Are you still using a generic web-based email account for your business? Well, I won’t take you seriously if you send me business-related email from your @aol.com, @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, @comcast.com, @verizon.net, etc. accounts. And I’m not the only one who thinks this way.

Why?

Even if you have the most amazing offer, you’ve place doubt in my mind about your credibility as a real business. So I often delete your messages, unopened.

It comes down to this… I don’t have the time to assess whether you are a legitimate and credible business. If you’ve been in business for half a year and still sending email from a generic web-based email account, I have to assume you’re too new or not fully committed.

Here’s What You Need To Do!

Get an email address with your business website domain name. If you managed to register a domain name and build a website, it wont take much more effort to get an email address using the same domain name.

  • Contact your registrar for help.
  • Search for do-it-yourself solutions like Google Apps and follow the instructions.
  • Hire a consultant who can have you up and running in a few hours with email for business.

Your professional email address is an extension of your personal and business brand. While it is one minor piece of your overall marketing effort, it’s part of your first contact with a prospect. Get it right and reduce one more barrier to a great conversation.

-Roland