Is Your Email Address Working With You or Against You?

Email names are important! They can be a positive for your business and your branding…or they can can work against you. Which is the case for you?

When choosing an email address, consider the following factors:

• • Consider the image. Your email address is actually a part of your marketing - whether it reflects a good or poor image is important. It will reflect and represent your business. For example, marylovescharlie@gmail.com is NOT a good business email. Neither is MarysBizpad@yahoo.com, or flyinghighinMiami@msn.com. Or, lovemygrandchildren@gmail.com. There are millions of VERY bad ones that will cause a raised eyebrow or a “Hmmmm” in your clients or vendor’s minds, even if it is just because it is a non-business name. It may not be offensive or stupid, may even be cute, but it may not be business-like.  It should be.
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• • Many put numbers in their email address. This is a choice but be certain to consider that numbers can be difficult to remember. For that reason, I do not recommend using numbers in your email address.

Consider branding the name of your business in your email address. For example, janet@nailcareacademy.com leaves no doubt what business is sending you a communication. Investigate if your email provider offers this benefit of custom email accounts. (This is one reason so many businesses go with gmail.com - branding in emails is a benefit they offer.

• • Choice of provider – Some providers are so tightly filtered that many emails do not get through to you. These following are especially bad: msn,  aol and yahoo. Some providers make it difficult for you to interact with people you choose to do business with, for example when you take online classes.
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• • Length can be a consideration. My personal one is too long, for example, “janet.mccormick.info@gmail.com” is too long. Every time I have to type it out or provide it for someone I wish I had chosen something simpler but still “me.”
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• • You may need more than one. I have many and must monitor them all. Yes, it is a bother, but I don’t mind because the emails come to me as who I am to that person. That is important, so that I can reply from the correct point of view. Most business owners/managers have one business and one personal one, and that is good business!
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Your choice of email address could be considered almost a forever decision.  Consider it from every angle. I have one on an auto-answer from years ago saying that it is ”no longer an active email. To reach Janet, go to …..” and that routinely feeds email inquiries to me… and it’s been 15 years! Now, however, many providers offer "automatic transfer" for emails, and that is a good thing!

Choose carefully as it is almost a disaster to change down the road after you have begun your business. This is the bottom line: Your personal email can be whatever you wish it to be, it’s a personal thing. But not your business email. It can actually be considered a negative marketing issue if it is a poor one; a good one is a great marketing choice!