Productivity Tip: Manage All Your E-Mail Under One Roof

If you are like me, you have many e-mail addresses that you have accumulated over the years. Some are "throw-away" addresses you create and use for a single purpose because you don't want your primary address overcome with SPAM. Others are utilitarian addresses you use for different purposes.



For example, I have two G-mail addresses I use. One is for Marketing Tips For Authors that gets me into Google Analytics and Blogger. The other is a personal G-mail account I use to sign into other Google services.



I also have working e-mail addresses from my three main domains: SamsonEffect.com, MarketingTipsForAthors.com and The-Eldridges.com.



Until now, I have been managing my e-mail addresses through Microsoft Outlook. Outlook allows me to retrieve and send e-mails from whichever e-mail account I need. It also keeps all my e-mail on my computer for easy access.



However, I am about to make a shift in the way I plan on managing my e-mail addresses. I am creating a HUB G-mail account and I will be managing all my e-mail addresses through it. I have been testing it through a temp G-mail account and I am very happy with what I see.



Here are the reasons I am making the switch:

G-mail allows me to send and receive all my e-mail online. That means I will have access to all my e-mails on any computer I am using.



G-mail allows me to import my Outlook contacts and calendar.



G-mail allows me seamless integration into the myriad of Google apps and services to make me even more productive (for example, I can chat, place a phone call through my G-mail account to any phone, or have video conferences through G-mail).



As an Android phone owner, I will have seamless integration with my G-mail account and my smart phone (though there are G-mail apps available for those who have iPhones).


This is an extremely small list of reasons why I am making a switch from my computer-based Outlook to an Internet-based G-mail account. And for those who feel the change will be too technically challenging for you to make, don't worry. I am planning a series of short videos that walks you through the process of making this change while highlighting the benefits you'll want to watch out for. To watch these free videos, make sure you sign up for my free Video Tips newsletter.



I know that services like Yahoo and other online mail services have similar abilities that Google offers with G-mail. I go with G-mail because I am familiar with it and I use many of Google's services, so the convenience of integration is a big plus for me. Also, they have a reputation for constantly bringing new functions to the marketplace. And, of course, most of their services are free.



Regardless which service you might choose (including MS Outlook or the free open source Thunderbird), spending a little time pulling all your e-mail addresses under one roof can be a huge productivity boost for you. And with the evolution of e-mail services, making the switch no longer requires an IT professional. It's a quick and simple process that will get you up and running in no time.