The ActiveRain Stuff You Won't Find Anywhere Else on the Web

Very helpful advice!  I always wondered how to do this.  I'm off to give it a try.  Thank you.

Thank you for such wonderful insite - I will work on it - it might take me a week but I will do!

Thanks Brad, this is an awesome tool with a ton of potential. GO BUCKEYES, BEAT USC........................please.......

 hi Brad, were you ever a teacher? Your tutorials are always so well put together. Clear, easy to follow/understand and well illustrated.

When does the guide to Active Rain book come out? Just kidding! Have a great weekend bud!

Brad ... your awesome!  I need a full time person to implement all the cool stuff I learn about everyday!  thanks ..

Brad,

I've grown to love Google Docs...I have yet to explore more than its bare bones features though! Thanks for the reminder...Fran

Wow.  This is high tech stuff.  Thank you for sharing, although I don't think I will ever have a post that will utilize this function, I will certainly keep in bookmarked just in case.

Brad: I just created one - had to remember what my log-in was, do a password reset and so on - I sign up for all this stuff and take forever fully utilize it. Now that I have one, I am sure I will find great ways to utilize it - after I finished my first video :-)

Brad, This is awesome!  I have been so busy working that I hadn't noticed this new feature.  I cannot wait to try it!  Thanks for bringing us up to speed:)

It's a Good Life!

Fran

Where is the gold star?  Sheesh...yall are slow...do I have to actually flag this thing?  Google docs are very cool  I just need some time to design a few... 

Thanks for the tip Brad! I've been using all the Google tools but mainly used Google Docs for document sharing. This is another great use so thanks again.

Brad,

I've been using Google docs for awhile now. It makes being able to access important info so easy from any computer, I love it.  I haven't used the collaborative feature yet, but look forward to giving it a try.

Brad, Thank you for the information, it is always good to learn something new. I will try it soon!

I really like google docs and I use the form feature for personal stuff and i am working to integrate it into professional use.

Great information.  I have never used Google Docs, but I plan to after reading this blog.

Thanks for the great info.

Vickie Slade

Real Estate of the Rockies

I have heard about Google doc but with out your explanation I most likely would not have looked at it thanks for your continued efforts.

Brad,

Thank you for the awesome information!  I am going to have to give it a try.

Ann

Brad, I don't know whether to be scared or excited - I have been playing around with google docs and not really aware just yet that I could do all that you said in your post which I am bookmarking.  It's as you and the AR Gods are sleeping with me and walking around with me while I think during the day.  I think it and then it magically appears in your blog - scary or exciting? - you be the judge. ~Anne Marie

Thanks a lot Brad. I am definitely going to give this a try sometime  next week. I have heard of Google docs but I didn't know much about it. Have a great one.

Brad: Enjoyed the Plain English version. Is that you? I have seen another video on another topic by the same person....very fun to watch. Simple and easy to understand.

That's really cool. I'll have to try it out. Thanks

Very cool, Brad. I know about Google Docs but have never done anything with it. We're gonna have to start calling you the GoogleMeister.

Jeff

Brad....your knowledge never ceases to amaze me! I can imagine the headache I'd have if I could spend 8 hours in the same room with you! Yikes!

Thanks AGAIN for yet another totally cool tool to help us along! (Go Social Media Students!)

Brad, thanks for sharing this! I see them but I have never used them. Your post has just changed my mind. I'm going to have to try this out. Thanks for the advice and tutorial. Enjoy your day. Regards, C.

Brad, there's so much Google offers as far as web based services. Thanks for this overview, and also the YouTube on Google Docs.

Brad, very cool. Its midnight and I will have to review this one.Great way to keep in contact.

Brad...

This is great information ... I've had trouble adding  scripts to my posts but this really simplifies things. Thanks!

I sure need to learn how to use Google docs. Thank you for a very clear instruction. Great tip!

Brad-Thank you for the wonderful info. I love AR and have quickly become addicted. There is so much info that it can be very overwhelming especially for a newbie. Your posts have been a great help. I admire all the great work you do on AR and also that your hero is God. That's really cool!

Brad, This is such a fantastic tool. Thank you for one more great tutorial.

Wow this is awesome.... Thank you for taking the time to post.

Pamela

Brad, I use to use Google Docs when it was called something else that I can't seem to remember right now, before Google bought it out. It was what I used when writing my blog articles but this is great...I never thought about using it for forms, spreadsheets etc. You're the best...now if you could just get rid of weblin for me I would simply adore you!

Brad, great tutorial on google forms. I didn't know all of this stuff, though. Love it!!!

whoah!  Very cool!

Brad, you are so amazing w/ the information you have.  I just need to catch up w/ you on technology.  I can get overwhelmed at times.  But I keep working on it! 

Brooke

I just dont get how you always have such insight. I mean seriously this is the stuff we all need to be on top of and it seems like every day I read another thing I need to have. Is there a way to go back over the past few years and read up on all that was laid out before I got here? I feel like I must have missed an awful lot.

As far as this actual post and enough of that...

I was looking for a solution like this. Some sort of email thing that I could interact with users on my new site. I was thinking some sort of system of autoresponders set up with different accounts for different pages IE learnaboutbuying@blahblah.com but then I realized that would be justl like you said.. too many different forms. Having a centralized area where site goers can input as well as receive is exactly what people want. You can get what you want and they get what they want its all about providing value. Seriously I spent like 5 hours today trying to solve this and I think this is the exact thing I needed.

Pretty interesting, Google Docs is very powerful and didn't realize I could use for the benefit of blogging.  I wonder how clever I can use the form for, I liked your suggestion form in your previous blog.

Thanks for sharing your fun new toy with us Brad, that looks pretty cool

Brad,

I didn't even realize this was an option.  Thank you so much for the recommendation.  I think this may be a tremendous asset.

Thanks,

Thanks for sharing such valuable information and keep on providing continous tips to help us all

THIS IS AWESOME!!!  I LOVE GOOGLE!!! I didn't even realize that you could do FORMS with Google Docs!

Thanks for the insight on this-- bookmarking and will come back and tackle it step by step. Thanks.

thanks for the step by step instructions -- will check it out -- I appreciate you taking the time to share

Love it!  Now would the process work the same way with a website, not just a blog site?  I've always had problems figuring out how to embed into my website.

OMG, another diversion while I am still digesting your DM to me the other day!  I know what I should do...

XXOO

Thank you Brad- you make learning things a pleasant and enjoyable experience.  You have a knack and gift for expaining things so well and making them seems so easy! 

thank you so much for your tutorials and step by step instructions.

Thanks for the detailed instructions.I will bookmark this and use it later.

That is amazing.  I was going crazy trying to figure out how to create a simple form in FrontPage for my website.  I know it's not that difficult but I just couldn't figure it out.

This seems to be very simple and easy.  Thanks for the tutorial.

Brad,

Fabulous----Now I just need the time to figure it all out.  Many thanks!

Thanks Brad. This is really good info to have, and now I understand the purpose and value of Google Docs.

One + One = Two! I've known and used GoogleDocs.... but never thought about using it for forms on website :O  Duh!  You rock, Brad... but I think you  know I think that :) 

And Plain English videos.... always a great way to explain - and comprehend :)

This is very cool Brad. I'll be placing all of my shortsale questionaires on these forms for emailing to potential sellers. 

Wooo Hooo!!  I am creating one right now to imbed in my blog that will give consumers a way to ask for specifics in regards to search for foreclosures.

THANKS BRAD!

Edit:   Brad, your instructions were right on the money!   It took just a few minutes and I created a custom foreclosure search on my blog.  I tested it, and it works beautifully!   Again, thank you SO much!

I started playing with this last week, I hadn't been in it for a long time. Lo and Behold there was a google doc from you in there from month and months and months ago. I can't even remember hos that happened.

I've used Google Docs quite a bit .... but I'd never looked at the Form builder tool. That's cool! Thanks.

Brad- thanks for the tips and I will try to implement this?

Brad: This is awesome. THANKS.

You are the man Brad! I can't begin to tell you what a difference this will make in my blogroll.

OK Brad, I'll do it.  But before I try that I have to confess:

I cannot figure out how to upload pictures to my blog.  Do they have to be put out there on the web somewhere first so I can linK to them? 

Help! Help!  I am sure you have written about this before, so I feel pretty silly and embarrassed even asking.

As if There weren't enough things on my " To Do " list.  Thanks Brad !

Great post!  Thanks for the information.  I'll check it out.

Brad, I've got to give it to you. That is way too sweet!!! I have been wondering how to make things more streamline in my life and I am sure that will help.

Thanks a bunch as always.

I learn something new every day.  Great way to gather contact info.  Thanks for sharing!

Wow! Again, you find and explain in detail even more tools and resources to build our presence and make it something that can actually give us some return on our effort here at ActiveRain! I am going to have to bookmark this one for later this week. I am heading for church and this afternoon will participate in our company wide open house so I truly appreciate your help and easy to follow instructions!

Hi Brad,  Thanks for the great information, I was looking for something just like this for our website. - Art

 

Brad - this is cool stuff! Thanks for making life easier for us.

I saved this post in my google favorites on my toolbar, but wanted to save it through SnagIt - I have Version 9 and clicked on the scrolling web page, but it will only capture what's showing on the screen, rather than all you wrote. Is there something in the ActiveRain code that thwarts the usual scrolling function in SnagIt?

One more great feature for me to bookmark.  I am sure my wife will find something to use this for!

Brad,

We've been playing with this all morning, AWESOME!  I am so eager to implement it,  Thanks!!!

Very nice tutorial Brad.  Another Bookmark for me!  Now that I can add links to my blogs - it's on to learning to use more tools. Thanks.

I love googl docs but havent played aroudn with it this much. Thank you so much for the very helpful tips and tricks, keep them coming. I am going to book mark your blog now so I dont forget to take a look at this.

Great stuff Brad! I love using all of the google tools! They just keep coming up with new "FREE" tools that are helpful. What a great find.

Brad -- this is fantastic, helpful info!  Although I have a gmail account and use Google daily, I hadn't ventured into the forms and docs area yet ... I imagined it would be too difficult to navigate.  But you've made it easy -- THANK YOU!!

Thanks, Brad! I must check this out!

I DID NOT KNOW THIS!!! Thank you so much for sharing Brad!

Love it! Now would the process work the same way with a website, not just a Blog site? I've always had problems figuring out how to embed into my website.

Liz - yes this will work on any website or Blog. For your website, unless you have a webmaster, the process is the same as listed in this post.  If you have a webmaster to do it, just provide them a link to this post and to the code for the form you create.  If you or they need help, just let me know.  :-)

Brad: Enjoyed the Plain English version. Is that you? I have seen another video on another topic by the same person....very fun to watch. Simple and easy to understand.

Michelle - the video is created and provided by CommonCraft, they do many videos on various topics and they always include "In Plain English" in the title.  Very easy to understand and extremely user friendly. :-)

Brad - As always, a plethora of info for your readers who appreciate it greatly!  I think we can get rid of our webmaster now & do stuff on our own.  KM

Hi Brad - I often use Google Docs or Blogjet to draft blog posts and to save "ideas" for the future.  Just a tip for future Google Docs users, it's best to add your pictures in the final document and not Google.  I don't know why images don't copy so well from Google Docs. The links look interesting to check out. Thanks

Brad,

How about adding docs such as floor plans or PDF files so if someone requests a doc..they can just pull it from my blog.

Brad - I already posted one form, but have a question: on Question Type, there is "multiple choice" and "checkboxes". Will either of these allow the reader to check multiple boxes? I couldn't find any instructions online that described what the various question types do.

Very cool! I just signed up for gmail and created my first form! Thanks Brad! You are awesome!

OK Brad, I'll do it. But before I try that I have to confess: I cannot figure out how to upload pictures to my blog. Do they have to be put out there on the web somewhere first so I can linK to them? Help! Help! I am sure you have written about this before, so I feel pretty silly and embarrassed even asking.

Debbie Solano - just click on the "tree" in your icon bar. That will open a dialogue box then click on the little "file box" next to the URL space and search your computer for where ever you keep your pictures. Make sure they are either JPEG's or GIF's. Browse and upload. When your picture uploads you will notice two tabs. The first is "general" type in your description and title. Then click on the "appearance" tab.  Set your size ... you may want to experiment with this.  Tell the program where you want the photo or image to be placed.  Right, left etc ...In the vertical and horizontal spaces,  I type in 5-10.  This gives you space between your words and your picture.  Play around with it. Just be careful about copyright infringement. Don't take other people's pictures!  Also make sure your "Pop-up Blocker" is disabled for this process.  Here's some images I created that might help...

Look for this icon on the tool bar of your post or comment to add photos, you can upload them from your computer or put the URL where they are located on-line.

Once you click on this box, just click "Browse", find your photo or image, then select "Upload" and that's it.  If you are using a photo you have on the web already, just enter the URL where it's located in the Box that says "Image URL".  Hope this helps.

There is also a "Getting Started" link that has numerous articles and posts you may want to review.  :-)

Thank you Brad for sharing this with us. I will open my gmail account today.

Brad - thanks for great information on google docs. This will create another call for action.

Brad -  This is great information.  I'm going to bookmark it for future reference...  :)

I can see where many of us in the industry could use this for generating leads or gathering information: Let me give it a shot, but those of you in these "fields" will come up with much better ways to use these created forms in a Blog post or on a website.

REALTORS® - Collect Information for Buyers, Sellers, Investors, and Relocation data for purchasing and selling home.

Lenders - gathering PreQual information to start the Loan process, or just to get personal data to run credit etc. (I know there are some using this process already)

Appraisers - Property information and details for appraisals, comps, etc.

Home Stagers - What kind of Budget do sellers have, Home details and information you need to setup appointments and consultations.

Title Companies - There are tons of ways a title company could use these forms, just ask any consumer. LOL~ Been there, done that!

Financial Planners - Collect information and important data to help those in need of Financial planning

Movers - Solicit information about Home items, valuables, moving details, dates, times, locations etc.

The point is, ANYONE could use these if they take the time to figure out what areas they may be needed.

I think you get the idea, but you know your industry better than I do, and how a tool like this might benefit your online business, marketing, and customers.

Brad, you so rock! thanks for the info. I'm printing it out now so it' will give me something else to do on a Sunday afternoon. Linda

Ok I made my first form for my site. Is there a way to set this up so you are emailed when someone responds? I dont see the option. Also did you notice the plugins? Wow!

Brad, this is great and I will give it a try some time. I love the lead generator idea and think it might work for me.

P.S. I notice my photo is not included on your montage of members...an oversight I'm sure. Should I send you a copy?

WOW thanks for that info!! You are awesome!

So tha'ts how you do it. Figures you'd be the first to recognize this. 

Btw: how do you make a group on ACtive Rain (future blog post for ya?) we think so.

In case someone was wondering how to receive email notifications I figured it out. Go to your spreadsheet that is created after you have a form in place. Then upper left corner where it says file then notification rules then set your preferences. It works great so far.

Brad-  You have done it once again! I was looking into other vendors to add forms to my site and when I saw your "Suggestion Box" email with the form and a google docs reference, I made a note to myself to look into it. And voila - Now I have a great post that lays out the process for me. Thanks as always!

Very very cool Brad. I had no idea it was so easy to do. Thanks for the great step-by-step...some of us need it spelled out very clearly:)

Oh Brad, I'm so glad I subscribe to your posts. I learn so much. Thanks for the Google Docs tutorial.

Brad, thank you so much!  This is extremely useful information that I'll be able to work into my sites and posts easily!!  Thank you, thank you!

Wow Brad -thanks for this great tip - I have lots of uses for this and it looks easy. As always - thanks for doing the hard work and giving us easy to implement instructions - you rock! Thanks for Mixpo help too - been running crazy :)

Hello! Thanks for the helpful information... I bookmarked this so I could come back to it. Cross your fingers: I will give it a go and and see if I can do this. I have always wanted to be able to do more and with your help it may be possible. Thanks again Brenda :)

VERY COOL! If I keep reading, I may not be able to claim that I'm not 'techie'. :-) GBU!

Thanks for the tutorial Brad!  I'm probably going to need that in the next few days.  I really appreciate the information.

Brad-I signed up for FeedBlitz and created a blog subscription. I copied the script but it's not showing up as a subscribe me button.  I could be doing something wrong. Do you or anyone else already have a tutorial on walking through the Feedblitz steps once someone signs up?

I am glad to see the gold star finally arrived!  Also, this is a really great tool that I will definitely have to look into more detail.

I want to try this sometime, it looks interesting.  Thanks for the instructions... and thanks to Claire for implementing it.

As much as I use Google for stuff, I should have though to look there when I made a "Contact Me" form just the other day!  I may just switch this for the other one--it looks better.  Thanks Brad.

Hey Brad - After your initial post about gdocs a few days ago, I started messing around with it. It's pretty cool but what I would really like to do is create and save my own templates with it. It would be so handy to have a template form that I could email for showing feedback on each listing. I hope that google will continue developing this and not drop the ball and move on to their next big idea. They seem to have a tendency of doing that and I think Chrome is their focus at the moment.

Brad:  Thanks for an excellent post (as always) and I have to get started putting some needed forms out on my BLOG now.  Again thanks for showing us how!

Brad,

Thanks for posting this great info on Google Docs! You are a wealth of information and are so helpful to us AR members!

Really Cool Brad!  I have a feeling I'll soon be buying my groceries from Google too.  They seem to have an iron in every fire.

Brad, you are the bomb but there is no way I can figure all this stuff out! Staying up till 2:00 a.m. is killing me! Oh, well, tomorrow is another day of blogging (and learning how to make it all look good.)

*Screaming!* Who the heck knew! This will save me tons of time - Google is a Beast, and you, Brad are the Beastmaster.

Wow, what helpful info!  Thanks for posting this and your many other helpful "how to's" 

This is very helpful Brad, but I think it would be easier if you would just do this for me when I need a form.  Ok?

Pat - I'd be happy to, and I promise, every penny you pay me will go to feed starving children.......

 

.....my own!  lol~  :-)

Hi Brad,

I just created and posted a blog with a question in it!  Your instructions were so simple and the blog looks really cool.

Thanks!

Chastity - I answered. :-)  You did a great job adding that to your post, now imagine all the other ways you could use that as a propery manager... hmmm.  Hope your day is better tomorrow, the sushine in the day always starts with and in you!!

Interesting, thank you for sharing the forms. I'll have to check it out for sure.

This is great info--something I've been trying to learn about for nearly a year! Many thanks.

great job!!!!!!!!!!!! very informative.  Do you mind if I copy this and use it as a guide

Hazelhoff - I'm sure you'll find a great use for something like this, I can see where a builder could really benefit from forms like this.

 

Marian - a year is a long time to invest into something like this, I hope you get the rewards and all the fruits of your labor by implementing what you learned here.  Thanks for taking the time to comment. :-)

Janet - thank you, feel free to use this information as your guide, but please DO NOT copy it and repost it.  You can ReBlog it if you're wanting to share the information on your Blog. Thanks. :-)

Learning something new everyday. Thanks for the heads up.

I just embedded a form into my AR blog and it works great! In case it wasn't mentioned, you can go into the code to adjust the height and width of your form - the default size is only 314px wide but I increased it to 600 so it fills the page. For you Point 2 users this may be the solution to replacing their limited form options with your own custom form.

This is great.  Just so happens I was looking for a solution like this and checked my subscription to your blog.  Thanks again!

Jay - I think you and Monika will find these to be very useful in many different areas of your business. Enjoy!

Eric - yes, another great feature about these is that the HTML code is customizable when you embed it here on AR.  If you are familar with HTML coding, there is quite a few really great things you can do with these forms and their "presentation" factor.  I'm not a point 2 user, but for those who are, that sounds like a great idea.  I have heard about many limitations in their application.  Maybe these will be an answer or solution.  Thanks Eric.

Nishika - we have a saying around here about that..."Seek, and Ye Shall Find!"  lol~  And you did, thanks! :-)

Brad, Your information always astounds me. Your posts are very well organized and helpful. Often gives me the idea that I wish to use in the near future. Often I save. I know there are probably others I have missed that were equally good that I missed. This is probably an obvious answer, but where do I go to find the archived posts on the "How Tos" or do you have a book of them available? Thanks. PS Where is the spell check? Frightening.

Derenda - just click on my name below, I have more "Help & How-To" posts sorted and categorized there. 

There is a spell check is available, just click on the icon that looks like this hope that helps, and thanks for such a nice comment, I really do appreciate that. :-)

Great idea & great tutorial! I filled out your form of couple of days ago & was intrigued so I looked up your blog, and there it was....the sequal explanation. I think this has potential for the blogs we use for our outside blog as well. I'm going to try & do it.

Awesome tool!  Thanks for sharing!

Google just keeps coming up with more and more tools to help all size businesses! I haven't seen anything on Business Center Beta yet, any ideas?

Aloha Brad,

When I was building my website I had all the pieces but no explanation on how to actually give form to the forms, thanks now I think I got a handle on it. U da best!

Peace,

Kevin - I have not checked out Google's Business Center Beta just yet, been busy with their other elevendyhundred things!!  lol~  I will check it out and let you know my thoughts....probably in a later post along with comments and observations of their new "Google Chrome" browser.  Thanks.  :-)

Thank you so much for posting this info.  I have always stored documents under google but didn't know that you could create them as well !

I'm definitely giving this a try !

Thanks,

Kim

That's awesome, It's just what I was looking for. Do y ou know how I can create a button for "subscribe to my blog" when I write a blog?

Brad--Just read about this on a post by Kris Wales--Thanks Brad! Very helpful!

I just dont get how you always have such insight. I mean seriously this is the stuff we all need to be on top of and it seems like every day I read another thing I need to have. Is there a way to go back over the past few years and read up on all that was laid out before I got here? I feel like I must have missed an awful lot.

Eau Claire - you can go to my profile and catch up on all I have written, as for other members, just search the groups and topics for other areas you have an interest.  I have sorted everyting I have written by category on my profile, just for that purpose.  Have fun, and enjoy.  :-)

This is fantastic!  It sounds easy enough for me to do!  Thanks for your post!

Brad - this is cool stuff! Thanks for making life easier for us. I saved this post in my google favorites on my toolbar, but wanted to save it through SnagIt - I have Version 9 and clicked on the scrolling web page, but it will only capture what's showing on the screen, rather than all you wrote. Is there something in the ActiveRain code that thwarts the usual scrolling function in SnagIt?

Sharon - sorry for the late response.  I'm not familiar with anything on AR that would cause that.  Not sure what you mean by the scrolling function to be honest.  Let me know how I can help?  Thanks. :-)

Brad, this is great and I will give it a try some time. I love the lead generator idea and think it might work for me. P.S. I notice my photo is not included on your montage of members...an oversight I'm sure. Should I send you a copy?

Dane - oh it's there alright, but my darn Blog is covering up many of my favs, you see, they're all "behind the scenes!" lol~  Tell me you didn't spend 20 minutes looking for it on my background did you?  haha. 

ActiveBrad's about to have a facelift as soon as we get the AR customizer up and running again. :-))

Ok I made my first form for my site. Is there a way to set this up so you are emailed when someone responds? I dont see the option. Also did you notice the plugins? Wow!

Eau Claire - did you find it yet? There is an option to receive email notifications when forms are filled out and submitted. Let me know if you need help finding it.  I did see the plugins, powerful stuff eh?  :-)

Brad-I signed up for FeedBlitz and created a blog subscription. I copied the script but it's not showing up as a subscribe me button. I could be doing something wrong. Do you or anyone else already have a tutorial on walking through the Feedblitz steps once someone signs up?

Michele  -  I don't have a Feedblitz tutorial, they have some pretty detailed instructions on their site though. If you need me to help you with it, just let me know, it's not something I have time to write out in the comment section of this post.  Trying to stick to google docs and forms on this post...  lol~  :-)  You know where to find me, call anytime.  :-)

That's awesome, It's just what I was looking for. Do y ou know how I can create a button for "subscribe to my blog" when I write a blog?

Stephanie - there are some posts out there I have seen, I may have even done one, you can check on my AR profile, it would be there and sorted by category if you haven't figured out how to do it already. 

Happy to walk you through it if you need. :-)

Will check this out - I use Gmail and love it - plus their calendar with my team!  Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much for the info.  This is great stuff.  I'm new here.  Can you tell me what it means to subscribe to a blog?  Also, these forms and the ability to create our own is great.  Thanks so much!

I tried to get the notifier to send an alert to my personal Email but so far I can only get it to go to my Gmail account.  Any thoughts?

AWSOME!! Thanks so much.  I learn so much from you and your tutorials.  Can't beat this!!

 

AWSOME!! Thanks so much.  I learn so much from you and your tutorials.  Can't beat this!!

 

Hi Brad, thanks for your tutorial on this cool feature.  The web form I use today on my website also captures the sender's IP address, which is occassionally a handy piece of info to have.  Does the Google Form capture the IP address as well?  -- John

Thanks so much for the info. This is great stuff. I'm new here. Can you tell me what it means to subscribe to a blog? Also, these forms and the ability to create our own is great. Thanks so much!

Mitzi - to subscribe to another member means you will see their photo and blog show up on the right side of your screen when you click on the link at the top that says "Blogs" and only those you subscribe to will show up on your Blogroll at the link.  If you subscribe like on mine, via email, you will be notified by email when that member puts up a new post. Let me know if you have any other questions ok? :-)

I tried to get the notifier to send an alert to my personal Email but so far I can only get it to go to my Gmail account. Any thoughts?

Eric - you can forward your gmail account to any server (email)  you want, and it's free. I use yahoo as an altrnate source.  Hotmail is another that works well for this sort of thing.  Hope that helps.  :-)

Hi Brad, thanks for your tutorial on this cool feature. The web form I use today on my website also captures the sender's IP address, which is occassionally a handy piece of info to have. Does the Google Form capture the IP address as well? -- John

John - great question, not sure if it does or not?  Check it out an let me know what you find out after you do?  Thanks, it may be a couple days before I can get over there to see.  :-)

Brad- I added the Google Docs widget to my iGoogle home page; makes it hard to miss an inquiry.  I may also try labeling those form submission notifications e-mails and have them forwarded to my main Email.

Brad, this is a great post. I never new you could create forms in Google. I guess you learn something every day. I was just looking into some software for this very thing today. I appears I may not have to buy it after all. I'm definitely checking this out!

Eric - sounds like a plan, I like gmail because you can forward it unlike yahoo mail unless it's a paid acct.

Wayne - if this post saves you a couple bucks...right on.  Hope this worlks ok for ya.  :-)

Already using it and lovin it.

So much you do with it.

It's truely amazing!

Still trying to absorb all that can be done with it.

Wayne - just let your imagination run wild my friend, there are soooo many ways you can use this.  It's amazing!  Thanks.  :-)

Will this work with a Wordpress Blog?

Thanks!

Foster - it should, but wordpress does have some limitations and restrictions. You'll have to try it out and see.  Just add the code to the HTML section on Wordpress and see if it works for you. I know it works on Blogger Blogs. :-)

Just checked it out, I did a test form. I have used EmailMeForm-com in the past; it is also a free service for the first 5 forms. The Google docs Form was so easy to do. I've had a gmail account for about a 1yr but not till the last few months I started to explore its other applications. It's great discovering all these features in ActiveRain and Google.

You're great. Thank you for the tutoring. I often use the information, or bookmark it for the future - and thought today - on Canada's Thanksgiving - what a perfect reminder - to give Thanks.

 

Eva - glad that worked out for you.  I like Google Docs better than EmailMeForm and not for just the reasons you mentioned, It just has more features and options and will continue to grow and evolve...

...heck, it's Google!  LOL~  :-)

Sharon - thank you, and Happy ThanksGiving to you and yours Canadian Style!  :-))

Very cool. Is there a way to be notified in my email account (not gmail) when a doc receives a response or do I just have to continually monitor it?

June - you can setup an email notification to go to any email account you choose.  It's in the upper right hand corner of the Google Docs page.  Hope that helps.  :-)

Another post full of great advice and helpful information!  Thanks for the detail....

Brad - You've done it again!  Thank you for the great tips.  You make it so easy for us less technical by giving us screen shots that walk us all the way through doing something.  I appreciate the time you take to share your wisdom!!

This is very interesting and good to know.  Thanks for the Google tip.

Debbie

Man, Brad, you sure have some great resources for us Newbies! Thanks for being so creative and resourceful. You are raising the bar in my world.  - Tana

Brad- I'm at my wits end...can you help?!  I created a form and copied the embed code, pasted it to my blog and it just says "loading..."  Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong.  The blog is in draft form, is that a problem.

I can't find the answer in the Google Help forum

Just saw your "Wild Turkey" Post, maybe that's the real problem.

Matt - we are having some technical issues from upgrades over the weekend. We are aware of many of these issues and trying to get them corrected. Just hang tight, then try again a bit later.  Sorry, and thanks. :-)

Very helpful information.  Thanks for posting your article.  It will help me move forward and improve my newsletter.

Jon - It's a great tool to use in many different ways, a newsletter is one I hadn't thought of. Thanks.  :-)

Steven - there may just be a glitch in the network, I have forwarded your comment to tech support to see if they can get it corrected. Thanks for bringing tat to my attention.  Now get off the computer and go have yourself a great Thanksgiving Day!  :-))

Great post Steven.  I learn something new every day.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Greg - everyday you're on here, you'll learn something new.  Just FYI...I'll teach you one more new thing too, I'm Brad, not Steven, Steven left the last comment before yours. LOL~  See, you learned something new once again, and it's another day!  (Big Smile)  :-))

Steven - Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving! :-))  Have a great weekend. 

hey Brad, Im always very impressed with the tools and depth of your knowledge of the little things we can do to our websites and blogs to improve them and provide more value to our followers. I am going to take a look at implementing this onto my posts.

Morgan - thanks for your comment, I am always looking for new and improved ways to enhance and bring value to our members Blogs.  Your gratitude is very much appreciated.  Thank you.  :-)

very helpful!

WOW! I am having sooo nmuch fun, so many great information!

Woohoo!  I was just thinking that this is something I wanted to do and Active Rain shows me how.  Yay. Thanks Brad

OMG, I seem to be going to spend the whole day reading your posts, Brad! I use Google docs with my podcast crew all the time and I NEVER realized I could do web forms there. DUH!

Thanks!

 

 

Hi Brad,
Google Docs is very cool. Google drive is an excellent storage service.
For example, you can use Google Docs as a backup destination to backup all your data from other cloud services. For example, if you use Evernote and Dropbox, it might good to backup all notes and documents to Google Drive.
So please check out cloudHQ (http://cloudHQ.net) - cloudHQ can backup and sync all your files from Dropbox, Evernote, SugarSync, Box, etc. to Google Docs - even Basecamp projects.

 

Hey brad, You just had this blog show up on AR today. I am going to try the Google Docs to creat forms. Are they better than say WUFOO?

Helen and Larry - I use Google Docs (Now Google Drive) more frequently than WUFOO so I'm a little partial and haven't really compared the two.  I'd say try them both and see which meets your needs best.  I'm a true blue Google fan and since all their products seemlessly connect and provide the tools and services I use and need, I'd say go with Google.  But that's just my opinion.  :-)

Hey Brad!   How are you?  I haven't heard from you in a very long time.. Hope all is perfect!  

It was Andrea Sweitzer who did a blog post on this topic, and brought us to your post.   Her post got featured, so you will see others perhaps reading a commenting....

Ciao and stay safe and happy!

Hey Dagny, great to hear from you. I've been here and there and a little bit of everywhere!  lol~  Andrea ROCKS for sure, I'll have to thank her for the Blog Post LOVE!  Keep in touch OK?  You always know where to find me...  :)

Just ran into this post. very helpful...even if I am years late in finding it. Thanks, Brad.

Thanks Gary - It's NEVER TOO Late!!  :-)

I wish I had seen this 4 years ago.  Great post and tool.

Thanks for sharing, unfortunately, I'm not seeing your screen shots on my computer. I'll have to get my granddaughter to help me figure it out. 

Hi Kimo, even though this was written years ago it still works and I do see the screenshots I just don’t see the video.

Google docs are easy to embed on websites and into blog posts etc. let me know if you need any help?