In the world of the web we find there are two things that confuse people more than anything, domain registration and setting up email.  For domain registration another blog post is required.  In the meantime stop registering domains at GoDaddy and go to Hover.  For email (and much more) we recommend Google Apps.  We use Google Apps at Collision Media and we recommend it to everyone.  There are a multitude of reasons why we recommend Google Apps, but here are five reasons for you to consider switching:

 

Gmail

Gmail is the centerpiece of Google Apps.  It's your email and your domain using Google's proven reliability.  One of the common misunderstandings of Google Apps is that you're required to use Gmail as your primary email interface.  That is not the case.  If you use Outlook or any other email application for Mac or Windows, you don't have to switch the way you manage and read email.  Think of Google as your email provider.  You can use Gmail online, but the beauty of using Google Apps is that all of your data is in the cloud.  That means you're free to use any desktop email application, and at the same time, you can access and manage your email on your smartphone with complete synchronization.  I'm a Mac user and I use Sparrow for my desktop email application (highly recommended).

Easy Management

If you've ever tried to manage an email server we feel your pain.  If you've never had to manage an email server you've been blessed.  Perhaps the most important aspect of Google Apps is its ease of use.  Setting it up has a slight learning curve, but once it's set up, adding and removing users to your organization's account couldn't be easier.  This is perfect for organizations that are growing.  We can't stress enough the importance of ease of use for a system like Google Apps.

Google Calendar

Google calendar is simple to use and makes scheduling internally very simple.  If you use Outlook, iCal, or any other desktop calendar application, Google Calendar will work in perfect harmony with those applications, not to mention synchronizing with your smartphone over the air.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a complete office suite based in the cloud.  For light document creation this could replace expensive office suites like Microsoft Office and iWork.  We, however, use Google Docs in conjunction with our favorite desktop office applications.  Many blog posts could be written to specifically address Google Docs, but for the sake of brevity you can click here or here for more information.

Stability and Security

No system is perfect, but Google Apps sure comes close.  Google guarantees 99.9% uptime, and all of your data is continuously backed up in multiple secure data centers.  Security is very important for any organization's data.  Google offers a wealth of information about the security for Google Apps here.

Yes, It's Free

I thought I would add a sixth point to my list.  Google Apps is free for non-profits, yes free.  If you've been in the market for good email and online services in the past five years you know that this is a fantastic bargain.  If you're paying anything for email hosting right now you should consider making the switch.

Who's Using It?

If these reasons aren't good enough, here's a short list of some organizations that have made the switch to Google Apps:

• National Geographic
• Motorola
• City of Los Angeles
• The Huffington Post
• Ohio Wesleyan University
• Salesforce
• Jaguar

If you or your organization uses Google Apps I'd love to hear how you are using it.