So, say a customer wan’t to email you about your product, and you make the critical mistake that so many small rausiness owners make–using a free email account.

Why is using a gmail (or other) emailĀ provider a problem?

Well, let’s pretend you’re a manufacturer of a certain line of products, and you receive an email from someone wanting to sell your products, and their email is [email protected]

What sort of impression has “babyjoe” given to this manufacturer?

Not a very good one.

What if as a consumer you want to buy a product, let’s say a bonsai tree, but have a few questions and you look at their contact page, and the contact email address is “[email protected]” — How much confidence would you have in the business that they’d handle your order in a professional manner?

Even if your email is as catchy as “[email protected]” don’t use it for your business and give it to your customers!

Another example: If your business is selling pots for bonsai trees, instead of using “bestbonsaitrees@gmail.com” (Gmail being a free email service), set up a real business email such as “jane@bestbonsaitrees.com” or better yet, “jane@bonsai.com” although bonsai.com is already taken.

Getting a Real Email for your Business isĀ Easier than you Think

The steps are pretty simple to get a real business email. You purchase a domain name (the “domain name” is the something.com portion of your email or website)

Google Apps for your Online Business

Then sign up for the (used-to-be-free-but-still-not-too-expensive) Google Apps service.

The Google Apps service gives you a branded version of Gmail (Google’s email service). Using your own branded email goes hand in hand with making your own branded or private label products.

The emails you send go out as your own “mybusiness.com” giving that professional touch to your business.

You get lots of email storage and security and can set up multiple email addresses: support@____.com, info@_____.com and so on.

All you do is follow the Google Apps instructions to set it up. It’s a nominal fee each month, but it is worth it.

You can even buy your domain name in the process.

I purchase my domains separately, and then setup to the email, but you can go either way.

Here’s where you can get started: Google apps.