One Useful Thing: Smallpdf 📄
Edit, convert and sign PDFs for free.
One Useful Thing is a weekly newsletter of well-designed and helpful things.
There are many online PDF editors out there. For my needs, Smallpdf is the best designed and easiest to use of the bunch.
Smallpdf organizes popular PDF editing tasks into a simple grid that makes it easier to navigate than other online PDF editors. No hidden menus or confusing icons. No need to login. Click what you want to do and get to work.
You can choose from nineteen common editing tasks. Convert your PDF to Word, PowerPoint and Excel (or vice versa). Delete one or more pages. Or eSign a document. Smallpdf covers the most common edits and then some.
Here I’ve selected ‘Edit PDF’.
After uploading the PDF I want to edit I click ‘DRAW’ to highlight a sentence.
Smallpdf lets me select the color and thickness of the line. I draw the highlight and hit ‘DONE’.
Smallpdf takes me back to the ‘EDIT’ menu to continue with other options, if I want.
I select “Finish” and download my PDF. It’s that easy.
You can do most PDF editing tasks with the software that comes with your desktop or laptop computer. But if you’re like me, you’ll spend more time Googling how to do it than the task actually takes.
Smallpdf’s easy learning curve lets you do whatever you need to do, no Googling required.
You can edit up to three PDFs each month for free. More than enough for most people.
The pro version of Smallpdf is $12 US a month for unlimited PDFs and advanced features.
Keith Monaghan writes the One Useful Thing newsletter and is a researcher who works with creative teams on projects for companies like Nike, The CW Network and Upworthy. Just reply to this email to get in touch or follow him on Twitter @keithmonaghan
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