Microsoft Exchange Online vs IONOS Email
My experience of using both and why I recommend Microsoft 365 Exchange
Introduction
When I first launched my business I signed up with IONOS (1&1) to build a website and create an email addresses. Although my website worked well, I found the email system was unreliable so I migrated my emails to Microsoft 365 - Exchange Online. This post will tell you more about my experience and why I recommend all self-employed people and small businesses use Microsoft 365 for their emails.
I can move your IONOS emails to Microsoft 365
I can migrate your IONOS emails to Microsoft 365. I specialise in helping self employed and very small businesses.
Book a free 15 minute call today and I'll check your current setup, confirm pricing, and agree a migration date — no obligation.
Prices from £175.
My Poor Experience with IONOS Email System
Unreliable email
When I setup my business I purchased the domain name, webhosting and email with IONOS (1&1). I created a WordPress website and setup an email address through the control panel of IONOS’s website. It was easy to setup both of these features and everything worked well.
I use Outlook to read and write emails, as I prefer Outlook for managing my emails compared to the online webmail systems that IONOS provided. My first impression was that the emails were working well. Customers were emailing me and I was emailing them back. I was winning business which was great. But after awhile I noticed a few strange things. I would email a customer who I knew would reply but they didn’t reply. I would then phone the customer up and ask them if they got my email and they said no. When I asked them to check their spam folder they found my email.
What was even stranger was a customer would receive an email from me and the next day it would go straight to their junk folder. At this point I knew I had to find an alternative solution. These lost emails were costing me business and money. How many other customers had thought to themselves that I had not bothered to reply when in fact the email I sent was probably sitting in their spam/junk folder!
IONOS email does not provide synchronization of the Outlook calendar and contacts with my mobile phone
In my home office I was also using the Microsoft Outlook program for the calendar to manage my appointments and the address book to keep track of all my customers’ contact details.
This worked well except when I was out on the road and wanted to check my calendar or the phone number of a customer on my phone. I couldn't! This information was only available on my PC which was back at home.
Recognise this problem yourself?
I can migrate your IONOS emails to Microsoft 365. Book a free 15 minute call today and I'll check your current setup, confirm pricing, and agree a migration date — no obligation.
Prices from £175.
Researching a new email system
My extensive research on alternative email providers concluded that there were two possible solutions:
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft Exchange Online
Microsoft Exchange Online gave me the features I wanted such as large mailbox, cloud based email, contacts and calendar which could be synchronized across all my devices. Furthermore, the Microsoft 365 ecosystem would give me access to SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams. Although I didn’t need them at the time, as my business has grown, having Teams has been very useful.
The benefits I have noticed since moving my emails to Microsoft 365 Exchange Online
Email reliability
As soon as I switched I noticed an improvement in the reliability of the email. I was sending emails and they were arriving in customers' inboxes. I was getting replies.
Calendar
Having synchronised calendars and contacts has been invaluable. When I am out visiting customers my schedule is available on my phone along with all my customers contact details.
Contacts / Address Book
The Outlook on my phone enables me to sync my Outlook contacts with the contacts on my phone. This makes it very easy to call a customer when I am out on the road.
If I need to look up the telephone number of a customer whilst I am out then of a customer then no problem either.
How much does Microsoft 365 cost?
IONOS included email within their web hosting package I had purchased so the purchase of Microsoft Exchange Online was an extra expense for my business. There are various Microsoft 365 packages available depending on what other products and services you need. You can learn more Prices start at £45 per year and you can learn more on this knowledge base article about choosing the correct Microsoft 365 plan.
Prices start at £45 per year. For me it only took one lost email in the IONOS email system to make moving to Microsoft 365 worth it.
Should you switch your emails to Microsoft 365?
You should switch your emails to Microsoft 365 if:
- Email is critical to your business
- You use Outlook every day
- You want Teams
- You want to see your Outlook calendar on your phone
- You want better spam filtering
- You want a platform that can grow with your business
How to move your emails to Microsoft 365
I understand that your business email is vital to the running of your business. Any downtime or lost emails could be a disaster for your business. If you are using Outlook to manage your emails you will also have an address book and possible a calendar you use on a daily basis. Any change in your email system can't disrupt this workflow you have used for many years.
I offer a full email migration service from IONOS to Microsoft 365. The process usually takes around 3-4 hours spread over two working days. No emails are lost during the migration and you will find transition seamless. I put in extra steps to ensure that the workflows you had in Outlook before the migration stay in place after the migration.
How much do MCS charge to move my emails to Microsoft 365?
Most migrations for sole traders and businesses with 2-3 users cost around £175 - £300 and takes around 3-5 hours spread over two working days.
The subscription to Microsoft 365 is paid by you directly to Microsoft with your credit card. My fee is due after the successful completion of the migration.
Need professional help migrating your emails
We have helped lots of self-employed and small business migrate their emails to Office 365.
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Contact Me
If you are interested in learning more about moving your IONOS email over to Microsoft 365 then please fill in the contact form below and I will get back to you very soon. Alternatively call me on the number below:
01628 298 820