Gmail Only Gets Better with These Extensions

Google is well-known in the technology industry for providing great tools not only for the average computer user, but professional organizations all around the world. One of the largest is Gmail, Google’s signature email solution. If you pair it with the right extensions, Gmail’s usefulness far exceeds what it can achieve on its own. Today’s blog will help you optimize your efficiency using Google Chrome extensions for Gmail.

Some Background Information

Before we tell you which applications to download, we want to provide a little background information about where to get apps and how to acquire them. First thing’s first; you’ll want to use the Google Chrome web browser, as it provides the most seamless connectivity between Gmail and the extensions we’ll be discussing.

As for the extensions, you can find them on the Chrome web store. If you’ve never visited the web store before, you might be surprised by the sheer volume of applications and extensions that you can leverage to your advantage–all with the ability of improving your user experience. To access the Chrome web store, just search for Chrome App Store in the bar at the top of the web browser. Once you’ve done this, just follow the links. You can also browse it through your Gmail inbox by clicking the nine-button menu in the title bar. If you already use Chrome often, you will see your most used apps here as well.

Once you’re in the Chrome web store, you should notice the search bar in the left column of the interface, with a display for the applications on the right.

All you have to do is search for our suggested apps (see them below) and you can improve your Gmail experience exponentially.

Boomerang

Boomerang is an extension that allows you to check if an email hasn’t been responded to within a certain amount of time. It can also allow for many other functions such as scheduling a message to be sent at a later date, tracking responses, requesting receipts, and AI integration to help write better emails.

Todoist for Gmail

Todoist is a task manager with Gmail integration. You can transform your emails into specific individual tasks which can then then be aggregated and finished. If you are someone who needs lists in order to remain productive, Todoist is a great tool for you.

Ginger

Ginger is a great spelling and grammar checker for your Gmail. It’s perfect for someone who doesn’t use proper grammar or spelling.

Mailvelope

Mailvelope is a security solution that can keep your Gmail messages safe from interference. It encrypts emails and attachments so that sensitive information remains safe from prying eyes.

Checker Plus for Gmail

The Checker Plus for Gmail extension lets you access your Gmail inbox right from the extension bar at the top of your browser. You might be surprised by how much time you’ll save. This even allows for many of the same functions as the normal version of Gmail.

What are some of your favorite Google Chrome extensions? Let us know in the comments.

How Can a Customer Relationship Management Software Help Me Get Serious About My Sales Process?

how can a customer relationship management software help me get serious about my sales process

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is an especially useful solution for any business to utilize, as long as they do so with a strategy in mind. Let’s go over why this strategy is so important, and how it should be shaped. Let’s begin by defining what Customer Relationship Management really is, and how it can help you get serious about the sales process.

THE CONCEPT OF A CRM STRATEGY

Using CRM software has a pretty low bar for entry. Basically, you just have to procure it and populate it with the data you have collected. The purpose of a CRM strategy is to really use your solution to the fullest extent that you can, which allows you to optimize your outcomes.

There are a few ways that your CRM strategy can enable you to do so:

  • It condenses data in context to help you reference it as you make decisions and set goals.
  • It makes customer service efforts more comprehensive, which can boost retention and loyalty.
  • It assists you in making sales by scaling your process properly and eliminating redundancy.

Naturally, these are benefits that can assist any business in its pursuit of its goals, so it is important that you create a proper CRM strategy to guide you. Here is a simple process for you to follow:

UNDERSTAND YOUR GOALS AND STRATEGIZE FOR THEM

  • What is it, exactly, that you want your business to accomplish?
  • What is your intended use of your CRM software, and what do you want to achieve with it?
  • How will each department use it to do strive toward their goals?
  • How will your offering be distributed?

Once you have conferred with your team and answered these questions, it is time to consider the business landscape and who your ideal clients are. Then, determine what makes your offer different, and commit to providing this difference each time in the way that best suits your prospects.

ANALYZE AND ORGANIZE YOUR TEAM

How will the introduction of your new CRM software impact your team? Speak with those whose job responsibilities will be affected by your new solution, and look for any past experience with such platforms for their impression of different options.

You will also need to identify those team members who will be using the software to collaborate and be sure that everyone understands their particular roles. It is also helpful to determine the goals that each department should strive toward, and identify the key performance indicators that will help measure their progress.

IMPLEMENTING YOUR NEW SOLUTION AND STRATEGY

Determine how different contacts will be divided within your CRM, and establish a policy of collecting all the information you need from a contact that is going to be included. You should also strongly consider mapping out your sales processes for each of your services so it is easier to manage your brewing business.

It is also a good idea to keep your software requirements in mind when selecting your CRM, as you will want to select a title that plays nicely with your existing solution. Is your chosen email platform Outlook? Make sure to find a CRM that integrates with it for optimal benefits.

AE Technology Group is here to help you with these considerations, and more. To learn what we can do to assist your customer relationship management through IT solutions, or any other of your business processes, reach out to us at (877) 771-2384.

Cloud Network Migration is the Wave of the Future

cloud network migration is the wave of the future

Having all of your personal, or business files on your computers hard drive takes up a lot of space. Most people run out of their computers hard drive space eventually. One option is to set up your own network, but that is difficult and time consuming. Migrating your files to a secure cloud based service is the wave of the future.

When you take part in cloud network migration, you’re migrating your files from your computer, onto a cloud. A cloud is a server center where files are stored, processed, and shared through, rather than a local network.

Why should you choose to use the cloud? First of all, it is much more convenient than having your own server in your work space or home. That can take up a lot of money, and space. When you use a cloud, you don’t have to host the network, and someone else monitors it for you. It takes the stress off of you, but still leaves you with the advantage of storing your files onto a network. If you were previously just using the hard drives in your office’s computers, then you know how hard it is to manage space. Hard drives only have so much space. Clouds have much more room to store data onto.

Some people are worried about clouds not being secure. This isn’t true. Clouds are just as secure as your very own network would be, and they’re often even more secure.

One thing you can do to minimize the chance of a hacker getting into your files is creating a password that is very hard to guess. Make it case sensitive, with numbers, and as long as you’d like. Remember, the harder the better, because it’s being used to protect your files.
Altogether, getting your files onto a cloud network can be very helpful. Clouds are just as secure as your own network, and it also takes the stress off of you to manage a network. Migrate your files to a cloud today!

Why There Should Be No Fear of Completely Cloud-Based Operations

Scared-of-the-cloud

In a Computer Weekly round table featuring IT executives discussing the most important transformations occurring in data centers, UK CIO at City broker ICAP Jack Scard-Morgan, had the following to say about cloud computing:

“There are 20 different definitions of what cloud is and we have different comfort zones of what we are happy to put in the cloud, but we are all using some sort of software-as-a-service.”

This encapsulates current attitudes towards cloud computing very well; many companies have hesitations about cloud solutions based upon factors as diverse as performance, security, training, and in some cases the classic “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality. However, the benefits in terms of agility and potential cost saving with a cloud network migration are too great to ignore, meaning that we will be hard-pressed to find an enterprise that is not leveraging at least one SaaS solution.

However, a growing number of startups are rolling out entire operations onto IaaS/PaaS platforms. Organizations such as Netflix have shown that it is possible to run a stable, world-class service organization almost entirely from a cloud platform, and this arrangement is now becoming more of a default option than an overtly risky venture.

Of course, this does not mean that there are no considerations to be made with cloud platforms. An organization has to be able to trust the security guarantees of the vendor, relinquish some of the control that comes with complete ownership of infrastructure, and make sure that its business model accounts for all recurring costs of cloud services. However, we are rapidly seeing that some of the greatest fears with these platforms are often exaggerated.

This also does not imply that every business needs a cloud migration just for its own sake. Not all business models nor functions map over very well to cloud services. However, this fact happens to tie into the cloud philosophy very well; there is value gained in mixing and matching the best available solutions for specific business needs and lowering the barriers to entry in leveraging them.