Many of the first steps you take when you start a business stem from the name you choose for your new venture - from registering your business with HMRC to securing the right domain name for your website. That business name is central to your brand and a key part of that brand identity is a professional name@yourbusiness email address.
Many of us use free email addresses, such as Gmail, for everyday communication with friends, family and businesses that we deal with. But when you are running your own business, it's vital to have a branded email address to show the world that you're a trusted professional.
What many people don't realise is that Google offers a custom email hosting service through Google Workspace - a professional email solution for start-ups and businesses that provides a name@yourbusiness email address with all the familiarity and functionality of Gmail.
What is a professional email address?
A branded email address is tailor-made for you and your business. Business email addresses should be appropriate, they should look professional and they should be memorable. The most effective business email addresses combine your name and a trading name in the format [email protected] . This kind of email address is instantly recognisable by your customers, it's simple to remember and it looks professional.
Email hosting services, including Google Workspace, allow you to set up a range of email addresses using your chosen domain, so you can create email addresses for your colleagues ([email protected]) and for specific business needs such as [email protected] or [email protected].
The advantages of a professional email address
Trust: There's no doubt about it, a professional email address inspires trust. For a start-up, it makes a strong first impression; it suggests you are serious about running a business, you care about your reputation, you are dependable and you're here to stay. In short, it provides the credibility that is essential for selling your products and services to new customers.
Response: Trust brings in business. If recipients are sure that a marketing email has come from a professional business, they are more likely to open it, read it and respond.
Branding: Consistency is key in branding. Your email address must dovetail with your web address and social media handles. Each of these elements helps build brand awareness. A custom email plays a key part in this process - it should be on-brand, recognisable and memorable.
Email marketing: For many businesses, email is at the heart of their customer communication strategy. A branded email address is key for email marketing, allowing you to use mailing lists and automated email marketing tools to send regular emails to your target audience that will stand out and achieve maximum response.
No more spam: A custom email is far less likely to end up in a spam folder. And with a 99.9% success rate at blocking spam, if you set up a professional email address with Google Workspace, your inbox will be spam-free too.
Building a business: Having a professional email address that can grow with your business means you can create email accounts for colleagues and departments as you grow. This can save you from having to forward emails to others; it allows you to delegate responsibilities more easily and it all helps to make your business look bigger and more established.
Setting up a professional email address with Google Workspace
Setting up a [email protected] email address for your start-up couldn't be simpler with Google Workspace. And it comes with a host of advantages. It's the Gmail you know and love designed for business, with familiar functionality, advanced security, no ads and a 99.9% success rate at blocking spam. Google Workspace starts at £5 a month, complete with that all-important custom business email address.
Google Workspace is tailor-made for start-ups, freelancers and small businesses. It's a complete business toolkit that gives you everything you need to get anything done, all in one place, from spreadsheets to videoconferencing. It's backed up by Google security and offers the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 support. If you're starting or running your own business, it's well worth taking advantage of the free 14-day trial.
Copyright 2023. Featured post made possible by Google Workspace.