For an app launched in 2016, Notion has truly become one of the most popular productivity platforms in the online space. Maybe it’s because of its adaptability and customization options, or maybe it’s because of the Notion aesthetic (I’m lying; it’s so much more than an ‘aesthetic’), but more and more business owners are welcoming Notion into their toolkit every day.
But is it truly worth the hype? Is it the best option for your client portal or for planning your social media content? Should you really sell digital products hosted in the Notion app? (I have a quick answer for this; you can read it here.)
I’m sharing all my thoughts (and probably more) in this quick Notion Review — so let’s get started!
Notion: A Digital Workspace
Notion is, at its core, a productivity app. It’s a space (an AI-powered workspace, according to their homepage) where you can think, write, and plan. You can create databases, bulleted lists, pages, galleries, and more in a way that works for you.
Where you create in Notion (aka where you start compiling your pages; I would compare this to your Folder in Google Drive) is called a workspace. You can have multiple workspaces in your account and multiple pages within your workspace.
Pages function similarly to Google Docs. They can be used as a page to house your notes and drafts or to drop your thoughts, and you can add elements like images and tables to further organize information. But you can also add blocks (this is where Notion gives a unique twist to their note-taking).
These blocks can literally do anything (well, almost anything). You can embed videos, create columns, insert databases, display math equations, insert code, and add buttons for automation. The list goes on and on.
Plus, Notion integrates with popular apps to make life easier (and you can build your own integrations with their API), such as Google Drive, YouTube, Slack, Asana, and Monday.com.
Who is Notion for?
If you ever have a free minute and want to brush up on your history (specifically the history of Notion), I highly recommend reading their hero origin story. To sum it up, Notion was created to help business owners or workers stop using so many apps and opening so many tabs.
Presently, they have three main target audiences: Enterprises, small businesses, and individuals.
Technically, you could run your whole business out of Notion — but it’s also just as suitable for taking class notes and managing a semester of college.
It’s truly for anyone who feels comfortable using the platform.
What I Love About Notion (And What I Don’t)
I’ve used Notion in a few different ways — client portal, digital products, launch planning — and while I’ll say it does have a huge amount of potential, it can be a pain to work with, depending on what you’re using it for.
For example, it’s ideal for digital products and personal planning. I’ve absolutely loved the ability to add blocks as I need for different elements or checklists. It’s easy to template your creation and sell it like I did for my Digital Seller’s Copy Kit.
But if you overcomplicate your workspace, it can quickly become a pain for clients or even buyers to work with. Because the platform offers so many cool features, it’s easy to get distracted and turn your super user-friendly platform into a minefield.
Since it’s a new-ish platform (at least for the uses mentioned above), you may have to do a little extra work to provide walkthroughs or guides on how to properly navigate your product/space if you’re welcoming others into it — although an argument could be made that you should be doing this anyway for a better consumer experience.
My Honest Thoughts on Notion
TL;DR I recommend the platform, but it shouldn’t replace everything you already have without making sure it’s the best fit. I love a good trend, but when it comes to your business, you can’t risk your client experience (your bread and butter) without a bit of testing to make sure it’s a good fit.
Try it free and start with something small before you overhaul your systems. Try creating a digital product or two on the platform — you could even consider hosting a private podcast in your workspace (I’ve seen it done before).
