Small Business Customer Service Blog

Read the latest articles about customer support, team collaboration, and building better support experiences.

SharePoint vs OneDrive: What is the Difference and Which Should You Use?
Mark O'Toole 1 May 2026

SharePoint vs OneDrive: What is the Difference and Which Should You Use?

SharePoint is for teams, OneDrive is for personal storage. Compare features, pricing, limits, and when to use each - plus what happens when someone leaves.

Office 365
How to Create Rules and Filters in Gmail (Complete Guide)
Mark O'Toole 1 May 2026

How to Create Rules and Filters in Gmail (Complete Guide)

Learn how to create Gmail filters to auto-label, archive, forward, and organize emails. Covers all three methods, advanced operators, and filter limits.

Google Workspace
15 Essential Customer Service Skills Every Agent Needs
Mark O'Toole 24 April 2026

15 Essential Customer Service Skills Every Agent Needs

The 15 customer service skills that separate great agents from average ones. Learn what each skill means, why it matters, and how to develop it.

Customer Support
How to Set Up Auto-Forwarding in Outlook (Step-by-Step Guide)
Mark O'Toole 17 April 2026

How to Set Up Auto-Forwarding in Outlook (Step-by-Step Guide)

Learn how to set up automatic email forwarding in Outlook - classic desktop, new Outlook, web, and Microsoft 365 admin center.

Office 365
Customer Feedback Surveys: Templates, Questions, and Best Practices
Mark O'Toole 17 April 2026

Customer Feedback Surveys: Templates, Questions, and Best Practices

Learn how to create customer feedback surveys that get real answers. Includes survey templates, question examples, and tips for turning responses into action.

Customer Support
Best Client Portal Software for Accountants (2026)
Hana Mohan 6 April 2026

Best Client Portal Software for Accountants (2026)

Compare 8 client portal tools built for accounting firms — with pricing, security features, and integration depth for every firm size.

Customer Portal
Shared Mailbox vs Distribution List: Key Differences Explained
Hana Mohan 1 April 2026

Shared Mailbox vs Distribution List: Key Differences Explained

Shared mailboxes and distribution lists both handle team email, but work very differently. Learn when to use each and when you need something better.

Shared Inbox
Best IT Ticketing Systems (2026)
Hana Mohan 26 March 2026

Best IT Ticketing Systems (2026)

Compare 10 IT ticketing systems for internal support teams. From simple shared inboxes to full ITSM platforms, find the right fit for your team.

Customer Support
How to Respond to Negative Reviews: Templates and Tips
Mark O'Toole 25 March 2026

How to Respond to Negative Reviews: Templates and Tips

Ready-to-use templates for responding to negative reviews on Google, social media, and email - plus tips for turning bad feedback into better service.

Customer Complaints
How to Deal with Difficult Customers: 8 Practical Tips
Mark O'Toole 25 March 2026

How to Deal with Difficult Customers: 8 Practical Tips

Learn 8 practical tips for dealing with difficult customers - from staying calm to following up after the issue is resolved.

Customer Complaints
Help Desk and Project Management: 7 Integrations That Work
Hana Mohan 25 March 2026

Help Desk and Project Management: 7 Integrations That Work

Connect your help desk with project management tools like Linear, Asana, and Trello. Turn support tickets into tasks without switching tools.

Shared Inbox
10 Apology Email Templates for Customer Service (Copy & Paste)
Mark O'Toole 25 March 2026

10 Apology Email Templates for Customer Service (Copy & Paste)

Need to apologize to a customer? 10 copy-paste email templates for late deliveries, billing errors, outages, bad experiences, and more - ready to send today.

Customer Complaints
What Is an AI Knowledge Base? Benefits, Tools & How It Works
Mark O'Toole 24 March 2026

What Is an AI Knowledge Base? Benefits, Tools & How It Works

An AI knowledge base uses machine learning to organize and surface help content. Learn how it works, what to look for, and how it helps support teams.

Knowledge Base
Best Email Ticketing Systems (2026)
Mark O'Toole 24 March 2026

Best Email Ticketing Systems (2026)

We tested and compared the 10 best email ticketing systems for 2026. See which email ticketing software fits your team size, budget, and workflow.

Customer Support
Best Customer Portal Software for Support Teams
Mark O'Toole 24 March 2026

Best Customer Portal Software for Support Teams

Compare 10 customer portal software tools for support teams. Covers features, pricing, and which platform fits small and mid-size teams best.

Customer Portal
Best Live Chat Software (2026)
Hana Mohan 23 March 2026

Best Live Chat Software (2026)

Compare 10 live chat software options for customer support — from free widgets to AI-powered platforms with ticketing and CRM integration.

Customer Support
How to Migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace
Mark O'Toole 23 March 2026

How to Migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace

A step-by-step guide to migrating email, contacts, calendars, and files from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace without losing data or disrupting your team.

Google Workspace
How to Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365
Mark O'Toole 23 March 2026

How to Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365

Learn how to migrate Gmail to Office 365 step by step. Covers email, contacts, calendars, files, DNS cutover, and post-migration setup.

Office 365
How to Add a Shared Mailbox in Outlook (All Platforms)
Hana Mohan 23 March 2026

How to Add a Shared Mailbox in Outlook (All Platforms)

Step-by-step guide to adding a shared mailbox in Outlook desktop, new Outlook, Outlook on the web, Mac, and mobile. Includes troubleshooting for common issues.

Office 365
What Is a Knowledge Base? A Guide With Examples
Mark O'Toole 21 March 2026

What Is a Knowledge Base? A Guide With Examples

Learn what a knowledge base is, the types of knowledge bases, how to build one, and real examples. A practical guide for support teams.

Knowledge Base
Help Desk Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Support Teams
Hana Mohan 21 March 2026

Help Desk Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Support Teams

Plan and execute your help desk migration without losing data or disrupting support. A complete checklist covering every step from audit to go-live.

Customer Support
Best Knowledge Base Software for Support Teams
Mark O'Toole 21 March 2026

Best Knowledge Base Software for Support Teams

Compare 12 knowledge base software tools for customer support teams. Covers features, pricing, open source options, and which tool fits small teams best.

Knowledge Base
How to Create Email Templates in Outlook (2026 Guide)
Hana Mohan 20 March 2026

How to Create Email Templates in Outlook (2026 Guide)

Learn how to create, save, and use email templates in Outlook. Covers classic Outlook, new Outlook, Mail Templates, Quick Parts, and tips for support teams.

Office 365
How to Create Email Templates in Gmail (Step-by-Step)
Hana Mohan 20 March 2026

How to Create Email Templates in Gmail (Step-by-Step)

Learn how to create, use, and manage email templates in Gmail. Step-by-step guide with examples for support teams, plus tips for outgrowing native templates.

Google Workspace
10 Best CRM Tools for Small Businesses (2026)
Hana Mohan 18 March 2026

10 Best CRM Tools for Small Businesses (2026)

Compare the 10 best CRM tools for small businesses in 2026. Find the right fit for your team based on pricing, features, and ease of use.

Customer Success and Growth
What Is an Email Ticketing System? (And How to Choose One)
Mark O'Toole 16 March 2026

What Is an Email Ticketing System? (And How to Choose One)

Learn what an email ticketing system is, how it turns incoming emails into trackable tickets, and how to choose the right one.

Customer Support
How to Set Up a Support Email for Your Shopify Store
Mark O'Toole 16 March 2026

How to Set Up a Support Email for Your Shopify Store

Learn how to set up a Shopify support email with domain verification, SPF/DKIM, and a help desk for better deliverability.

Customer Support
Shared Inbox vs Help Desk: Which Does Your Team Need?
Mark O'Toole 16 March 2026

Shared Inbox vs Help Desk: Which Does Your Team Need?

Shared inbox vs help desk - compare features, pricing, and team fit. Find the right email collaboration tool for your support workflow.

Shared Inbox
Best Customer Support Tools for Shopify Stores (2026 Comparison)
Mark O'Toole 16 March 2026

Best Customer Support Tools for Shopify Stores (2026 Comparison)

Side-by-side comparison of Shopify helpdesks, live chat, and AI tools — with pricing, integration depth, and honest trade-offs for every store size.

Customer Support
How Customer Portals Reduce Support Tickets
Mark O'Toole 16 March 2026

How Customer Portals Reduce Support Tickets

Learn how customer portals reduce support tickets by 40-63%. Real examples, ROI data, and best practices for small teams.

Customer Portal
Power Automate Workflows for Customer Support Emails
Mark O'Toole 13 March 2026

Power Automate Workflows for Customer Support Emails

Use Power Automate workflows for customer support emails to automate email triage, send follow-up emails, and route messages to the right team.

Office 365
5 Problems with Using Outlook as a Helpdesk
Mark O'Toole 12 March 2026

5 Problems with Using Outlook as a Helpdesk

Learn the 5 biggest problems with using Outlook as a helpdesk and why growing teams need a purpose-built support tool.

Office 365
10 Best SharePoint Alternatives (2026) - Simpler, Cheaper Options
Mark O'Toole 11 March 2026

10 Best SharePoint Alternatives (2026) - Simpler, Cheaper Options

Tired of managing SharePoint? Compare 10 alternatives your team will actually use - with pricing, pros and cons, and a migration checklist.

Office 365
10 Best Practices for Efficient Ticket Handling
Mark O'Toole 10 March 2026

10 Best Practices for Efficient Ticket Handling

Master ticket handling best practices to reduce costs, improve response times, and prevent misrouted support requests from damaging your customer relationships.

Customer Support
How AI in Customer Service is Changing Support
Mark O'Toole 9 March 2026

How AI in Customer Service is Changing Support

Discover how AI in customer service provides instant support and prevents negative reviews by automating responses and solving complex issues around the clock.

Customer Support
10 Best Help Scout Alternatives for Small Teams
Mark O'Toole 9 March 2026

10 Best Help Scout Alternatives for Small Teams

Find affordable support tools with our guide to the 10 best Help Scout alternatives for small teams to scale customer service without high per-user costs.

Customer Support
10 Best Help Desk Software for Small Businesses (2026)
Hana Mohan 5 March 2026

10 Best Help Desk Software for Small Businesses (2026)

Not sure which help desk fits your team? Compare 10 platforms by pricing, ease of setup, and automation - ranked for small business budgets.

Customer Support
How to Write the Best Email for Customer Support
Hana Mohan 5 March 2026

How to Write the Best Email for Customer Support

Learn how to write a professional email for customer support that resolves issues quickly and turns frustrated users into loyal brand advocates with ease.

Customer Support
9 Best Zendesk Alternatives for Small Teams (2026)
Hana Mohan 5 March 2026

9 Best Zendesk Alternatives for Small Teams (2026)

Zendesk too complex or expensive for your team? Compare 9 alternatives with simpler setup, lower pricing, and the features small teams actually need.

Customer Support
6 Best Business Email Services for Small Teams (2026)
Mark O'Toole 5 March 2026

6 Best Business Email Services for Small Teams (2026)

Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 vs Zoho vs Proton - which email service fits your small business? Side-by-side comparison with pricing and setup tips.

Shared Inbox
15 Best CRM Tools for Customer Service Teams (2026)
Hana Mohan 8 February 2026

15 Best CRM Tools for Customer Service Teams (2026)

Most CRMs are built for sales, not support. Compare 15 platforms with help desk integration, ticket tracking, and customer history - built for service teams.

Customer Success and Growth
How to Forward Email in Google Groups: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hana Mohan 30 October 2025

How to Forward Email in Google Groups: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to forward emails from Google Groups -- manually, with Gmail filters, or as a group admin. Step-by-step guide with screenshots.

Google Workspace
Office 365 Shared Mailbox: Setup Guide and Best Practices
Hana Mohan 2 September 2025

Office 365 Shared Mailbox: Setup Guide and Best Practices

Learn 10 shared mailbox best practices for Office 365 and Outlook. Boost team collaboration, security, and response times.

Office 365
Canned Response Templates for Customer Service
Hana Mohan 30 July 2025

Canned Response Templates for Customer Service

Copy-paste canned response templates for customer service teams. Ready-to-use examples for greetings, complaints, refunds, technical support, and more.

Customer Support
10 Most Effective Ways To Automate Emails in Gmail
Hana Mohan 25 November 2024

10 Most Effective Ways To Automate Emails in Gmail

Learn how to automate your Gmail emails for better organization and productivity. Discover methods like filters, labels, scheduling, and more.

Google Workspace
Google Docs vs Office 365: Features & Pricing Guide
Hana Mohan 20 November 2024

Google Docs vs Office 365: Features & Pricing Guide

Compare Google Docs vs Office 365 side by side. Features, pricing, collaboration, and storage to help you pick the right productivity suite.

Office 365
How To View Multiple Gmail Accounts in One Inbox
Hana Mohan 20 November 2024

How To View Multiple Gmail Accounts in One Inbox

Tired of switching between Gmail accounts? Learn how to view all your emails in one inbox with easy steps to boost productivity and stay organized.

Google Workspace
How to Create a Shared Mailbox in Google Workspace
Hana Mohan 22 October 2024

How to Create a Shared Mailbox in Google Workspace

Google Workspace has no native shared mailbox. Here are 3 ways to create one -- Gmail delegation, Collaborative Inbox, and shared inbox tools.

Google Workspace
Automate Gmail Attachment Downloads with Apps Script
Hana Mohan 14 October 2024

Automate Gmail Attachment Downloads with Apps Script

‘Use Google Apps Script to automate downloading Gmail attachments. A simple copy-paste setup that works even if you are not a developer.’

Google Workspace
15 Tips to Organize Your Gmail Inbox
Hana Mohan 23 September 2024

15 Tips to Organize Your Gmail Inbox

Overwhelmed by your Gmail inbox? Follow these 15 tips for organizing emails, from customizing layouts to archiving old messages.

Google Workspace
What Is Customer Engagement? Definition, Examples & Strategies
Hana Mohan 10 September 2024

What Is Customer Engagement? Definition, Examples & Strategies

What does customer engagement actually mean? Clear definition, real-world examples from brands like Starbucks and Sephora, and 6 strategies to improve it.

Customer Success and Growth
Building a Customer-Centric Culture: 6 Ways to Make It Real
Hana Mohan 9 September 2024

Building a Customer-Centric Culture: 6 Ways to Make It Real

Only 14% of companies are truly customer-centric. Learn how to build a customer-centric culture through values, hiring, training, and technology.

Customer Success and Growth
How to Build a Customer-Centric Strategy: 7 Proven Steps
Hana Mohan 7 September 2024

How to Build a Customer-Centric Strategy: 7 Proven Steps

A step-by-step guide to building a customer-centric strategy. Learn to collect feedback, use data, train teams, and develop customer-first products.

Customer Success and Growth
What is Customer Retention (and Why Is It Important)?
Hana Mohan 6 August 2024

What is Customer Retention (and Why Is It Important)?

Learn what customer retention is, how to measure it, why it matters more than acquisition, and proven strategies to keep your customers coming back.

Customer Success and Growth
How to Improve Customer Satisfaction: 10 Proven Strategies
Hana Mohan 21 July 2024

How to Improve Customer Satisfaction: 10 Proven Strategies

Learn 10 proven strategies to improve customer satisfaction - from faster response times and self-service portals to personalized support and feedback loops.

Customer Success and Growth
What Is the Goal of CRM? 5 Key Objectives
Hana Mohan 14 July 2024

What Is the Goal of CRM? 5 Key Objectives

The goal of CRM is to build stronger customer relationships that drive revenue. Here are 5 specific CRM objectives and the exact metrics to measure each one.

Customer Success and Growth
Best Customer Feedback Tools for Small Businesses (2026)
Hana Mohan 30 June 2024

Best Customer Feedback Tools for Small Businesses (2026)

Customer feedback tools help small businesses collect reviews, run surveys, and track user behavior. Compare 48 tools across forums, reviews, and surveys.

Customer Success and Growth
10 Best Customer Service Software Platforms (2026)
Hana Mohan 23 June 2024

10 Best Customer Service Software Platforms (2026)

Looking for customer service software? Compare 10 platforms for email support, live chat, and ticketing - with pricing, pros and cons for every team size.

Customer Support
Customer Support vs. Customer Service Explained
Hana Mohan 18 June 2024

Customer Support vs. Customer Service Explained

Customer support vs. customer service - what is the real difference? Support solves technical problems. Service covers the full customer relationship.

Customer Support
Customer Service 101: Tips, Training & Best Practices
Hana Mohan 4 May 2024

Customer Service 101: Tips, Training & Best Practices

95 expert customer service tips covering training, dealing with difficult customers, using technology, and building a customer-first culture.

Customer Support
5 Benefits of a Cloud-Based Helpdesk for Customer Support
Hana Mohan 30 April 2024

5 Benefits of a Cloud-Based Helpdesk for Customer Support

A cloud-based helpdesk streamlines ticket management, improves team access, and scales with your business. Learn the top 5 benefits of moving to the cloud.

Customer Support
What Is Customer Relations? Definition, Tips & Why It Matters
Hana Mohan 10 April 2024

What Is Customer Relations? Definition, Tips & Why It Matters

Customer relations means building positive relationships between a business and its customers. Learn the definition, types, and 10 tips to improve yours.

Customer Support
What Is Customer Support? Definition & Best Practices
Hana Mohan 31 March 2024

What Is Customer Support? Definition & Best Practices

What is customer support? It is the help you give customers when they hit problems. Learn how it works, why it matters, and best practices.

Customer Support
What Is Customer Service Experience? Definition & Examples
Hana Mohan 26 March 2024

What Is Customer Service Experience? Definition & Examples

Customer service experience is how customers feel about every interaction with your support team. Learn what it includes, real examples, and how to improve it.

Customer Support
38 Best Customer Service Articles Every Team Should Read
Hana Mohan 10 March 2024

38 Best Customer Service Articles Every Team Should Read

A curated list of 38 customer service articles with expert tips, best practices, industry stats, and proven strategies for support teams.

Customer Support
What is Customer Success (and Why is It Important)?
Hana Mohan 5 March 2024

What is Customer Success (and Why is It Important)?

Customer success (CS) takes a proactive approach to customer satisfaction. Learn more about customer success and how to implement a CS program.

Customer Support
How to Respond to Customer Complaints: 10 Email Templates
Hana Mohan 27 February 2024

How to Respond to Customer Complaints: 10 Email Templates

Use these 10 ready-to-send email templates to respond to customer complaints. Each covers a real scenario, from delivery delays to billing errors.

Customer Complaints
How to Use Social Media for Customer Support
Hana Mohan 20 February 2024

How to Use Social Media for Customer Support

Social media customer service means helping customers on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn best practices, tips, and strategy.

Customer Support
The 7 must-have features in an email collaboration software
Hana Mohan 10 February 2024

The 7 must-have features in an email collaboration software

Not all shared inbox tools are built equal. Here are the 7 email collaboration features your team actually needs -- from real-time updates to flexible pricing.

Shared Inbox
6 Reasons to Use a Shared Inbox for Customer Support
Hana Mohan 6 February 2024

6 Reasons to Use a Shared Inbox for Customer Support

Wondering if a shared inbox is worth it? Here are six reasons why shared inbox software beats shared passwords, forwarded emails, and basic mailboxes.

Shared Inbox
50 Best Survey Questions to Measure Customer Satisfaction
Hana Mohan 17 January 2024

50 Best Survey Questions to Measure Customer Satisfaction

Not sure where to begin to develop your customer satisfaction survey? These 50 questions will help you measure every facet of the customer experience.

Customer Support
Best Shared Inbox Software (2026)
Hana Mohan 12 December 2023

Best Shared Inbox Software (2026)

Looking for shared inbox software? Compare 25 shared inbox solutions to manage emails, assign conversations, and collaborate on customer support.

Shared Inbox
The 10 Most Important Customer Service Skills (With Expert Insights)
Hana Mohan 27 November 2023

The 10 Most Important Customer Service Skills (With Expert Insights)

The 10 customer service skills that matter most - active listening, empathy, patience, and more - with advice from 26 industry experts.

Customer Support
8 Customer Satisfaction Metrics Every Team Should Track (2026)
Hana Mohan 13 November 2023

8 Customer Satisfaction Metrics Every Team Should Track (2026)

Track the right customer satisfaction metrics: NPS, CSAT, CES, churn rate, and more. Includes calculation formulas, industry benchmarks, and when to use each.

Customer Support
Customer Service Best Practices: 9 Ways to Improve Support
Hana Mohan 6 November 2023

Customer Service Best Practices: 9 Ways to Improve Support

Discover 9 proven customer service best practices to improve response times, personalize support, and retain customers. Practical tips for support teams.

Customer Support
What Is a Customer Portal? A Complete Guide
Hana Mohan 9 October 2023

What Is a Customer Portal? A Complete Guide

Learn what a customer portal is, its key features, and how to build one. Covers benefits, real-world examples, AI trends, and best practices for support teams.

Customer Portal
How to Handle Customer Complaints: A Step-by-Step Process
Hana Mohan 2 October 2023

How to Handle Customer Complaints: A Step-by-Step Process

A step-by-step process for handling customer complaints - from setting up channels to tracking resolution and following up.

Customer Complaints