Virtual Mailbox Services

What is a Virtual Mailbox?

Virtual mailboxes allow you to check your mail remotely from your phone or computer, and they provide you with a street address where people can send you physical mail.

Once you receive mail at that address, they will accept it on your behalf, scan the envelope or package and send you that scan. When you receive it, you generally have three options:

• They can open the mail for you, scan the contents, and send you the scan.
• They can forward the mail to another physical address like that of friends or family.
• They can shred the mail if you don't want it or if it's spam.

In addition to the core functionality of receiving mail and sending electronic copies of it to you remotely, virtual mailboxes generally have the following features:

• Package forwarding. In addition to mail, some virtual mailbox providers will also receive packages that they can forward to another address.
• Package consolidation. If you receive many packages every month, some virtual mailbox providers will consolidate them into one package when forwarding so that you can save money.
• Check deposits. Some virtual mailbox providers will, with your permission, deposit checks that you receive in the mail. This is especially relevant if you run a remote business and receive payments by check.

When choosing the right virtual mailbox provider, you should consider all its features to make sure it fits your needs and requirements.

Virtual Mailboxes vs. PO Boxes

Let’s admit that PO Boxes are outdated. They don’t fulfill our needs according to today’s standards. Especially, if you are a remote working professional, freelancer, or digital nomad, you must need a solution that suits your digital needs.

And here’s where virtual mailbox services come in. A virtual mailbox allows you to get your postal mail online. In today’s piece, we’ll cover some benefits of a virtual mailbox and how to select one. So enough jibber-jabber, let’s get started.

Benefits of Virtual Mailbox Services for Digital Nomads

Real-Time Alerts

Just like a regular email, a virtual mailbox gives you a real-time alert, which means that everything important will be at your disposal as soon as it arrives. Be it an invitation card or a document, you’ll get alerted in real-time. All you need to do is just click on the notification or alert to access it. No more checking a PO box again and again.

You Get A Real Street Address

Digital nomads like to switch workplaces every now and often, and they don’t have a physical appearance. It’s alright to be low-key, but from a professional point-of-view, it can hurt your reputation. Virtual mailbox services provide a real street address that highlights you as a thorough professional in front of your clients. No matter where you work from, your virtual mailbox service will make you appear legitimate and genuine.

Automatic Mail & Document Scanning

You can say goodbye to papers if you have a virtual mailbox service. All your mails will automatically be digitized for the ease of record-keeping and sorting. Furthermore, you’ll easily be able to access all your documents online anywhere and anytime.

What to Look for When Selecting a Virtual Mailbox Service

Services

Every virtual mailbox service hands out a set of different services. So you first need to decide what services you are interested in.

Apart from the basic services like receiving letters, storage, automation document conversion, check out which services your virtual mailbox provider supports. And then decide whether it’s worth it or not.

Fee

Checked all the services? It’s about time to check if the fee structure of your virtual mailbox service provides value for money.

You’ll find a detailed fee structure page on the website of every virtual mailbox service. Thoroughly go through it and see if it fits your pocket.

Virtual mailbox services are perfect for the unpredictable lifestyle of digital nomads. But before you choose one service, make sure to do your homework.

Browse through the different virtual mailbox services or submit one here.