Distribution List vs. Contact Items Folder

[Guest]

I have a list of contacts and I am trying to find the best method
(distribution list, Contact Items Folder, Category) to organize and keep up
to date.

I have 24 contacts that I want to send email to from time to time.

As for my Outlook knowledge level, I have three options:

1) Create a category and attach it to all the contacts. When wanting to
send email, I would need to filter by the category, select all and send the
email
2) Create a contact items folder. Easy to do, but I would then copy the
members from my default contact folder into a contact items folder for this
list. This duplication would complicate any updates to the contacts (don't
really like this option).
3) Create a distribution list. Again easy to do, but if I update a user's
email address then I must go into the distribution list and use the UPDATE
NOW button to update the user's email in this distribution list.

Again my goal is to have the easiest method to have a contact in a contact
folder and send emails.

I appreciate any guidance and assistance.

MEG

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I'd favor the category method. DL's are buggy and hard to maintain. "Update
Now" usually does nothing, for example. The Category method is even easier
than you described if you use the "By Category" view of your Contacts. Just
click on the Category header > Actions > New Message to Contact, and you're
done.