3. Using free email services for business
One of the things that surprises me most in this business is how often this one is ignored. It’s a long-standing tradition, dating back to my first days in online marketing in 1991.
Back then, pretty much everyone had an email address from one of two sources, AOL or CompuServe. AOL’s email addresses were a distinct improvement over CompuServe’s, which at that time were a series of number (e.g. 71445,312@compuserve.com). AOL’s at least used real words, but could only be used inside AOL’s system.
How times have changed!
These days, the ability to have your own domain name (why you should own your own domain name) makes it simple to project a professional image while upgrading your mail service.
When a business uses an AOL, GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail or other free email account, it projects lack of professionalism. Now, don’t get me wrong. Those free email services are great for personal email, throwaway addresses and testing deliverability and readability of your outgoing emails – but they should NOT be used as your primary business email address.
If you’ve had one for years that your customers are familiar with, don’t get rid of it! Use it as your secondary email and give only the primary one at your own domain to new customers. You don;t want to lose people on either end.
Any serious business (or business person) should be using their own domain name as their email address. Let’s face it – Bob@MyBusiness.com looks a lot more professional than Bob@aol.com. You wouldn’t hand out a business card with the phone company or postal service’s info on it, would you?
One of the fears I hear expressed when this strategy is suggested it that the user won’t know how to set up their email, either on their server or on their own computer.
We set up a mail server on every client’s web server and we’ve walked many of our clients through the process of getting their email set up on their own computer. If you aren’t sure of yourself on this, please be assured that we can get you set up in no time.
Take a few minutes to read the article on getting your own name as a domain or use the name – or better yet the locale and business, e.g. danvillepizza.com – and then take action. GO to your favorite domain registrar (or OrangeCat’s domain registration page) and get it registered.
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