In this day and age, chances are pretty good you are already using some of Google’s most popular Web tools on a daily basis. Maybe you’re using Gmail to access all of your email accounts in one place, or Google Video Chat to connect with your kids while on the road for business. And yet there are several lesser known Google Web tools that are worth learning more about if you’re looking for new ways to simplify life’s information overload.

Ask any busy parent how they stay on top of their kids’ sports schedules, school holidays, and scouts meetings (along with their own business travel) and you’re likely to hear a mention of Google Calendar. Accessible from any personal computer or mobile
device, Google Calendar tracks multiple users’ information and important dates using different color schemes. What’s new? Google is currently Beta-testing read-only access to your calendars when there’s no Internet connection.

Google Docs is not just for sharing rosters and membership lists. Busy families are using Docs to track household spending and make financial planning decisions. You can even share your budget with your personal financial planner or tax adviser. Preloaded financial templates make it easy to get started. Click “new” and then “from template” to view all the preloaded template options. You can also use Docs to help your older kids with their homework. And they can use Docs to collaborate with peers or classmates on team projects.

Google Sites is a free
tool that lets you build collaborative websites in a snap. Use it for the PTA, your little league team, or neighborhood association. You can make the
site public or private and give anyone
on your team permission to edit, or just to view. Sites makes it a snap to embed the latest news
updates, contact lists, videos, photos, group calendars, and more. And because
you can let others edit, it takes a lot of the administrative burden
off of you. Delegate a photo master, a blogger, a meeting notes secretary, and a scheduler to keep it all up to date.

Do you use any Google Tools? Which one’s your favorite and what do you use it for?