Email feels like a moot point; something that is a part of the digital direction business is headed in, but not really at its core. For some reason, email doesn’t really get the acknowledgement it deserves. Often overshadowed by the new, trending, or more exciting platforms and apps. However, there is a very good reason why our mailboxes continuously pile up with promotional mailers and SPAM; it’s because marketing companies and hackers know that email is still “IN”.

“Much like social platforms, checking email is second-nature,” says Domains.co.za CEO Wayne Diamond. “People are so used to it. And because email is convenient, less intrusive and super smart we don’t even realise how dependent we are on it. There are 3.9 billion active email users in the world and 85% of users access emails via smartphones. Furthermore, a high percentage of this number check their mails after normal working hours. Simply put, email is and always will be the primary communication tool for businesses. It is a global and effective support structure that works well with other communication platforms and instant messaging applications.”

Email is continuously evolving. Today mailboxes offer professionals multiple smart features to help save time and organise emails more efficiently. Apart from using these great features, there are other aspects that businesses can do to make sure email works as smartly as it should.

1. Register a business domain name
Owning a professional business domain for your business is affordable and easy to obtain. And you don’t have to wait for your website to be ready to start using your email either. With Domains.co.za’s email hosting with free email SSL you can send emails professionally and securely from the get-go.

2. Set up email domain authentications
For better email security you should setup DNS TXT records that authenticate and secure your emails to avoid tampering, or getting blocked by the recipient’s server, are Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF).

Setting these up manually can be slightly tricky if you aren’t familiar with the process. At Domains.co.za, we automatically configure any domain that has taken out a domains.co.za web hosting or email hosting package for DKIM and SPF.

3. Follow proper email etiquette
Individuals and companies can create and build good reputations, prevent misunderstandings and save time by sending professional emails and following email etiquette both internally and externally.

Email has and is adapting to the business landscape by improving its features consistently. The question is, “are you using it effectively in your business?”

Event organiser Kinetic has confirmed that industry-giant Performanta has signed on as platinum sponsors for this year’s anticipated 6th edition of their successful flagship event; the IT Leaders Africa Summit.

The event, taking place from 18 - 19 March 2015 at The Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, is set to go beyond your usual routine business conference, evolving to deliver on a more exciting, topical, trendy and current platform, utilising both the latest technologies coupled with the latest in conference trends internationally.

Together with Performanta, the event aims to deliver an expert-lead agenda that features an educational conference program backed by the latest in technology workshops and demonstrations. 

Performanta’s workshop; Safeguard your organisation now, your wallet will thank you later; focuses on measuring your organisation against the industry on 10 information security and privacy measures, derived from real-world assessments.

Performanta Consulting was established by Anthony Olivier 4 years ago, aligning information security consulting services to the Performanta Technology & Services stable. Performanta Consulting has provided services to primary South African banks, insurance companies, brokers, mining companies, service and retail organisations. Their key differentiator: senior, qualified, experienced consultants, integrated frameworks and fair pricing. Furthermore, the team has assisted in addressing security problems in seventeen African countries and has a thorough understanding of the continental landscape.

As thought-leaders in the industry, they are amongst the most active South African participants in industry conferences, blogs and podcasts.An expert-led advisory panel will lead the summit with industry giants Robert Sussman, co-founder and joint-CEO of Integr8; Hugo Timmerman, Head of IT Southern Africa at British American Tobacco; and Tunde Coker, MD of Rack Centre (A Jagal Group Company).

The event also features over 35 speakers, keynotes, panel discussions and numerous educational workshop sessions hosted by key industry providers, all sessions led by some of today’s most notable individuals who are shaping the IT landscape in South Africa and beyond.

Speakers, just to name a few, include; David Visser, CIO of Coca-Cola Southern Africa; Anthony Hlungwane, Group IT Director of Mr Price Group; Sal Laher, CIO Eskom; Rocky Gwewera, Global Head of Infrastructure Architecture at Sasol; Stephan Ekbergh, CEO and founder of Travelstart; and Sunil Joshi, MD and CEO of Neotel.

Some sponsors and partners include; Telkom Business, HP, Performanta and Blue Coat Systems, SITA, Airwatch, Kofax, Dimension Data, Neotel, Meso Systems, Sage Pastel Accounting and ERP Africa, and Blackberry.

For more information on the event to register to attend or to sponsor, visit www.itleaders.co.za or contact the event organisers Kinetic on +27 21 180 4700.Follow the event and stay up to date on Twitter. @ITLeadersAfrica and join in on the conversation using #ITLAfrica.

Findoo is a simple and effective Tender Alerts System that takes out the pain of filtering through heaps of tender data, by making it simple to receive what your are interested in. You choose the tender categories you want and the system will send you alerts directly to your phone via SMS or push email or direct to email on your computer when they are published. Easy!

Findoo is a product of Glorifieldlabs IT Consulting (Pty) Ltd, a technology company that was founded with the intention of solving technological challenges faced by small and medium sized businesses in South Africa. Glorifieldlabs' core focus is to leverage the power of the internet to create easily accessible software solutions over the web and mobile devices.

Website: www.findoo.co.za

{pp}Email Marketing is a very effective way to speak directly to your customers and clients, ultimately driving engagement which increases leads and sales.

But of course, in order for Email Marketing to be successful, targeted messages need to reach the right people. Part of what makes email marketing unique and so effective is its ability both to broadcast, and also to target individuals with personalised content simultaneously.

{pp}Email Marketing should form an integral part of your marketing strategy, as it’s a great tool for establishing relationships, loyalty and ongoing communication with customers.

{pp}CMS tools allow easy management of content and automatically alerts search engines of changes. What makes a website more credible and more useful than the rest? What enhances a website’s listing on Google, Yahoo and the other search engines? The answer is to build a content rich website.

{pp}Lutho, the South African based online marketing company today officially launched a unique website wizard that will make it possible for aspiring entrepreneurs and small and medium sized business (SME) owners to get their own professional-looking website and a company-branded email address in less than two hours.