Let’s start off with a couple of questions. Number one, are you a Gmail user? Number two, do you have a work e-mail address? I know I said a couple questions, but what the heck let’s go for another: Would you like to utilize the Google Apps you’re accustomed to using with your personal address, on your business address while keeping the same work e-mail address? Woah, that sounded confusing. If you followed all that, know that you can, thanks to Google Apps for Work.
Just to clarify a little on that highly confusing introduction. My e-mail address is justin@finishlinecomputerservices.com. With Google Apps for Work, I can use all of the tools of Google’s arsenal (Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Docs, etc., etc.) without changing my e-mail address. No one I e-mail will ever know that the e-mail I sent them was composed in Gmail. Google Apps for Work is an attractive option for many small businesses, as it’s now possible to link a company’s employees together without the need (and cost) for a server. Files can be shared with Google Drive, calendars can be viewed and modified with Google Calendar, and video chats from across the office to across the globe can be had with Google Hangouts. All of this functionality does come at a price, however. There’s an initial free 30-day trial for up to ten users, then the cost becomes $5 per user per month, or $50 per year. Users can be added or deleted at any time.
As a guy who’s spent many an hour working on and maintaining servers at offices, they certainly have their place. For a small office with a lower budget, I’ll regularly offer Google Apps for Work as a much cheaper alternative to the initial purchasing cost and support required to keep a server running smoothly. If you think your business could be improved with Google Apps for Work, you can visit their website by clicking here.