In a digital world, leveraging technology is a must for many businesses today. With the sheer number of different applications, add-ons and features available, Gmail and the Google Workspace are a popular choice for businesses.
From email templates and grammar suggestions to project management integration and tools that ease communication between teams and customers, Gmail’s various add-ons and features are allowing leaders to configure a platform that works best for their business. Below, a panel of Forbes Business Council members each share what Gmail add-ons and features they personally use to increase their productivity.
Members of Forbes Business Council share what Gmail add-ons and features they find helpful for increasing their productivity.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.1. BEE
As an expert in the media, entertainment and coaching arenas, I recommend BEE templates for Gmail. They're simply fabulous, helping me with productivity when sending a small batch of emails to a small group of consenting recipients and allowing me to try out niche offerings while facilitating quick feedback. - Olivia Friedman, Institute of Higher Global Studies | Digital, Social Media, and Broadcast Marketer
2. Slack
The Slack add-on for Gmail adds a layer of enjoyment in both the Slack and Gmail experiences in terms of team communication and collaboration. It's natural to have a bridge between the two, which are already familiar to many in the tech space. The reduction in clutter combined with the seamless experience ultimately leads to greater productivity for users of this add-on. - Ido Wiesenberg, Voyantis
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3. Streak
I use Streak to help me organize my email streams. You can collaborate with teammates and use it to easily project manage leads and tasks to complete. - Anne-Marie Faiola, Bramble Berry Inc.
4. Trello
My favorite Gmail add-on that makes me more productive is Trello. In just seconds, you can transform an email into a card with to-do lists and deadlines. It makes a task much more digestible and gives me a clear vision of what it is that I need to accomplish, all while keeping my inbox nice and clean. - Johan Hajji, UpperKey
5. Boomerang
The “pause inbox” feature in Boomerang’s Gmail add-on protects me from the constant influx of attention-grabbing emails. Instead of having email arrive in real time with the potential to steal my focus whenever it comes in, this feature lets me set the rules. I have email limited to “arrive” only three times per day, and then I can batch process them. - Artis Rozentals, DeskTime
6. Calendly
Depending on the size of the organization and meeting volume, Calendly is a huge productivity time saver that takes the back and forth out of setting times that work for one or more parties as well as the associated emails. - Howard Rosen, LifeWIRE Corp
7. Salesforce
For Salesforce users, I find the Salesforce add-on incredibly helpful. You can quickly add contacts and tasks to follow up on. It's a game-changer. - Jordan Smith, Jet Dental
8. Google Chat
In today’s ongoing remote workplace, Google Chat can be an effective way to stay connected with the team and get quick, real-time responses that minimize emails, which can save time. - Muraly Srinarayanathas, Computek College
9. HubSpot
As we leverage HubSpot as our marketing platform, the simple and easy integration with Gmail is awesome. It ensures we capture important conversations with clients and prospects. This makes every day faster and easier for not just me, but for our team members too. - Dan Mallin, Lucy
10. Giphy
Gifs have become increasingly popular over the years. They're such a great way to add some fun and memorable content for your customers! That's why I use Giphy. One of my favorite features about Giphy is their extension that lets you send gifs in emails. It really creates an engaging experience by shifting email messages into social media conversations with ease. On top of that, it is free! - Bhaskar Ahuja, Originscale Corp
11. LastPass
LastPass saves and secures passwords, which is especially helpful if I need to share them with my team. Also, it saves me time so I don’t have to manually log in on multiple individual accounts or memorize all my passwords. Again, time and brain function are of the essence here. - Lane Kawaoka, SimplePassiveCashflow.com
12. Scheduled Send
I love the built-in "scheduled send" feature where I can choose when an email leaves my inbox. This is incredibly helpful if emailing a co-worker or client outside of normal business hours because I can also choose for it to go out the next morning or business day. If I would like to follow up with someone several weeks or even months later, I have that option as well. - Rollis Fontenot, HR Maximizer Inc
13. Google Keep
Google Keep is an excellent way to keep track of your own to-do list and also communicate employee tasks to others seamlessly. Being able to track my own progress throughout the day, as well as my team’s, makes it easier for me to be productive without getting distracted or getting off task. - Mo Mostashari, AMIBA Consulting
