Introduction:
Imagine being able to store your photos, documents, and other digital content in a file hosting service and having that service backup your content too.
Isn’t that fantastic?
Of course, it is. And what if it was free up to 2 GB… and you could access your files anywhere even without an internet connection?
Is that even possible?
Yes, it is – with Dropbox. This tool is so much more than just a file hosting service. It’s a modern workspace that’s designed to help productive marketers, students, business professionals and anymore who just wants a safe place to store their files.
Let’s see why Dropbox is so far ahead of its competitors and as of 2020, reported having more than 15 million paying users!
The Pros
- It’s free up to 2 GB
While 2 gigabytes is not a lot when it comes to storage, it’s a start. More importantly, it lets you test out the platform for free. Once you see how powerful and versatile it is, you’ll definitely want to upgrade.
- It’s very affordable
If you choose the individual plan, you can expect to pay about $11.99 a month. If you choose to pay annually, the price drops to $9.99 a month. That’s inexpensive and most people will gladly be able to pay extra for all the added storage and features they’ll get when they upgrade.
- Automatic backups
This is a unique feature with Dropbox. They actually back up your files. So if you’re worried about losing the files on their cloud hosting, guess what?
They have backups for those too. Your content is extremely safe with them.
- File sharing
You’ll be able to share files with others just by providing them a link. That makes it very easy for people who aren’t tech savvy to access the files.
Collaboration between those working with you and for you is easier when you have Dropbox.
- No internet connection necessary
This is a fantastic feature. If your internet connection goes down, you’ll still be able to access your files. Do note that you’ll need to mark the files that you want access to offline beforehand. Then Dropbox will sync the files so that you can access them even without an internet connection.
- Useful integrations
Dropbox integrates with many popular 3rd party apps/tools such as Google docs, Google sheets, Trello, Zoom, Asana, Zapier, Vimeo, WordPress and much more. You can check out the full list of integrations on their official website.
- Simplicity
Using Dropbox is easy. It’s less complicated than Amazon S3 or other file hosting services. There are tutorials to guide you. Watch them once and you’ll be able to use Dropbox like a pro.
- Mobile app
Yes! Dropbox has a mobile app too. So you can use it across different digital devices. There’s a lot of flexibility with this tool.
- Support
Dropbox has excellent support. You can contact them by phone, live chat or email. Any file issues and problems you have will be promptly sorted by their staff.
The Cons
Unfortunately, Dropbox was hacked before. The company has taken major steps to rectify this issue by using 256-bit AES file encryption and so on. Nevertheless, it took a hit to its reputation.
Don’t let this deter you from using Dropbox. It’s still a solid file hosting service with excellent features to increase your productivity – and the security is much higher now.
Another downside could be that it does get a bit pricey if you have a larger team of 5 people or more who are using Dropbox together with you in your business. You should check the cost on the pricing page because there may be discounts.
Should You Get It?
If you’re an online marketer, this is a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal. You’ll be able to share files with your partners, freelancers working for you, etc.
The costs are low enough to afford without it eating into your bottom-line.
Others who wish to have a place to store their documents, photos, videos, etc. and don’t wish to do so in an external drive can use Dropbox and store their files in the cloud.
This is a very handy service to have, and it’s within the reach of most people. Definitely worth getting.
