A virtual mailbox is a service that receives all your physical mail for you. Here’s a quick rundown of the features you can expect from a virtual mailbox:
- You can have a single US physical address that never changes no matter where you live.
- When mail arrives, the service scans the outside of envelopes and packages.
- You view the scans of your incoming mail and tell the service whether to shred, hold, or ship the items to you.
- Some services (like Cogs) will also open the mail and scan the contents for you.
- You may also be able to ask for incoming checks to be deposited (via mail) to any US bank.
These set of features provide unique opportunities for different people, even if you live inside the U.S and have a physical postal address.
Need a better way to manage your mail? Whether you’re running a small business or moving to a new city, virtual mailbox services offer an ideal solution.
- You Can Check Your Mail Without Physically Checking Your Mail
Retrieving your mail is one of those tasks that couldn’t be more annoying. Unless you’re expecting an exciting package, going to the mailbox is usually a disappointing experience that’s only made worse by the fact that you’ve got to filter through a bunch of trash.
Virtual mailbox providers scan the items that you receive so that you can handle this task from within the comfort of your home or office. You can then access the contents of your virtual mailbox online from anywhere in the world.
- You Get to Forward and Manage Mail Online
One of the best aspects of virtual mailboxes is that you can forward your mail to any location on the planet. If you’re a redistributor of goods or you move frequently, then these features might make your life much simpler.
The fact that you can manage your mail via your iOS or Android device of choice is another major perk. If you’re running a business or living with roommates, you can even set up multiple users to let each person or department manage their shipment settings on their own so that you don’t have to do all of the work.
- Your Company Will Seem Far More Professional
What do you think when you discover that a business is using a P.O. box or a home address? If you’re like most consumers, then you’ll instantly wonder why you’re working with a company that lacks the resources to maintain a physical mailing premises.
True, there are plenty of valid reasons for not tying your business to brick-and-mortar addresses, but P.O. box solutions reduce people’s confidence in your enterprise. Virtual mailbox services, on the other hand, let you keep up appearances with a private suite number. These alternatives help you present your company as a trustworthy business, which might just be critical to your long-term growth.
- You Don’t Have to Wait to Get Started
Signing up for a P.O. box isn’t an instantaneous process. You have to fill out paperwork, decide who ought to be authorized to access the box in advance and collect your keys. You’ll also need to shift your schedule around so that you have time to empty the box on a regular basis.
Virtual mailbox services take a lot of the work out of receiving mail. You can use your address as soon as you sign up. Also, unlimited digital storage means that you don’t have to cram weekly pickups into your packed itinerary.
- Security Is Simpler
Modern virtual mailbox providers go above and beyond to make privacy easier. In addition to using secure web technologies to transmit scanned images of your mail, the best offer perks like complimentary document shredding. At a bare minimum, you should expect that your provider will conduct rigorous background checks on their staff and operate private facilities with continuous site monitoring and access control.