NotebookLM: A Comprehensive Guide

Jeff -

Hey friends - I've been using NotebookLM extensively over the past few months and I realized most people aren't using it correctly. For example, NotebookLM is NOT an "AI-powered note-taking app" like many creators are saying.

Today, we'll go over how to (actually) apply NotebookLM's powerful features to real-world situations: like analyzing documents, extracting insights, and creating meaningful outputs from fragmented information.

Whether you're a project manager juggling multiple documents, a researcher synthesizing various sources, or simply someone looking to make sense of complex information, this guide will help you master NotebookLM's essential functions and advanced capabilities.

Watch it in action

Resources

Key Takeaways

  1. NotebookLM excels when you need minimal hallucination, work with scattered information across different formats (documents, slides, text, video, audio), and require quick transformation of fragmented information into cohesive outputs.
  2. The tool can handle approximately 25 million words per notebook (compared to ~500,000 for Gemini, ~100,000 for Claude, and ~64,000 for ChatGPT), making it ideal for large-scale information processing.
  3. While NotebookLM is optimized for accuracy and minimal hallucination, it works best when combined with other AI tools like Gemini or Claude for creative outputs.

Basic Navigation and Setup

Start by accessing the NotebookLM homepage through the logo in the top left corner.

  • For better organization, switch to List view and sort by title.
  • When creating a new notebook, name it first before adding sources.

You can add various types of content, including PDFs, documents, YouTube videos, and website content.

Source Management

NotebookLM processes all added sources to create comprehensive summaries for both (1) The individual sources, and (2) All sources as a whole.

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Important note: the chat interface considers all selected sources when responding to queries. To exclude certain information, simply deselect the relevant source from the source list.

Key Features

  • Notebook Guide: Provides quick-start templates, FAQs, and suggested questions
  • Save to Note: Essential for preserving important outputs between sessions
  • Source Conversion: Ability to convert multiple notes into a standalone source
  • Re-sync capability for Google Docs and Slides

Real-World Use Cases

#1. Focused Knowledge Retrieval

Perfect for managing technical documentation, user manuals, and specialized information. Examples include:

  • Equipment manuals for quick reference
  • Tax and accounting documentation
  • Recruiting materials and candidate evaluation
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Pro Tip: When working with specific documents, ensure only relevant sources are selected to maintain accuracy.

#2. Project Context Engine

Ideal for project managers working with:

  • Meeting notes
  • Project plans
  • Historical project documentation

The template feature allows creation of:

  • High-level briefing documents
  • Campaign timelines
  • FAQ documents
Use meeting notes to quickly generate meeting recap emails

#3. Targeted Insight Studio

Excellent for analyzing complex information across multiple sources:

  • Earnings reports analysis
  • Industry trend evaluation
  • Cross-company strategy comparison

Advanced Tips and Limitations

Working with Sources

  • Use "type:pdf" in Google searches to find PDF versions of documents
  • For blocked websites, copy and paste content directly as a source
  • Combine multiple documents into one file to work around the 20-source limit

Quality Considerations

  • Source quality significantly impacts output quality
  • Well-established publications provide better results than informal content
  • Consider using NotebookLM's outputs as a foundation for refinement with other AI tools

If you enjoyed this...

Check out my AI playlist for (even) more tips on leveraging AI tools in your workflow!