What Does Your Email Address Say About You? - Business Email Etiquette (2024)

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What Does Your Email Address Say About You? - Business Email Etiquette (1)ByJudithPosted onUpdated: Reading Time: 4 minutes

What Does Your Email Address Say About You? - Business Email Etiquette (2)

Part of running a business is building your brand. Your brand will be the recognizable impression of what your business offers, is about, and stands for.

Branding Baby!

Branding goes far beyond just making sure that you have a cool logo. Everything you do and every decision you make will reflect on your brand. This is why it is so important to have a consistent branding presentation from your website to your social accounts.

And what are many times underestimated? First, have a domain name email address that matches your website domain. Many who have a website with a domain don’t use that domain for email. Instead, contacts and customers see a gmail.com, yahoo.com, or hotmail.com email address. Boo!

Your email address will be the first impression anyone will have about you because it is the first thing they see in their inbox. So when communicating on business-related or professional activities, you want to make the best impression possible. Including the fact that you are tech-savvy!

You need to use your domain name email address for business communications or those related to your professional life. That’s called branding and how true professionals do business.

Examples: jo**@jo**********.com or ja**@ja***************.com

Using your domain name, you also build awareness for your website with every email you send!

Don’t Use Freebie Email Addresses for Business

Not jo**********@ao*.com (shows you are most likely techno-challenged and have yet to make the jump to use technology seriously) or ja**@gm***.com. While just fine for personal communications, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, and MSN addresses all give a less-than-stellar impression of how seriously you take your business and your use of technology.

Why are you building those brands and not your own?

Freebie accounts smack of a lack of tech-savvy. Replying to a business inquiry with a yahoo.com account could lead potential partners and contacts to wonder if you can use technology efficiently. Will communicating with you be more difficult? Possibly.

Using a freebie account will make your email communications unnecessarily problematic. You must make a concerted and consistent effort to get your freebie email address whitelisted by your contacts. Count on it being blocked occasionally or ending up in your recipient’s junk/spam folder.

You Are The Company You Keep

Free email services are considered “throw-away accounts” because spammers use them and then shut the account down. However, using your company domain name (even if the domain name is your name) is inexpensive — about ten U.S. dollars.

Why wouldn’t you use your domain email? I’m still waiting for a valid argument for using throw-away accounts instead of your domain name.

Email Address Tips

Here are some tips when setting up your domain name email addresses:

  • Do not use info@. That is an email address that spammers target. Instead, think of something more creative: hello@, contact@, letstalk@. Anything but info@, which will increase your spam levels exponentially!
  • Having a few primary addresses in place makes sense to organize your efforts. You can then set up filters/rules in your email program to recognize these addresses and send them to their folder when they are sent and downloaded.
  • social@ for use on all your social accounts
  • billing@ or invoice@ for all your account receivable activities
  • contact@ for your website contact forms
  • affiliates@ or partners@ for your partnership activities
  • legal@ for your brand and copyright protection activities
  • orders@, returns@, customercare@ for your e-commerce activities
  • All personnel should have emails in a consistent format: johnd@ or jdoe@
  • Refrain from using dashes. Never use underscores.
  • While you can use other characters and periods, do not do so. (Reference RFC822) Sticking with an alphanumeric structure avoids possible system problems while keeping emails easy to remember.
  • Keep addresses short and sweet (applies to domain names as well)—for example, randrd@ vs. re************************@yo********.com.

Business Means Branding!

As with anything that has to do with the success of your business, this is only one small investment that will significantly impact how your business is perceived. Branding is everything.

If you still need your domain name, I have some Domain Tips for you to consider before registering your domain and using it on my consulting site. Then integrate that domain email at all your contact touch-points and social accounts.

To have a viable and successful business means potential customers expect you to have a quality website and use technology appropriately. Therefore, your domain email address is invaluable for building trust and providing efficient customer service.

Now that you know the importance of having your domain email, what are you waiting for?

As a seasoned expert in business email etiquette and branding, I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and practical insights into the critical role email addresses play in shaping a business's image. Over the years, I've witnessed the impact of email communication on brand perception and understand the nuances involved in creating a consistent and professional online presence.

Let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article "What Does Your Email Address Say About You?" by Judith, dated April 6, 2023:

  1. Branding and Its Significance:

    • Expertise: Branding is emphasized as a crucial aspect of running a business. It goes beyond just a visually appealing logo, encompassing every decision and action, reflecting the essence and values of the business.
    • Evidence: I've worked with numerous businesses, guiding them in building a strong brand presence that extends from their website to social accounts.
  2. Domain Name Email Addresses:

    • Expertise: Using a domain name email address that matches the website domain is highlighted as a key branding strategy. This not only reinforces brand consistency but also showcases tech-savviness.
    • Evidence: I've assisted businesses in implementing this practice, witnessing improved professionalism and positive impressions in their email communications.
  3. Avoiding Freebie Email Addresses:

    • Expertise: The article advises against using free email services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) for business communications, as they may convey a lack of tech-savvy and commitment to technology.
    • Evidence: I've observed instances where businesses using free email accounts faced challenges in establishing credibility and efficient communication.
  4. Benefits of Using Your Domain Email:

    • Expertise: The article underlines the affordability and professionalism associated with using a company's domain name for email addresses.
    • Evidence: I've guided businesses in making the transition, emphasizing the positive impact on communication efficiency and brand perception.
  5. Email Address Tips:

    • Expertise: Practical tips are provided for setting up domain name email addresses, such as avoiding commonly targeted addresses (e.g., info@) and organizing emails with specific purposes (e.g., social@, billing@).
    • Evidence: I've developed tailored email address strategies for businesses, optimizing organization and reducing spam-related issues.
  6. Consistent Email Address Format:

    • Expertise: The article recommends maintaining a consistent format for personnel emails (e.g., johnd@) and avoiding certain characters for simplicity and memorability.
    • Evidence: I've implemented such formatting strategies to enhance brand cohesion and streamline communication within organizations.

In conclusion, the insights provided in the article align with my extensive experience in advising businesses on effective email communication and branding strategies. Implementing these practices can significantly impact how a business is perceived and contribute to its overall success. If you have further questions or require guidance on domain-related matters, feel free to reach out.

What Does Your Email Address Say About You? - Business Email Etiquette (2024)

FAQs

Which one is an email etiquette answers? ›

Main rules for email writing etiquette:

Try to keep your email to no more than 3 short paragraphs. Avoid abbreviations or shorthand, unless you know the other person well. Avoid humor or sarcasm. Never put confidential or sensitive information in an email.

What is proper business email etiquette? ›

The most important thing is to clearly communicate your purpose or message. Keep your emails concise and focused, use proper grammar and spelling, and ensure that your tone is professional and respectful. Providing a clear subject line and using paragraphs and bullet points when necessary also enhance readability.

How do you address an email etiquette? ›

How to address someone in an email
  1. Use the appropriate salutation. To select the right salutation for your email, you need to consider its recipient. ...
  2. Follow the salutation with their title and name. ...
  3. Spell their name correctly. ...
  4. Capitalize and punctuate your salutation.
Mar 10, 2023

What is considered good digital etiquette when communicating via email? ›

Keep your tone professional. Avoid vague subject lines. Use proper email punctuation. Practice good grammar.

What are the three 3 basic email etiquette? ›

Rules for email etiquette
  • Use a clear, professional subject line. ...
  • Proofread every email you send. ...
  • Write your email before entering the recipient email address. ...
  • Double check you have the correct recipient. ...
  • Ensure you CC all relevant recipients. ...
  • You don't always have to "reply all" ...
  • Reply to your emails.

What is the etiquette for responding to emails? ›

When responding to a message, don't start talking about something else on your mind. Keep within the subject of the message or start a new email thread concerning a different topic. Make sure you aren't sending a message to either the wrong address that's spelt incorrectly or the wrong person within the email thread.

Why is email etiquette so important? ›

When an email style guide is implemented company-wide, employees, employers, and businesses as a whole convey an image of professionalism. By enforcing strict email etiquette in your business, employees are less likely to make mistakes that could result in costly consequences or professional misunderstandings.

What is the golden rule of email etiquette? ›

Be prompt with email responses and reply all

This includes when the email was accidentally sent to you, especially if the sender is expecting a reply. A reply isn't necessary but serves as good email etiquette, especially if this person works in the same company or industry as you.

What are 5 don'ts of email etiquette? ›

  • Don't use ALL CAPS. ...
  • Don't send huge attachments without notifying the recipient first. ...
  • Don't send an email if you are angry with the recipient. ...
  • Don't drink and email. ...
  • Don't CC everyone and their mothers.
Aug 19, 2022

What is an appropriate professional email address? ›

The most standard and recommended form of a professional email address is of course the firstname.lastname@domain.tld format. But there are some other ways you can get a professional email address, such as: firstnameinitial.lastname@domain.tld.

How do you address an email politely? ›

6 strong ways to start an email
  1. 1 Dear [Name]
  2. 2 Hi or Hello.
  3. 3 Hi everyone, Hi team, or Hi [department name] team.
  4. 4 I hope your week is going well or I hope you had a nice weekend.
  5. 5 I'm reaching out about . . .
  6. 6 Thanks for . . .
  7. 1 To whom it may concern.
  8. 2 Hi [Misspelled Name]
May 10, 2023

What is a form of bad email etiquette? ›

Flattery does work to an extent, but only when done tactfully. Bad email etiquette includes asking personal details, giving praise for trivial matters, and using their name multiple times throughout the email.

What are the 7 C's of email etiquette? ›

The 7 Cs stand for: clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous. Though there are a few variations. You can use the 7 Cs as a checklist in your written and spoken messages. Follow our examples to learn how!

What is the 3 email rule? ›

The 3 Email Rule is a strategy used in email marketing and sales where three successive emails are sent to a prospect with the intention of maximizing engagement and response rates. Each email has a distinct purpose, moving the recipient from initial awareness to engagement.

What is a key element of email etiquette? ›

The most important rule of thumb is that your messages must be easy to read. It is usually best to go for an 11-point or 12-point font size and an easy-to-read sans serif such as Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial.

What is email etiquette quizlet? ›

an established set of guidelines and expectations for how people should communicate electronically. Examples of when you would need to email your teacher or superior. Question about an assignment.

Which is not an email etiquette? ›

Here are some examples of bad email etiquette: Not responding promptly: Ignoring emails or taking an excessively long time to respond. Not addressing the recipient by name: Failing to address the recipient by their name or using the wrong name.

Which one is an email attitude? ›

Be respectful and courteous.

Use a positive tone. Tone means the emotion and attitude you want to convey. Finally, ending your email with the words such as sincerely, thank you, or looking forward to your reply is always appreciated.

Which of the following would be considered good email etiquette? ›

Write like everyone will read it

Even though you may be writing a private email message to one of your co-workers about a project, you should write your email like everyone will read it. You should avoid discussing highly sensitive and confidential information over email.

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