Google’s free and low-cost services can almost run your business for you …
Hands up if you have a free Gmail account!
Are you using the free cloud storage (Drive), the free calendar and the other free office and productivity tools that come with your Gmail account – YouTube, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms (great for surveys) and Drawings?
Cloud AND desktop!
While the primary storage place for all these resources is in the cloud, you can sync Google Drive to your desktop for offline use.
That was very handy during the recent heavy storms and associated power loss across Sydney because I was able to keep working until my laptop ran out of power …
Three user levels
Google offers three user levels for these products, some free and some very low cost – all subsidized by Google’s revenue from their Adwords program.
Use on any device
When I’m away from the office I use the Google Drive app on my phone and tablet to access information stored on Drive to quickly answer questions for my team or clients. You wouldn’t believe how often a client calls or emails asking to be reminded of their own passwords!
Personal: synchronises across devices
- Cost – FREE
- Mail – Gmail account
- Chat (now called hangouts) and Hangouts on Air – all chats saved and searchable in your mail account
- Drive – storage in the cloud – Folders, Docs, Sheets, Slides, images, Forms, Drawings
- Calendar – meetings, to do list – TIP: use with Google maps to navigate on your phone
Google Apps for Business – synchronises across devices
- Cost – $5 per email address per month
- Run your domain based email accounts through your Gmail account
- Chat (now called hangouts) and Hangouts on Air – all chats saved and searchable in your mail account
- Drive – storage in the cloud – Folders, Docs, Sheets, Slides, images, Forms, Drawings. Access from any device with internet.
- Calendar – meetings, to do list – use with Google maps to navigate on your phone
- Always up to date – no need to pay for continual software version updates or have to worry about software vulnerabilities. VERY secure.
- Integrates with many third-party apps – some free, some paid
Google Apps for Not for Profit organisations – synchronises across devices
- Cost – FREE
- Same services as Google Apps for Business
- PLUS up to $10,000 per month in Google AdWords – promote fundraising events, invite donations, invite newsletter subscriptions etc
- HOW to start: sign up with all your legal entity and charitable status details at www.TechSoup.org
- You will receive a token that you will need to use with Google to verify your status. Takes 2 or 3 days.
- Explore tech soup for free or heavily discounted services and products for Not-For-profits.