Email communication is an essential aspect of modern business operations. To help our clients better understand their email options, we have put together a straightforward guide that explains the three different choices available. Whether you’re a small business owner or an individual looking for the right email solution, this article will break it down for you in easy-to-understand terms. So let’s dive in!
Option 1: Email Forwarding
Email forwarding allows you to create a professional email address, such as contact@companydomain.com, and have all the incoming messages sent to another email account, like company@gmail.com.
Pros:
- Free of charge.
- Simple setup process.
Cons:
- When replying or sending emails, the reply address will show as company@gmail.com instead of the professional address.
- While this can be navigated around, the setup costs typically out weight the savings
Option 2: Hosted Email
If you have a hosting service for your website, it often includes free email accounts associated with your domain.
Pros:
- Free of charge.
- Professional email addresses that match your domain (e.g., john@companydomain.com).
Cons:
- Initial setup may be a little more complicated – however login details can saved for easier, future, logins.
- Hosted email services can sometimes experience delays, causing emails to arrive a few hours late.
Option 3: Paid Email Service
What is it? You can opt for a paid email service like GSuite or Microsoft Teams, which offer enhanced features and functionality.
Pros:
- Provides a more professional appearance.
- Reliable servers ensure better email delivery.
- Access to additional tools like Google Drive or SharePoint for file sharing and collaboration.
- Easy login through Gmail or Outlook interfaces.
Cons:
- Requires a monthly fee (around $7 per inbox).
- Each private inbox costs $7, regardless of the number of associated email addresses.
- Each inbox can have multiple emails. For example, we can have abc@company.com, xyz@company.com, accounting@company.com all go to contact@company.com. However, abc, xyz, and accounting emails will all be visible inside contact@company.com
Conclusion: Understanding the various email options is crucial when it comes to choosing the right solution for your business or personal needs. Email forwarding is a free option but may lack a professional touch. Hosted email, though free, can sometimes have delays. Meanwhile, paid email services offer reliability, additional tools, and a more professional appearance, albeit at a cost.
We hope this simplified guide has shed light on the differences between these email options. If you have any further questions or need assistance in making the right choice, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Happy emailing!