How can my business get the most out of Google Gemini?
Have you ever had a powerful new gadget but only used it for the most basic things? It’s a bit like having a top-of-the-range camera and only ever using the automatic setting. It gets the job done, but you’re missing out on all the features that could make your pictures incredible. It turns out, many people are doing the same with Google's Gemini chatbot.
You might be using it to ask simple questions or draft a quick email, which is great. But what if I told you there’s a whole suite of powerful tools hiding just out of sight that could help you and your team work much smarter?
How do you access Gemini's hidden menu and advanced settings?
The key to getting more from Gemini is knowing where to look. Much of its power is tucked away in a navigation bar on the left-hand side that’s usually collapsed. If you expand it, you’ll open up a whole new world of options.
Here’s a quick tour of what you’ll find in that menu and how you can use it.
New Chat & Past Chats: This is straightforward. "New Chat" lets you start a fresh conversation, clearing the slate. Your chat history is saved under "Past Chats," so you can always go back to find a great idea or piece of information Gemini gave you before.
Gems: This is a neat feature. If you find you’re giving Gemini the same set of instructions repeatedly for a specific task, you can save that instruction as a 'Gem'. It’s a huge time-saver for recurring tasks.
Settings > Apps: This is perhaps the most important feature. In the settings, you’ll find an "Apps" menu. Here, you can connect Gemini directly to your Google Workspace account. This allows it to securely access your data in Docs, Sheets, and Gmail, making its responses genuinely personal and relevant to your work. It can summarise a long email thread or find specific information in your Drive files.
Can you upload files and images to Gemini for analysis?
The box where you type your prompt can do more than just accept text. Next to it, you’ll see a button to attach files. You can upload a document and ask Gemini to summarise it, attach a spreadsheet and ask for data analysis, or upload an image and ask it to describe what’s happening. It’s brilliant for getting the gist of a long report without reading every word.
What creative and analytical tools are available in Gemini?
Also in the prompt box, you'll find a "Tools" button. This is your gateway to some of Gemini's most powerful creative and analytical features. Clicking on it opens up a menu of options that can take your prompts to the next level. Let's look at what's inside.
Deep Research: Perfect for when you need more than a quick summary, this feature allows Gemini to perform a comprehensive analysis and pull information from a wider range of sources. Use it when preparing detailed reports or exploring a new business strategy to gain a much richer understanding.
Create Videos with Vo: This tool simplifies video creation, allowing you to produce short videos directly from your prompts. It's incredibly handy for making quick marketing clips or simple explainers for your team without needing to be a video editing expert.
Create Images: Generate unique images for presentations or social media just by describing what you want to see. Integrated tools like Google's Nano Banana make this possible, acting like a graphic designer on call to bring your ideas to life.
Canvas: The Canvas is an interactive space where you can work with Gemini on longer content like blog posts or code. You can edit the content Gemini produces and refine it to get the final result just right, making it a powerful collaborative tool.
Guided Learning: This feature acts like a personal tutor, providing a structured, step-by-step learning experience. It helps break down complex topics into manageable chunks, making it an excellent tool for professional development.
Your Questions About Gemini, Answered
Is it safe to connect Gemini to my Google Workspace data? Yes, connecting Gemini to your Workspace account is designed with privacy at its core. Your data is not used for training models or reviewed by anyone. The connection simply allows Gemini to access your information to provide personalised answers for you, and it remains within your secure Google environment.
What's the main difference between using the Canvas and a regular Gemini chat? A regular chat is great for quick questions and answers. The Canvas, however, is a persistent workspace designed for more complex tasks like writing code or drafting long documents. It allows you to edit and refine Gemini's output collaboratively, making it ideal for creative and development projects.
Are all the creative tools in Gemini free to use? The features described here are part of Google Workspace, which is a paid subscription. While there is a free version of Gemini, integrating it with your Workspace and accessing the most powerful creative and analytical tools requires a business subscription.
Ready to Go Beyond the Basics?
Gemini is much more than a simple question-and-answer tool. By exploring the navigation bar, using the prompt box buttons, and getting comfortable with all these creative and analytical tools, you can turn it into a powerful assistant for you and your team.
If you'd like an expert to help you get your team set up correctly and comfortable with these features, the next step is to book a video call with us using the form below.
