5 Hidden TextExpander Features That Will Save You Hours Each Week

I am an avid user of TextExpander*.

I started using TextExpander in 2019, and since then I have created over 200 snippets, saved more than 50 hours of typing time, and optimized by system to use it effectively. At this point, I would consider myself a pro.

For those who haven’t discovered it yet, TextExpander is a game-changing tool that turns tiny abbreviations into full blocks of text. Type “;ty” and it expands into a complete thank you email. Type “;new” and get an entire onboarding template. It’s like having a personal assistant who handles all your repetitive typing.

For solos, it’s absolutely essential. Think about how often you:

• Write the same email responses to common client questions
• Create similar documents with slight modifications
• Send intake forms or onboarding instructions
• Draft invoices or follow-up messages
• Share your scheduling link with booking instructions
• Write out legal terms and titles

TextExpander lets you create these once and reuse them forever, saving hours each week while ensuring consistent, error-free communication.

Unfortunately, I wasted the first 12 months because I was using it wrong.

So, learn from my mistakes, and save yourself 3-4 hours every week by using these 5 hidden TextExpander features guaranteed to transform your workflow:

Feature #1: Nested Snippets Most people create separate snippets for everything, but you can actually include snippets within snippets using %snippet:name%. This means you can build complex templates from smaller, reusable pieces. I use this for email templates where I mix and match different paragraphs.

Feature #2: Optional Sections The little-known {optional: text} syntax lets you include sections that you can toggle on/off when expanding the snippet. Perfect for templates where you sometimes need extra paragraphs or disclaimers. Just press Tab to include the section or not.

Feature #3: JavaScript Calculations Instead of just static text, you can include JavaScript calculations using %jscript: your code%. I use this for automatically calculating timeframes, adding business days to the current date, add rush fees as a percentage increase, generating timestamps for logs, and including general dates in my snippets. It’s like having a mini spreadsheet at my fingertips.

Feature #4: Fill-in Fields with Default Values While basic fill-in fields are common knowledge, you can actually add default values using %fill:name=default%. This is game-changing for fields you usually want one way but occasionally need to modify.

Feature #5: Rich Text Formatting Most users stick to plain text, but TextExpander can preserve all your formatting including bold, italics, lists, and even images. Just create your snippet in rich text mode and it’ll expand with perfect formatting every time. (For those of us who love a good design, this one is my particular favorite.)

Here’s the truth about running a solo practice: your revenue and profit are directly tied to how efficient you are. Every minute spent on repetitive typing is an inefficient minute you’re not spending delivering value to the client (which is what they’re actually buying from you).

Let’s do the math: If you spend just 30 minutes a day on repetitive typing (emails, proposals, forms), that’s 2.5 hours per week or 130 hours per year. While we know that billable hour is killing your business, for sake of showing you exactly how much TextExpander can save you, consider a modest billing rate of $150/hour. That’s $19,500 in lost efficiency you’re leaving on the table.

TextExpander isn’t just about saving time—it’s about:

• Maintaining consistency in your client communications
• Reducing errors in important documents
• Creating space for high-value work
• Looking more professional with quick, thorough responses
• Having mental energy for what really matters

Start with just one snippet for your most common email response. Once you see how much time it saves, you’ll be hooked. Within a month, you’ll wonder how you ever ran your practice without it.

*Quick heads up, fellow solopreneurs! This is an affiliate link—yes, that means if you click and purchase, I might earn enough for my overpriced tea habit (or more realistically, to reinvest in creating more content that helps your practice thrive). I only recommend tools I’ve personally battle-tested in my own practice or have seen work wonders for attorneys like you. No fluff, no nonsense—just real solutions that might save you the time and headaches I’ve already endured. Your support through these links helps keep this newsletter ad-free and packed with actionable advice. And of course, you never pay extra. Think of it as buying me a virtual cup of tea while you build a practice that finally pays you what you’re worth. Questions? I’m an open book—just hit reply!