# Quick start for admins

## The Basics

Once connected, Keeping syncs all new emails arriving at your shared Gmail inbox with your teams' individual Gmail accounts.  When your customer emails you at your shared email address, Keeping turns that email into a trackable ticket and then forwards a copy to each agent.

{% hint style="info" %}
In Keeping, a **mailbox** is an email address where your customers already contact you. It might be something like <help@company.com> or <info@company.com>. An **agent** is a team member who may be called on to respond to your customers.
{% endhint %}

In this guide, we'll set up your first mailbox. &#x20;

## Connect Your First Mailbox

### Go to Your Mailbox Settings

In your [Keeping Settings](https://app.keeping.com/), click on **Mailboxes** in the left navigation.

<figure><img src="https://1058495162-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCHa8WIsJ5Z5NqmPmq5VS%2Fuploads%2FJWO5fj0GmLQDtraorrCu%2FAdd%20A%20Keeping%20Mailbox%20Step%201.png?alt=media&#x26;token=a60a9079-b25c-4118-8814-dca203e90418" alt="Homepage of Keeping Settings"><figcaption><p>Go to your mailbox settings in Keeping</p></figcaption></figure>

### Create a New Shared Mailbox

Click on the **Create a New Shared Mailbox** butto&#x6E;**.**

<figure><img src="https://1058495162-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCHa8WIsJ5Z5NqmPmq5VS%2Fuploads%2Fm8emeI3oPWxwJuXn977g%2FAdd%20A%20Keeping%20Mailbox%20Step%202%20-%20Add%20Shared%20Mailbox.png?alt=media&#x26;token=327c377b-0228-45b8-80bf-431b1780621e" alt="Create New Shared Mailbox Screenshot"><figcaption><p>Click on Create a New Shared Mailbox</p></figcaption></figure>

### Enter Shared Mailbox Details

Enter the name and email address for this shared mailbox. Your shared mailbox should be an existing email address. It may be a Google Group, Google Workspace account, or other email address.

Remember that the Mailbox Name will be shown to your customers when they receive a reply via Keeping.

{% hint style="info" %}
When you reply to your customers with Keeping, **it will always originate from the shared email address** and name you provide here.  This is usually the email address where **you already receive emails from your customers**.  It might start with something like help@ or support\@.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1058495162-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCHa8WIsJ5Z5NqmPmq5VS%2Fuploads%2FZF1QjZl7UcCUG9u68rEl%2FAdd%20A%20Keeping%20Mailbox%20Step%203%20-%20Mailbox%20Details.png?alt=media&#x26;token=61c31e74-0985-4992-81f1-65cd0bd69e44" alt="Enter Mailbox Details Screenshot"><figcaption><p>Enter Mailbox Details</p></figcaption></figure>

### Connect Your Mailbox

Choose how to connect your shared mailbox. If your shared mailbox is a Google Workspace or Gmail account, choose **Sign in with Google**. Otherwise, you may use forwarding to connect your shared mailbox to Keeping.

{% hint style="success" %}
There are two ways to connect a shared mailbox to Keeping. See below for more information on which option to choose.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1058495162-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCHa8WIsJ5Z5NqmPmq5VS%2Fuploads%2FzY2zHbpH4xuN2lcfXACT%2FAdd%20A%20Keeping%20Mailbox%20Step%204%20-%20Connect%20Mailbox.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cba42ad9-d2e2-4722-b92d-81025f321ee5" alt="Keeping Mailbox Settings - Choose How to Connect to Keeping"><figcaption><p>Choose how to connect your mailbox to Keeping</p></figcaption></figure>

### When to Use "Sign In With Google"

If your **shared mailbox has a dedicated Gmail or Google Workspace email address that you can log into**, choose "Sign in with Google" to give Keeping direct access to your mailbox.  Use email forwarding (below) if your shared mailbox is a Google Group or Gmail Alias.

{% hint style="success" %}
**Good to know**: Keeping is SOC 2 Type II certified. Security and safety are at the core of everything we do. We publish [our security policies and procedures](https://keeping.trustshare.com/home) so that you can see how we protect your data.
{% endhint %}

If you successfully authenticate your mailbox with Keeping, you're all done here! :tada:Skip ahead to the guide for agents to get a basic understanding of how to use Keeping.

{% content-ref url="quick-start-for-agents" %}
[quick-start-for-agents](https://docs.keeping.com/help/getting-started/quick-start-for-agents)
{% endcontent-ref %}

### When to Use Email Forwarding

If your **shared mailbox is a Google Group or Gmail Alias**, then you'll need to use Gmail's Email Forwarding feature to connect it to Keeping.  You can also use this option for any email account if you are unable to successfully use "Sign in with Google."

See our guides below on how to connect depending on if you are connecting a Google Group, Gmail Alias, or regular mailbox.

{% content-ref url="../setup/connecting-a-mailbox/connect-a-google-group" %}
[connect-a-google-group](https://docs.keeping.com/help/setup/connecting-a-mailbox/connect-a-google-group)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="../setup/connecting-a-mailbox/connect-a-gmail-alias" %}
[connect-a-gmail-alias](https://docs.keeping.com/help/setup/connecting-a-mailbox/connect-a-gmail-alias)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="../setup/connecting-a-mailbox/forwarding-your-mailbox" %}
[forwarding-your-mailbox](https://docs.keeping.com/help/setup/connecting-a-mailbox/forwarding-your-mailbox)
{% endcontent-ref %}