The dependability of your business email is crucial to your success, and as your business grows you’re finding that your Web host’s email servers aren’t quite meeting your needs. SMBs and enterprise businesses have the option of setting up their own on-site email servers, yet an off-site hosted email service often offers a better value as well as less hassle. An email host will maintain and monitor their servers, allowing you to focus on your core business instead of figuring out why the folks in accounting can’t download any of their emails from the server.
Server Requirements
Before you start looking at different email hosting packages, you’ll want to have a rough idea on the amount of email you sending through the server, as well as the number of users on the system. You don’t want to overload an underpowered server if you deal with massive amounts of incoming and outgoing email. You’ll additionally want to confirm that the service allows you to send marketing email and other promotional email if that’s part of your business strategy. If your business is expanding at a steady rate, look into packages that allow you to add extra capacity as you need it.
Pricing
Keep budget concerns in mind when you look into services. If you don’t need all the bells and whistles that some top-end hosting packages give you, look into basic services that meet your needs and keep you under budget. Balance pricing concerns with word of mouth recommendations, as it’s often worth paying more for a host who also offers good service, compared to one who won’t offer you support in the middle of the night.
Dedicated Server or Cloud
Another choice to make is whether or not to select a dedicated email server hosting package or a cloud-based approach. A dedicated email service is a specific server dedicated to your business email, whereas a cloud host works by using resources from multiple servers to improve performance and redundancy. A few advantages of using cloud-based email hosting services include lower costs for high-end hardware access, easy scalability and integration with commonly used email clients and services.
Features
Look through the features that each email hosting package offers. If you want to consolidate your website and email hosting on one account, examine which types of Web hosting packages the service has to offer. If you want to stick with the same email client you’ve been using for some time, ensure that integration options will give you access to your preferred applications. Check into support packages that keep your email up and running even if it’s the middle of the night. Email access is a mission-critical requirement for many businesses, and the server won’t conveniently have problems only in the middle of the day when all the techs are around. Also look for phone support or other help options.
When you look into the right email hosting package, it takes the weight of managing your own email off of your shoulders. You don’t have to worry about fortifying your infrastructure against hackers trying to access on-site email servers. You can offload the task of updates and deployment to the host, and it probably costs less than the hardware you were going to bring into the office.
