Generic email address for companies?
How do you feel about companies that use email address such as yahoo.com, aol.com or something given to them by a local ISP? Does it make you any less secure about doing business with the company? Do you feel they are missing out on a marketing opportunity?
Good Answers (4)
Clark T.
SEO and Social Media Geek at Stone Temple Consulting
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (4), Search Marketing (1)
Here are 4 reason why businesses should have a professional corporate email address (from an internet marketing prospective).
1. Many directories such as DMOZ may ignor your submission if it is submitted from an email address that doesn't match domain of the website you are submitting.
2. When a visitor lands on the "contact us" page, the presence of a Gmail, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Verizon, Comcast or other non-corporate email address, she/he may loose confidence in the credibility of the site. You've be better off not listing any email address at all! IMO
3. Using email addresses such as info@companyname.com, support@companyname.com, help@companyname.com, etc can make a small company look bigger and more organized.
4. There may be some SEO value (and this is just my theory, hasn't been proven) in having corporate email addresses, especially if relevant keywords are included in the domain name.
Ray C.
Brain Cancer at Glioblastoma Multiforme
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They really ARE missing out on a good marketing opportunity. In the days where custom domains are cheap, when I see a business person using an AOL email address I really feel like perhaps they are fully vested in their business. If they are not then why should I be?
Really, if you hand me a business card that has your company name on it with an AOL or Yahoo email address then you have just put yourself into a bit of a negative light I think. You have gone through the trouble of registering your name (right?) for your business but not thought far enough ahead to get a domain name? Whats next? I have to pay for your service\product by writing a check to your personal account?
Your email address needs to reflect your business every time it is read or used.
Ramesh K.
CTO & Human Search Engine
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Yes.
No one takes them seriously, if they do not operate on their company domain name.
However, Google has extended a great feature in their applications.
We need to sign up for the company email system on google and we are given a set of instructions.
We can point our MX record (of DNS) to google's mailservers as given in instructions.
And, there you have a free email syatem on google, but to the world you have your company specific emails!
Ramesh
The Human Search Engine
More Answers (7)
Stuart P.
Chief Operating Officer at Travel Weekly Group Ltd
Best Answers in: Direct Marketing (1), Business Development (1)
I don't think it's an issue over "security" as such, anyone you do business with you should generally trust enough that you wouldn't be swayed by the post-fix to their email address.
However, from a company stature aspect it's a pretty basic requirement. It comes down to consistency across all the points where your brand touches either a client or a customer, if different touch points send differing messages you're missing a simple opportunity to reinforce your brand and its awareness.
Especially where online companies are concerned there are so many like for like alternatives in each market place gaining stand out through brand recognition is key. Having an email address that compliments your brand name is so simple and generally low cost it really makes no sense not to do it.
Michelle M.
Online Marketing Professional | Online Marketing Strategy Development, Social Media Strategy, SEO Consultant
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (1), Professional Organizations (1)
Definitely. There is also no reason for that to persist. With Google Apps, even a novice can set up a company email network. Trust me, I did it.
Links:
John M.
Happy is a choice, professionally and personally.
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (1), Business Development (1)
It definitely raises an eyebrow for me but I also try to ascertain the person's comfort level with technology. Some "seasoned" professionals are just not going to embrace new things (my parents refuse to get cable, a computer or an ATM card!). They definitely are missing out (or in some cases, are diluting their employer's brands) but you can't change the stripes on a tiger.
Andrew S.
Account and Promotions Manager at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors
Best Answers in: Search Marketing (1)
Wouldn'y stop me using companies like that but it really does drive me mad that they are not capitalising on their brand.
It adds a little bit of professionalism to their business too.
I was in the habit a few years ago if contacting businesses I found doing this with a guide on why changing their email address to their URL address and brand was better for them. I got a little bit of business out of it too :-)
Companies that don't have a dedicated e-mail addy miss out on marketing themselves as professional and capable companies. I think most business people do feel less secure about dealing with a person/company that has a generic e-mail address because it comes across as (pick one) cheap, lazy, unprofessional, second rate, amateurish, new to the business, unsophisticated, working from home,....
Companies are surely a step if not more behind other companies by having a generic email address. There are so many opportunities, not just marketing, that they are missing out on. There is absolutely no excuse why you shouldn't have your own personalized company email when it is so simple and inexpensive to administer. I know I don't speak for myself when I say that I question a business and will probably move to the next one if I see a @yahoo.com or @hotmail.com as a contact or reply to address. I don't believe they are taken seriously as a company.
