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How to Send a Fax Online Using Gmail

Faxing a document via Gmail is a very simple process once you've got everything set up. Google doesn't have a built-in fax service, but you can easily sign up for an online fax provider and then use your Gmail account to send and receive the documents. 

Choose an Online Fax Provider

You will need to sign up for an online fax provider service to be able to send your faxes via Gmail. Your chosen service will provide you with a fax number so you can receive faxes through your Gmail inbox.

The online fax service that you choose will determine the domain that you use when sending your faxes from Gmail. All you need to send your online fax is this domain name and the recipient's fax number.

Find the Best Value

There are plenty of fax providers available to choose from with different pricing plans. Most charge a monthly subscription fee, but there are some that will charge you per fax sent and received.

None of them are free for ongoing use but some do offer a free trial so you can sign up and give it a go without any cost.

Compose Your Fax

Writing a fax using Gmail is as simple as writing an email. The recipient's fax number and the domain of your chosen provider make up the address that you enter instead of an email address.

For example, if the fax number is 800-555-1111 and your provider domain is examplefax, then simply enter 8005551111@examplefax.com as you would enter an email address. If you want to send a copy of the fax to an actual email address, you can enter this in the Cc box.

Include a Cover Letter

If you would like your faxed document to include a cover letter with further information, it's easy to add this using Gmail. Simply write your cover letter text in the main body of the email, as if you were sending it to a normal email address.

This cover letter will print from the recipient's fax machine before your actual document and can be critical to explain what the document is and who is sending it. You can put the title of your cover letter in the Subject bar of the email and it will be included on the printed cover letter.

Attach Your Document

Attaching your fax document is as simple as attaching a document to your emails. Most file types are supported, but PDF is the most popular and regularly used. You can attach as many documents as you like and they will all be sent in the same fax.

Simply click on the paperclip icon in Gmail and navigate to the correct document or image that you want to send. Select “Attach” and your document will show at the bottom of your Gmail composer once it has been uploaded. Repeat the process for multiple documents.

Send Your Fax   

If you thought that composing the fax was simple, then sending it really is a breeze. It's as easy as hitting Send in your Gmail, and your document is on its way!

You should receive a confirmation message shortly afterward to let you know your fax was delivered to the correct destination.  

Receive a Fax via Gmail

If you have mastered sending faxes via Gmail, then you won't want to get a machine just to receive them. You can easily get faxes sent to your Gmail inbox just like an email.

Choose a Fax Number

When you sign up for your online fax provider, most offer a choice between a local or a toll-free number, so you can select which is most appropriate for you. Toll-free is of course useful as senders will not incur a charge, but local numbers can often be more trustworthy. Consider the pros and cons and decide which is best for you.

Link Your Email Address

Your online fax provider will do this for you when you sign up. Just enter the address of the inbox that you want to receive your faxes when prompted, and the online provider will receive documents sent to your fax number and then send them to you as an email with an attachment. It's as easy as that!

Get Started with Faxing via Gmail

As you can see, faxing with Gmail is just as simple as sending an email once you're up and running with an online provider. Give it a go and send a fax now to find out just how easy it can be.
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