This article provides step-by-step instructions for configuring Google’s Gmail service as your email client.

First, why would you want to use Google’s Gmail service, instead of a traditional email program, such as Outlook or Outlook Express? 

Gmail has many advantages:

• Portability – once you’ve gotten your gmail account set up and your email imported, you can access your email account from any computer with an internet connection. 
• No software to install.
• Outlook/Outlook Express/MS Mail are notoriously finicky when it comes to caching issues and email sending errors.  In fact, the vast majority of our technical support requests pertain directly to email setup problems. Gmail isn’t flawless, but your technical issues will be reduced dramatically.
• Antispam – Gmail has the single finest antispam filters I have seen in the industry, hands down.  Porting your email account through Gmail means that you will be able to take advantage of these filters to dramatically reduce the spam you receive.
• ISP issues – A growing number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have taken a heavy-handed approach to blocking spam by denying access to third party mail servers from operating on their network.  This includes any email accounts hosted by Hurtdidit.  There are workarounds for this, but it can be a moving target.
• Gmail plays well with mobile devices.  I myself am the proud owner of a Motorola Droid, which is purpose-built for integrating with gmail.  Google provides a long list of specialized gmail setup instructions for all manner of mobile devices, enabling you to check your email on-the-go, and to have your contacts synced between your phone and gmail account.
• It’s all free (supported by Google’s AdWords).

Email Setup Instructions for Gmail

1) Navigate to gmail.com.  There, you will see the login fields, along with the button to create a new account.  Click that button.

2) Sign up for a Gmail account.  This will entail choosing a username (pick whatever you want, so long as you remember what it is) and the usual sort of registration questions.  All fields are required.

3) Continue on to your new Gmail account (bypassing any promotional messages such as “Google Buzz” unless it’s of interest to you).

4) Once you’ve reached your Gmail inbox, click on the “Settings” link in the upper-right corner of your screen.  Then, click on the Accounts and Import tab.

5) Click to Add a POP3 email account.  A pop-up window will appear (check your pop-up blockers if you do not see this).

6) Enter the email address you wish to import, and continue.

7)  Enter your email account information – note that email accounts hosted with Hurtdidit entail your full email address – all lowercase – as the correct username.  

7a) Your mail server will be your domain name itself (in this case, simply hurtdidit.com ). 

7b) The port number is 110, and check the box to label incoming messages.

Note:  do NOT check the box for “Leave a copy of retrieved message on server” as this will cause your email account to eventually overfill, causing bounce-backs.

8) Next, Gmail will ask if you would like to send email under your own domain name—this is something you will want to do, so select "Yes" and proceed to the next step.

9) Enter your display name (how recipients will see messages from you).

10) Select the option to send email through your domain’s SMTP servers.  Skipping this step will still allow you to use gmail to fetch your email, but when you send new messages, it will show as originating from gmail.com (which is not so professional in appearance).

10a) Enter your SMTP server – simply your domain name (in this case it is hurtdidit.com ).

10b) Select the Port number 25.

10c) Enter your username (remember that this is your full email address, all lowercase), and your password.

10d)  Do NOT check the option for SSL.

11) Once you click “Add Account” Gmail will check the credentials—that is, verify the username and password you provided actually work.  If you succeed, you will be shown a “Confirm Verification screen.”

12)  Close this verification window, and click on the main Gmail window below it. 

13) The screen should still be displaying the Accounts and Imports (if not, click Settings > Accounts and Imports).  Locate the new POP account you’d just set up, and click Check Mail Now.  This will force Gmail to download any messages residing in your email account.  Wait for it to complete the cycle (should take only a minute).

14) Next, click on your inbox (left panel) to bring up your received messages. 

15)  Your “Gmail Confirmation” message should be waiting for you—click on it, and then copy the verification code or click the link within the message.  You should receive a “success” pop-up message.

16)  We have one final step left.  Click on the Settings > Accounts and Import once again.  Locate your email account, and select “make default” to the right of it (the link will change to “default” upon clicking).  Verify that the option below for “Always reply from the default address” is also selected.

Congratulations, Gmail has now been configured for your email account!  There are many options available for you now, including importing of your contacts, integration with your mobile device, and Google Apps (which include a calendar, news reader, documents, and much more).

Any questions or areas which you would like us to provide instructions for?   Let us know.