For most of of us our email address is our modern day link to everyone and everything. It is used to log into sites like Facebook, Google, ITunes Yahoo, even your bank. You use it to keep in touch with friend and family, but have you every thought about what your email address says about you?
Most of the free services out there, like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Comcast, Cox, the list could go on forever, tells people that that address is your personal address. Who would pay for an address when you could have any one of these for free, or free with your Internet access? They are great platforms, all set up in IMAP formate allowing you to access them from any computer anywhere at any time. No special programs needed, just an Internet connection and a web browser. But what do these addresses say about your as a business?
One of the first things I look at when I begin speaking with a business is their email address. If you are running your business email through say mybusinessnamehere@yahoo.com, you are telling your clients with every card that you give out, that you either A) Don’t see any advantage to paying for a web address B) You don’t know how C) It is just now worth the hassle.
Advantages
Security: As good as a free email account can be, for personal use, it is very insecure when it comes to a business. If you provide that email password to just one other employee, you should be worried about the day that employee will leave your business, and what will they do with the power of your businesses email address. There is no turning off the the one employees email address you are going to have to reset everything!
Appear Bigger Than You May Be: By having your own web domain, you are able to set up numerous email addresses, included with your account, to funnel email to the appropriate person or department within your company. Think, info@, orders@, or even just yourname@. You could then have these email address forwarded to your personal free account or to a email client like Outlook or Mail by Apple. Doing this makes your little company look much bigger than it may be but is also an effective way of controlling the email. Through your web domain host, you can set up forwarding addresses, to send the email to your personal account or to an employees personal account. When that employee moves on, you simply redirect that email address to another employee and continue business as usual.
Advertising: Usually a professional email address is associated to a website. The @mybusinessname.com address is your website. That means every time you use that email address on a business card, invoice, magazine or paper ad or even the signature of your email, you are directing people to your website. This costs you nothing more than what you are doing already today, but could drum up a lot more business for you in the future.
How to Get Your Own Email/Domain Name
The simple answer is to buy one. The not so simple answer is From where? Well developer has their own preference but here are the keys. Make sure email is included with what ever package you get. The more the better. Also, hosting should include Simplescripts that allow you to install CSM systems like WordPress, Drupal or Ruby on Rails. By making sure you have these up front when you do make a website your developer will be MUCH happier to work with you. Be careful of a la carte hosting, where you pay a minimal yearly fee but have an upcharge for email or simplescripts. (I might as well plug my favorite as of today Hostmonster. These guys fit all of my criteria and allow for instant access to EVERY area of your site and their hosting for around $6 a month or $70 a year.)
Once you have hosting either work with the host to get everything setup or find a local IT specialist to set up your account with an email client program. I always suggest have a pro help you with this, as they will help you answer questions before they come up, saving you lots of time, even if it may cost you a little more.
What the Hassle Will Get You
By taking the time to set up your own web domain and professional email, you will be adding a new and controllable marketing arm to your business at a minimal cost. In today’s world your business is legitimate only if you have a website. Your professional email from your business’s email address will show people that you are a professional that they should do business with.
Your business’s email address is a powerful tool that you should be utilizing everyday with every interaction you have with your clients. Give them a way to contact you, in a professional manor, and you will see your business grow.