I cringe every time I am handed a business card with a Gmail address on it (don’t even get me started on AOL addresses). A core part of being in business is creating and promoting your business brand. You want potential clients to think of you when they need services like yours. You need them to quickly identify with your business. To do that, you have to cultivate a powerful and meaningful brand. With every email you send and business card you hand out, are you building or hurting your brand?

If you are using a business email address that ends in gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com, outlook.com or anything else other than your business domain name, you are missing a critical chance to build your brand (think first impression x 1,000). A personalized, branded business email address that matches your website doesn’t mean you have to check multiple email addresses. A business email address isn’t expensive either (~$12/year for the domain).Although using a Gmail or Yahoo addresses seems to becoming more acceptable for small businesses in certain circles, don’t do it! Not convinced? Let me give you 5 reasons your business needs a branded email address.

5 Reasons You Need A Branded Business Email Address

1. One Inbox, Many Addresses – Having a branded business email address doesn’t mean you have change how you check email. Whatever you are currently using, a free email service, Outlook, your phone, etc., you can set easily up your new email address to be delivered to your current inbox. It is as simple as going to Settings and adding your new email address. To complete the process, you usually need your password and sometimes the server settings. Don’t worry, those are typically included in the welcome email or help articles for your branded email address.
2. High Return on Investment (ROI) – Of all the money you spend promoting your business, a custom domain is one of the least expensive items with a large potential return. Domains cost between $10-$20 per year. Set up your email hosting with Google Apps or Microsoft Exchange Online for about $50/year (Microsoft Office 365 includes email & Office, but will run you $150/yr). Or, if you absolutly have to, create your email address with your web host – email hosting and email forwarders are usually included with your hosting plan. A branded email address costs less than printing business cards.

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3. Show You Are A Real Business – Which one of these best represents an email from a legitimate, professional company: [email protected] or [email protected]? Which one indicates that the email will contain something you want to read? Every detail of your customer interactions should represent your business and your brand. You business email address is a critical part.
4. Credibility – In the big bad Internet world scams, spam and malware are everywhere. We all look for indicators to figure out if someone is trustworthy. A custom-branded business email address and website add to your credibility. Having your own branded Internet identity shows you aren’t some random spammer and builds your brand with every contact.
5. Be Memorable – Using your own domain name and branded business email address reinforces brand awareness for your business. Plus, [email protected] has a lot more impact than [email protected]. An easy to remember email is good for both you and your customers.

Using a business email ending in gmail.com is like printing Google’s logo front & center on your business cards instead of your own. Don’t be an advertisement for someone else’s business. You spend a lot of time, effort & money on promoting your business, make sure that your email address is helping you, not hurting you.

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