Mail merge in outlook 2017

Mail merge in Outlook 2017! While Outlook doesn't have a built-in mail merge feature like Microsoft Word, you can still achieve mail merge functionality using a combination of Outlook's features and some creative workarounds. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Method 1: Using Outlook's "Rules" feature

  1. Create a new email message in Outlook 2017.
  2. In the "To" field, enter the email address of the recipient (e.g., [recipient email address]).
  3. In the "Subject" field, enter the subject line (e.g., "Hello [Name]").
  4. In the body of the email, enter the text you want to include in the merge (e.g., "Dear [Name],...").
  5. Use the "Insert" menu > "Quick Parts" > "Field" to insert a field that will be replaced with the recipient's name. For example, "Name" or "Company".
  6. Repeat step 5 for each field you want to include in the merge (e.g., "Address", "Phone Number", etc.).
  7. Save the email as a template by going to "File" > "Save As" and selecting "Outlook Template (.oft)".
  8. To send the merged emails, create a new email message and use the "Rules" feature to apply the template to a group of recipients. To do this:
    • Go to "Home" > "Rules" > "Manage Rules & Alerts".
    • Click "New Rule" and select "Start from a blank rule".
    • Choose "Apply rule on messages I send" and click "Next".
    • Select "Use an existing template" and choose the template you created in step 7.
    • Click "Finish" to apply the rule.

Method 2: Using a third-party add-in

There are several third-party add-ins available that can help you achieve mail merge functionality in Outlook 2017. Some popular options include:

  1. Mail Merge for Outlook: This add-in allows you to create and send personalized emails using a mail merge template.
  2. Outlook Mail Merge: This add-in provides a simple and intuitive way to create and send mail merge emails.
  3. MergeMail: This add-in offers advanced mail merge features, including support for multiple data sources and conditional logic.

To use a third-party add-in, follow these general steps:

  1. Download and install the add-in from the developer's website.
  2. Launch Outlook 2017 and go to "File" > "Options" > "Add-ins".
  3. Check the box next to the add-in you installed to enable it.
  4. Follow the add-in's instructions to create and send your mail merge emails.

Method 3: Using Microsoft Excel and Outlook's "Import/Export" feature

This method requires some Excel skills, but it's a powerful way to create and send mail merge emails. Here's how:

  1. Create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel with the data you want to use for the mail merge (e.g., names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.).
  2. Use Excel's "Mail Merge" feature to create a mail merge template. This will create a new worksheet with the merged data.
  3. Save the Excel file as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file.
  4. In Outlook 2017, go to "File" > "Open & Export" > "Import/Export".
  5. Select "Export to a file" and choose the CSV file you created in step 3.
  6. In the "Export" dialog box, select "Outlook Items" and choose the email template you want to use for the mail merge.
  7. Click "Export" to send the merged emails.

These are the three methods you can use to achieve mail merge functionality in Outlook 2017. While they may require some extra effort and creativity, they can help you send personalized emails to your contacts with ease.