you know there was a Kindle that displays in color? I didn't so I was surprised to see one listed for today's Cyber Monday deals.

Kindle Colorsoft is amazing with its color display and warm adjustable light. Better yet, no ads!

Regularly priced at $249.99, it's on special today for $169.99. Check out the Colorsoft features:

Read in color – 7" display, high-contrast, easy on the eyes, paper-like color

Optimized for reading in color — "normal" Kindle display is optimized for black and white reading

Color your pages – Highlight favorite scenes in colors

Long battery charge – single charge via USB-C lasts up to 8 weeks

Read in any light – Adjust display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark

Waterproof – makes it worry free so you can read your Colorsoft by the pool, in the bath, and  anywhere in between.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I think this is one of the best bargains offered today. Let me know if you get one.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Have some reading fun this week!

Scoop up one of Joan's popular RomCom books for only 99¢

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Monday Magic - Free App - Audio Editing and Recording

Today I'm hoping you'll try Audacity, the world's most popular audio editing and recording app.

You may not believe this but Audacity is FREE. That's right. It costs absolutely zero dollars.

WHAT IS AUDACITY?

It's the world’s most popular free software for recording and editing audio. If you're producing music, a podcast, or just playing around with sound, you should try Audacity.

Why? Because it's for anyone who wants to get creative with sound. Of course, it’s perfect for anyone who needs to quickly edit or export audio, for any reason.

Audacity has always been and will always remain free for everyone. because it's open source. That means its source code remains open to anyone to view or modify, and there is a dedicated worldwide community of passionate audio lovers who have collaborated to make Audacity the treasure it is today.

Give it a try. Simply go to the Audacity website. Read the information there and download if you're ready.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

It's getting harder and harder to find excellent software that's free. Thankfully, Audacity remains to fill the audio needs of those who are budget conscious.

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Monday Magic - Free App to Check URLs

It's been a while since I found some free apps worth sharing.

Today, I'd like to tell you about VirusTotal, an app  free for end-users for non-commercial use. It offers a public website to analyze files and check URLs to see if they are legitimate.

I don't know about you, but I'm besieged with emails, DMs, texts, etc. that all seem genuine and containing URLs. I never click anything unless I can check it out and be assured that it's not dangerous.

VirusTotal also offers a premium paid version with advanced features, such as a Premium API that is restricted to paid customers.

"With the free public website, you can use the VirusTotal website to scan files, URLs, and other observables for malicious content without a cost." 

The website is easy to use. Here are 2 links to access the website checker. The first is for a PC with up to date browsers. Simply click here: AccessVirusTotal.

 The second link is for a PC running an old browser. Just click here:  Old Browser AccessVirusTotal.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Adopt the policy never to click anything no matter how genuine or innovent it may appear to be. Always check.

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Sunset Thoughts

Where did the day go? I'm frequently asking that question at the end of each busy day.

It's been a challenging summer, and I seem to be so behind that I'll never catch up.

What's that old expression? The faster I go, the behinder I get? There's a lot of truth in that.

 TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I wish you a marvelous week in which you do all that you wish to do and need to do.

Monday Magic - 3 YouTube HotKey Tricks

Happy Monday!

I have 3 YouTube HotKey Tricks to share with you today. These are easy peasy and speeds up your ability to navigate videos you watch.

If you watch information videos, chances are you pause the video quite often, rewind, and play numerous times.

Rather than clicking video navigation icons, try these easy keyboard hotkeys to navigate faster.

1. PAUSE AND RESUME VIDEO

 Tap the K key or the space bar and your video willl pause. Tap either again to resume.

2. REWIND

Tap the J key to rewind 10 seconds. Keep tapping if you need to rewind more. When you're ready to resume, tap the K key or the space bar to resume. 

3. JUMP FORWARD

10 seconds—tap the L key and the video jumps forward 10 seconds.

Beginning—tap the 0 key and the video jumps to the start.

% of video—tap a number on the number pad, and the video jumpes to a percentage of the video, i.e., 1 = 10%, 9 = 90%, etc.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

These are the most common hotkey tricks. I hope they'll help you navigate a video faster.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

OLD ENOUGH TO BE BOLD, NEW RELEASE SALE PRICE 99¢

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Monday Magic - 2 YouTube Tricks

I'm happy to give you 2 YouTube Tricks to help your navigate faster through videos you want to watch.

1. Watch Later

If you stumble upon a video you want to watch but don't have the time at that moment, quickly save the video to watch later.

On the video, tap the Menu, that's the 3 dots ... in lower right of the video. Select SAVE which opens a list of your playlists with Watch Later shown first. Check that box and it's there for you to watch when you have time.

2. Better Search Results

When you do a search on YouTube, you enter specific keywords for what you want to see. However, the results often aren't what you want. You can make the search results better by having YouTube show you results containing only the keywords you enter.

Enter your search string by typing allintitle + colon + space + keywords.

Example to search for these keywords, youtube tricks, and have results that are only those keywords, you'd type:

allintitle: youtube tricks

Yes, it's that easy.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope these 2 tricks help you use YouTube more effectively.

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