5 Awesome Microsoft Outlook Add Ons to Improve Productivity

Microsoft Outlook is a powerful, easy to use application that has amazing features that make email communication easier and faster. Yet, many tasks can be accomplished quicker using Microsoft Outlook add-ons. In this post, we take a look at 5 such awesome Microsoft Outlook add ons that offer great value to users looking to work more efficiently with the email client.

5 Must Have Microsoft Outlook Add Ons for Outlook

1. EmailMerge

EmailMerge is a great email merge program for sending personalized email messages, invitations, and newsletter publications to customers, clients and subscribers. It supports both HTML and RTF formats, allows you to send email attachments, merge fields, delay sending email, send mail on behalf of others, allows you to choose from a variety of templates among other features.

This add on works only on a 32 bit Outlook 2010 app. It is priced $39.95 for a standard version and $69.95 for the PRO version which offers extra features such as batch sending emails from the Drafts folder, sending on behalf of others, delayed batch sending, superior support for mailing lists saved in Excel, Access and CSV files and sending attachments to recipients based on field data among others. You can also download a trial version before you buy.

2. SendGuard

One of the common problems we face when working with an email client is entering the wrong recipient name, sending the wrong attachment, forgetting to attach a file, or replying to all instead of just one person. SendGuard saves you the blushes by scanning your messages and warning you if it thinks you are about to send out an email with a mistake. Price: $69.95. Also has a 30 day free trial option.

3. E-mail Follow-Up

E-mail Follow-Up for Outlook reminds you to send a follow-up message when you fail to receive a reply within a specified time to a message you previously sent. You can send the follow up email using a predesigned template. You can vary the settings for each email message you send out. A single user license costs $24 and you can try the product for 20 days for free.

4. Cloudmark DesktopOne

Cloudmark DesktopOne is a popular anti spam add on that works not just on Microsoft Outlook but also other applications such as Outlook Express, Thunderbird, and Windows Mail among others. It basically checks your incoming email messages, checks whether it is spam email or not and automatically routes spam email to a Spam folder. It offers a free account, with limited features for individuals but offers a pro version with automatic spam deletion, manual scan of folders, Trust features and cloud support for small businesses for $19.95.

5. Duplicate Killer

Duplicate Killer has a very simple function. Find and eliminate duplicate contacts, email messages, calendar items, tasks and notes automatically. It can search duplicates across multiple folders, scan the Inbox automatically, merge or remove duplicate contacts, remove duplicate calendar events and  even backup duplicates. It is available in English, Spanish, French and German as well, offers a 14 day free trial and is priced at $29.95 for a single user license.

If you have purchased or tried any of these Microsoft Outlook add ons, let us know which ones worked for you.