People spend less time at home and more time outside; without a computer, using their phones as their main device.
One of the best parts of the internet is free or cheap access to education. You can learn anything you want online. Khan Academy is a hub for the ambitious.
Unfortunately, many educational websites and online courses aren’t optimized for phones and tend to be a burden without the proper device to access them.
We spend more time with our phones and more time away from home. Chances are, you have less time to sit at your desk at home, uninterrupted. This means less time for deep work.
Even though working uninterrupted at your desk is the best form of learning, your phone is a useful tool for growth if you prioritize using educational apps over entertaining ones.
Don’t download Angrybirds, Clash of Clans, Tinder or Hinge. Instead, download educational apps you can access whenever you have a lull.
You can listen to audiobooks or podcasts while your driving, standing in line, or waiting for, well, anything.
We’ll even give you two audiobooks for free from audible. If you take the trial, you support us even if you decide audiobooks aren’t for you. Your support means so much to us.
There are educational apps that teach you new skills interactively; not just audio content. Duolingo and Khan Academy are two apps you can learn a new language from, mathematics, or even web design.
One of our favorite apps to use to learn business skills is Google Primer; a little-known app from Google that is free for everyone and doesn’t get the amount of attention it deserves.
Google primer
Google Primer is an educational app teaching essential business skills.
Google Primer is free, without in-app purchases, and does not contain any advertisements or in-app purchases which is rare for most applications.
It’s not clear if they monetize, but some lessons are sponsored by companies; although it comes across unobtrusive and you won’t see any branding except for the first lesson card.
What is Google Primer?
Google Primer contains bite-sized lessons presented in an interactive, flash-card format. Each lesson has plain-white index cards you swipe to proceed or go back in your lesson.
Occasionally, there will be an interactive section that, usually involves inputting information to help understand your situation related to the lesson. An example of this might be a questionnaire about shipping logistics that helps you understand what steps you need to take to iron out your supply chain.
There are multiple categories to explore with many lessons in each.
Google Primer Course Sections
- Business planning
- Selling
- Business management
- Startups
- Brand Building
- Customer Engagement
- Website
- User Experience
- Email Marketing
- Social Media
- Digital Marketing
- Digital Marketing 2
- Content Marketing
- Analytics
- Business Insights
- Mobile Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Agency Marketing
Each section has interactive lessons that fall under the subject. The lessons are small and can be completed in a few minutes. They aren’t full-fledged courses and they aren’t meant to be.
Google Primer lessons are for waiting time. Waiting time, meaning when you’re waiting in the checkout line, in an Uber, or other circumstances that prevent you from doing meaningful work.
Some of the courses are sponsored by companies. It doesn’t take away from the value and it isn’t distracting either. We assume it’s a way to get a little revenue from the app.
Google Primer Course Examples
Business Planning:
- Accounting 101: How to Track Your Business Finances All Year Long
by Intuit - Find a Business Idea That’s Right for You
by Primer Team - Choosing the Right Business Partner
by Primer Team - Put It in Writing: Creating Your Business Plan
by Primer Team
Startup:
- Find Your Customers with Customer Lifetime Value
by Primer Team - How Crowdfunding Success Begins with an Email
by Josh McClain and Rachel Allen, Indiegogo - Innovative Crowdfunding: Raise More Than Money
by Primer Team - Build Your Business Fast with Growth Hacking
by Ryan Holiday, Author and Strategist
How to use Google Primer
Google Primer is a good tool for learning when you don’t have access to your laptop. You won’t get an MBA level education using Google Primer, but it’s nice to learn some basics about Digital Marketing, User Experience, and other subjects when you have a few minutes.
Use Google Primer when you’re in the bathroom, waiting in line, or while shopping for groceries. You can save lesson sections that resonate with you then transfer the notes to Evernote–your second mind–later.
Google Primer is another app in your arsenal for constant improvement, chasing the sunset to mastery.
Read these before you go:
