Email messages may be collected from your domain’s email accounts directly either through your web browser at a page that follows this formula: https://yourDomain.something/webmail or by use of an email client software / app on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device.  For security purposes, the server we use will not “bounce” or “relay” messages to another server.  If we were to allow messages to be sent by bounce or relay, the “sender reputation” of your accounts could very easily be compromised.  With a poor reputation, emails you send don’t get to their destination because somewhere along the line an organization or service blocks you … justified or not … because they think it may be junk email.  This block can be placed on an account, a domain, or an entire server at any time without notice – Guilty until proven innocent.

The only defense you have against these unannounced blocks is to maintain an absolutely pristine sender reputation.  Not something easy to do for a single business – which is why most enterprise IT departments and hosting companies rely on other services to handle outbound messages and defend against unjustified blocking.  That’s exactly what we have implemented for your domain.  Yes, you are working like one of the “big guys” and have the advantage of a great service!

While it may be wonderfully convenient to go to Gmail and have your chat, calendar, email, and access to docs all on one screen, Google does not provide a true email client that accesses your account in the same way as an email client would.  In fact, Google tries to “bounce” or “relay” messages from our server to the Gmail server – causing our sender reputation to be compromised.  Understand that Google doesn’t have to adhere to the same conventions as the rest of the world, after all… they’re Google.

So using Gmail to handle your incoming email from your domain simply won’t work.  We need to play by the rules, so we don’t integrate with Gmail in the way they prescribe.

OK – so now the explanation and the bad news are out of the way.  Here’s the good news and actionable info:

You don’t have to lose all the features which come with Gmail.  In fact a good email client can give you just about everything you had at Gmail and will do so by adhering to the standards that will maintain a good sender reputation for your organization.  There are several options available – everyone will find some things they like and some things they don’t in any given package.  It’s personal and you may have to try more than one to find something that fits your routine.  The purpose of this page is to give you options to explore.

The software which most closely integrates with Gmail is eM Client.  The free version will handle two accounts, which could be a domain-based account and a Gmail, Outlook, or other “personal” account.  There is also a paid version which gives you the ability to combine an unlimited number of email accounts from virtually any email server out there. Documentation on the website is excellent for this software and it ties in nicely with your Calendar, Chat, Task List, Contacts, and more! This software also features “Auto Discovery” so when you add your email account to the software, all you need is your email address and password. The software figures out the rest!

See step by step instructions for eM Client here:  http://www.emclient.com/em-client-with-gmail 

If you use an IOS (Apple) driven device, you should be fine using Mac Mail or the iOS Mail app.  These both have Auto-Detect / Auto-Configure features which will make hooking up with your email account on the SiteCrafters server.

If you use an Android device, you should check out BlueMail in the Google App store.

Let’s say you use a Windows device and eM Client isn’t your cup of tea.  There is a freeware email client out there which handles multiple accounts and has Auto-Detect / Auto-Configure … but it’s pretty much focused on email and some basic calendar functions.  If you don’t use all the bells & whistles at Google, then Thunderbird could very well be the answer for you.  It’s complete free and you can manage as many email accounts as you like.

One final option, it you only have ONE email account to manage … you could find MailBird to be an ideal solution.  The software is quite convenient but the free version only supports ONE account.  If you upgrade to the paid version, you can manage multiple email accounts quite nicely with an attractive and intuitive screen layout.  Well worth the download, particularly if you are willing to go for the paid version.

If you need help selecting an email client or getting things to work together properly, please use the contact form on the bottom right of the page.