Google Apps and How I Use It

Google Apps is a set of online applications designed for businesses. If you are at all familiar with Gmail, then you will be able to immediately climb behind to wheel and hit the open road with Google Apps. If not, don’t worry with a little practice you will have your business practically running itself.

Not only the most obvious, but most appealing feature included with Google Apps is the personalized email. Are you tired of using a generic email address for business purposes? In order to setup an account, you must first own a domain name. To recap, domain name + need for professional email that can be accessed from anywhere including blackberry and iphone / budget = Google Apps.

Check it out! The url is mail.thegraphicdesignshop.com. I can check my email from any computer by going to this web address. Same goes for calendar.thegraphicdesignshop.com, docs.thegraphicdesignshop.com, and sites.thegraphicdesignshop.com

So here we are in my email inbox. Notice that everything I need to be productive is accessible from this screen. In the upper left hand corner I can access my calendar, docs, etc. The left sidebar is home to upcoming calendar events, frequently used docs, even my Remember The Milk task list.

The calendar is just as convenient. It took a little getting used to, but once I figured out the multiple calendar system, I was hooked. I keep track of business, personal, holidays, and tasks. All through my Google Apps calendar. Did I mention that I do this with my blackberry curve? That right! My calendar and email sync automatically and wirelessly with my phone. My wife’s phone does the same thing, so we are always on the same page. I know, I know, kind of scary, but it’s totally worth it.

And just to prove how crazy i’ve gotten with Google Apps, my entire checkbook register has been converted to a remote spreadsheet on Google Docs. I can check account balances collaborate with my wife and track spending by month or year.

PS. The term for remote storage of computer documents is Cloud Computing. Check it out.

PPS. Stay tuned. In my future post about which Firefox Add-ons I use, I will include several that apply to Google Apps.

About the Author

Michael is owner/operator of The Graphic Design Shop, which he started after graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000. Michael is a fan of all things creative and lives by the motto "We Don't Just Talk About It!".

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