Trello is a great way to organize your workflow with the use of boards and cards. Unlike the paper cards and an actual board, this digital version offers more than just colorful backgrounds. The features incorporated in the software are designed to streamline the entire process and increase productivity. If you’re new to using Trello then you must check out the list of best Trello tips and tricks for beginners. Let’s begin.
Trello Tips and Tricks
1. Add a Card to List
While the button to add a new card exists at the bottom of every list and moving it around is really simple, you can create a card anywhere on the list by double-clicking the space between two cards. It works on any desktop app and even in the web-browser.
There’s another way to add a card to the Trello list. Simply hover over a card and press n on the keyboard and Trello would create a new card below the mouse pointer. Neat.
2. Create a List in between
Similar to creating a card in the middle of the list, you can create new lists in the middle of existing lists. Simply double-click in the space between two lists and name the list. It’s really that easy.
3. View Just your Cards
When you have multiple people on a board, things can quickly get messy. If you’re in a hurry and just wish to explore your cards, you can do that by simply, pressing Q on the keyboard. This would hide all the cards from the list and only show cards that you’re a member of or the cards that have been assigned to you.
4. Create Templates
If you follow a particular pattern when creating cards for your board, using a Template is an efficient way. You can define the labels, assign members, create checklists, and even put a cover picture. Whatever items you enter in a template, would appear in the card that you create from this template. It’s a really useful feature that I use all the time.
To create a template, click the template button on the bottom right of any list, and give it a name.
Now, fill out all the details you want in the template and exit the card.
5. Put Stickers on Cards
Identifying which cards are done/completed can be daunting on a huge list and using large stickers can help with this problem. Trello supports both image-based and animated stickers that you can attach on a card that would visually notify you that the task has been done.
To put a Sticker, click the Show Menu button on the top right corner of the board and select Stickers. Choose from the existing list of search GIPHY databases to find the perfect sticker for your Card.
6. Personalize the Board’s Background
You look at the Trello Board all day, every day and instead of looking at a whiteboard, you can personalize the board with custom images and colors. Trello offers images sourced from Unsplash as backgrounds for your boards that would certainly keep the board looking fresh. Simply click the Show Menu button on the top right corner.
Click the Change Background button on the Menu list that appears.
Choose from the list of available items or search the Unsplash directory to find the perfect wallpaper for the background. Click the image to set it as wallpaper and you’re done.
7. Add Cover Images to Cards
Give your cards a little personality with a cover image. Similar to Boards, you can put images on each card as a cover image. You can search the Unsplash database or upload your own image from your device. The good thing about using a cover image is that you can still put stickers over your cards without interfering with the cover image.
To put an image as a cover, click a card to open its contents, and click Cover from the list of options on the right. Select an image from the list or upload your own.
8. Use Markdown in Card Description
Formatting text inside a card description seems non-existent at first but you can, in fact, use Markdown syntax to format your text. Instead of pressing Ctrl+B, you need to put the text between **** to bold a piece of text. For example, **TEST** would output TEST in Trello Description.
Here’s a list of all the Markdown commands you can use with Trello.
| Command | Output |
| ========== | Heading |
| ———— | Sub-Heading |
| **BOLD** | BOLD |
| __italic__ | italic |
| ~~strikethrough~~ | |
| *list 1 *list 2 |
■list 1 ■list 2 |
| 1. list a 2. list b |
1. list a 2. list b |
9. Watch All Activity
I wouldn’t call it a limitation but you only get a notification about any changes or updates in Trello if you’re a part of the card. This can be easily fixed by using the Watch function. When enabled, you would get all the notifications associated with the card, a list, or the board itself.
To watch a card, click the desired card, and enable the Watch button on the right. Similarly, you can do this with Lists, and Boards as well.
10. Use Keyboard Shortcut to Instantly Create a Card
I have a dedicated board just for ideas and whenever I get an idea for a potential project, it goes on the list. Being able to quickly add a card without browsing through multiple boards is a godsend. Simply press the keyboard shortcut n and a window pops up where you can instantly write the title and the description of the card. It also lets you select the board and the list the card should go on.
You can do this on the desktop app for both Windows and Mac. To set the keyboard shortcut, click the Settings icon on the top right corner.
Under Quick Add Shortcut, set the key combination to trigger the card shortcut.
Additionally, if you love keyboard shortcuts, check out the list of keyboard shortcuts that you can use with Trello.
11. Use Power-Ups
This officially puts us in the advanced territory but if you’re going to use Trello frequently, make sure you use it effectively. Power-Ups are advanced features that unlock a lot of cool things you can do on Trello. You can add approvals in cards, integrate Twitter, and connect Google Drive among many other advanced features.
Which Trello Tips and Tricks are Your Favorites
These were a few of the Trello tips and tricks that you should know when you first start using the app. A lot of advanced features can be unlocked using power-ups. You can check out the list of best Trello Power Ups that I recommend. What do you think? Which tricks that you use? Let me know on Twitter.
Also Read: ClickUp vs Trello: Take a Look at My Cards
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