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Trust me on this one: when you’re growing your business, there’s almost nothing worse than communication and organization challenges. Even if you’re just starting out, you need the right tools for the job.

Losing documents, constantly redoing edits, and missing emails can and will make you feel like you’re back in the pre-internet days (and who wants to go back there?!). That’s exactly why one of the first things I did when I started my business was implement a system to allow my team and me to work smarter, not harder. One of the first tools I implemented quickly was Google Workspace — it saved me time, money, and countless headaches…and I want to share it with you!

Why choose Google Workspace?

Chances are high that people on your team already use Google in some form or another, whether they use Gmail or Google Voice to connect with clients and friends, or Google Drive to share documents. My train of thought was: we are already using Google, so why bother introducing a whole new suite of tools? Why not simply upgrade to Google Workspace to keep things running as smoothly as possible? With Google Workspace, you get a collection of tools and apps for a monthly fee. It allows you to create docs, presentations, calendars, spreadsheets and more all in one place. Your team will be able to collaborate and communicate together seamlessly, without ever leaving the platform. 

Here’s how Google Workspace has helped me with my business, and how it can help you with yours:

Simplify how you work with Google Workspace

Using Google Workspace allows you to get email, video conferencing, file storage, calendars, and document sharing all in one place so you can be as productive as possible. At a basic level, here’s what you get:

• Gmail for business 
• Google Meet for video conferences
• Calendar for setting events and appointments
• Docs for creating content online
• Keep for making and saving notes
• Sheets for spreadsheets and organization
• Drive for Google cloud storage
• Chat for quick team messages
• Access to Google Workspace apps via the Google Marketplace
• …and more

I know, it’s a lot! The internet is filled with so many apps that can do so many things, but I’ve found that Google Workspace gives you the absolute biggest bang for your buck. 

Streamlined for small businesses

Google Workspace is perfect because it’s designed with small businesses in mind, and that’s rare! The first question that Google Workspace will ask you is “how big is your business?”. You can answer “Just You”, or choose “2–9” people (with the option of adding or removing people later on.) Out of all of the tools I researched, Google Workspace gives you the most flexibility with the number of people you can have on your account, and works just as well if you’re a team of two or a team of twenty. 

Super easy to use

Out of every tool that I tried, I found Google Workspace to be the most user friendly. Google Docs was the easiest for me to write and edit documents. I love that multiple people can be inside of a document at once without confusion. Google Sheets is another function of Workspace that I use all the time. For me, it’s a more intuitive version of Excel, and I love that it auto-saves and allows for multiple collaborators at once. 

Gmail capabilities

Gmail is the cream of the crop when it comes to email. It’s the most commonly used platform and works amazingly across both mobile and desktop. And the best part is, with Google Workspace you can send emails from your domain rather than from @gmail.com. To put it more simply, recipients get emails from [firstname]@therealteaonrealty.com, which looks more professional and is personalized to your business. A quick Google search will give you all the steps to connect your personal domain to your Gmail account. 

Unlimited file storage

File storage can be really expensive, and Workspace has a solution for that. Each user on the account will be set up with a Drive account where they can store their personal files that the whole team doesn’t need to access. At the same time, all collaborators can share anything they want with the broader team and if a new employee comes into the company, they can easily be added (alternatively you can revoke access if needed). Team Drives come with unlimited cloud storage in Google Workspace. This is super valuable when you start filling your drive with video files for social media, podcast recordings, blog posts and more! 

Good pricing options with Google Workspace

Google Workspace pricing is what first drew me to the tool. The plans start as low as $6 per month, but you can take a look at their pricing page to figure out which option is best for you. They also have a free trial where you can try it out for 14 days to make sure it’s right for your business before committing. 

I hope this helps inspire you to put a good communication tool in place for you and your team, no matter how big or small. Whether you go with Google Workspace or a different too, it’s absolutely necessary to streamline your work and stay organized. Continue to check back here for additional tips to help you grow your business, and click here to get set up with Google Workspace. And in case you missed it, check out how you get started with your blog and website here!