5 Expert Tips for Excelling with NotebookLM
Looking to get the most out of NotebookLM? These five expert tips will help you use it better and improve your productivity.
Image by Author | CanvaNotebookLM is a tool designed to help you organize and manage your notes, allowing you to upload documents, links, and videos. It also enables you to ask questions, receive summaries, and even listen to your notes, making it an excellent choice for students, researchers, and busy professionals. To achieve the best results, it's important to use the tool effectively. In this article, we’ll share five tips to help you maximize your use of NotebookLM.
1. Organize Your Notebooks
NotebookLM helps you create separate notebooks for different projects. You can add up to 50 sources in each notebook. This makes it easy to find and access your notes when needed.
To start, click “Create New Notebook.” Name it based on your project. Then click "Add" to upload your files or links. Create separate notebooks for each project.
2. Add Different Sources
NotebookLM does not only use text. You can add Google Docs, web links, and videos. These sources help the AI understand your topic more fully, leading to better answers and more detailed insights.
To add a source, click “+” or “Add Source.” Paste the link to a website or a video. To add a Google Doc, choose it from your drive. If your video has a transcript, NotebookLM can use that as well.
3. Ask for different formats
Sometimes, it's helpful to get information in different formats. NotebookLM lets you change your notes into various styles, making it easier to access quick, organized information.
After adding your sources, click on the content. You can request a summary or bullet points, or even ask for study guides or FAQs. This helps you quickly understand important points and customize it to fit your needs.
4. Turn Notes into Audios
NotebookLM has an audio feature that lets you turn your notes into audio. This is helpful if you prefer listening instead of reading. It makes reviewing your notes more flexible and convenient. Additionally, NotebookLM’s Audio Overviews are now available in over 50 languages.
After creating a summary, click the “Audio” button, select “Convert to Audio,” and choose your preferred language. Now you will be able to play your notes anytime.
5. Share Your Research and Collaborate
NotebookLM makes collaboration easy, making it ideal for group projects or joint research. You and your team can work on the same notebook and share ideas in real time.
To share, open your notebook and click “Share.” Add the emails of your team. Choose if they can only view or also edit. People can leave comments and add notes.
Conclusion
NotebookLM is a valuable tool for managing your work, helping you keep your notebooks neat and organized. By adding different types of sources, you can achieve better results. Use summaries and audio to save time, and share with others to collaborate as a team. Try these tips to stay organized and work more efficiently. Let NotebookLM help you do more with less effort.
Jayita Gulati is a machine learning enthusiast and technical writer driven by her passion for building machine learning models. She holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Liverpool.