Almost daily I come into contact with a business that is using a gmail address. Occasionally I even still see Hotmail or AOL. Yikes. If you have a website and you are not using a branded email for that domain, you are making a big mistake. What is a branded email? It’s an email address that is domain specific. For example let’s use Macy’s department store. What would you think if they sent you an email from macys@gmaxx.com instead of xxx@macys.com?
Your email is like a micro business card. If you think others don’t really pay attention to the domain on your email, think again. Personally I visit websites often that I find through email addresses. Don’t miss this easy opportunity to get your business website out there. On a side note, another mistake people make is not having an email signature set up in their email that links to their site.
Your site introduces people to your brand and your email is an extension of that. There really is no reason NOT to do this. When I ask others who are still using a gmail address for business the usual response is that it’s just easier. They can just keep everything in one box and not have to check multiple boxes throughout the day. Having a branded email shows professionalism. It gives a sense of trust and being established. It shows you are consistent across the board and committed to your brand. You’re serious about what you are presenting.
In addition to providing the right impression for your business, branded emails help establish a universal presence. Websites act as a significant promotional instrument, and having a universal name associated with your email, social accounts, and signage creates a cohesive brand for your business. It’s extremely important to have your business name in multiple locations (email signature, social media channels, promotional material) so it resonates with everyone you have communicated with. Your business’s’ online presence is critical to success, and helps improve brand awareness. Providing your business with branded emails is a valuable, yet cost-effective method to marketing and promoting your business.
Branded emails will benefit your business in all aspects, providing it with a corporate image. Generic email addresses are available to anyone, and could potentially have a negative impact on your business. Potential customers might associate your business with being unprofessional. Applying branded emails to your business is the first step to separate your business from the competition.