5 Benefits of a Personalized Business Email Address

If you’re using a free email account (@yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, @gmail.com, etc) or the account that came with your internet service account (@att.net, @comcast.net, etc,) the email address itself can convey some additional, less than positive information to the reader or your emails.

I recently received an email from a conference booking agent asking if they could book me for a couple of conferences. The agent claimed to book major conferences all across North America and could get me booked solid through the fall. My first clue that something was wrong was their Hotmail address. This threw their entire claim into question. Sure enough, a little research uncovered that the “agent” was a less-than-reputable booking agent with a pay-before-you-play policy.

The free email services are great for your personal need, but I know I’m not the only one who doubts the professionalism of people using one of the free email services for business purposes. Paying for a hosted email account is easier and cheaper than you think, especially when you consider the increased credibility, branding opportunities, and other benefits they provide.

Professionalism/Credibility

Whether you like it or not, there are prejudices (aka, snobbery) about the domain that your email address uses. Would you really take someone with an AOL.com email address seriously? I mean no disrespect here, but really, it’s time for a new business email address.

And you@yourdomain.com looks a lot better than gonzo1952@yahoo.com or mamagayle58@gmail.com (made up addresses based upon real addresses of two people I know who use them for business.)

Build Your Brand

With every email, you put your domain and your brand in front of your customers, prospective customers, vendors, and anyone else with whom you do business. Use a brand-building signature while you’re at it.

Be Remembered

When you correspond with a customer or prospect by email, they’ll know exactly how to find your business online because it’s in your email address. The same is true if someone forwards one of your emails. Your online business address is right there for those leads to follow.

Keep It For Life

Unlike your @attn.net, @comcast.net, and other such internet provider-based addresses, if you change internet providers, this address does not go away.

Email Addresses by Department

Separate your incoming email by its purpose by having department email addresses. Even if you’re a one-person shop, having addresses like billing@yourdomain.com, customersupport@yourdomain.com, and jobs@yourdomain.com can help you compartmentalize your incoming email and even make you look like a bigger company that you might actually be.

The Quick Takeway

Getting a custom email address is as easy as getting your custom domain (see previous article 7 Tips for Selecting Your Domain Name) and setting up an email account through your webhosting account.

Don’t have a webhosting account? No problem. Next week we’ll cover ways to set up your email account even without a website.