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There were some interesting statistics of how people determine the credibility of businesses they see on the Internet. Credibility has a direct impact on a person’s likelihood to become a customer.
It’s safe to say that I have one or two pet peeves. Some elevate to the level of being hot buttons. These are the questions, comments, or discussions that I simply can not ignore because they have poked a bear with a stick.
The one question that pokes the bear quicker than most is simply, “Is it okay to use gmail as my business address?”
The question comes from the most unlikely sources. People with amazing websites, well thought out marketing plans, and every other professional bearing you can think of, will ask this question in all seriousness.
My first response usually goes something like this:
Who keeps your lights on, your business, or gmail? THAT is who you should be advertising with your email address.
Once upon a time – over 20 years ago – I had a web development company when domain names cost $240 a year and everyone had an earthlink or aol email address. There was nothing more prestigious than handing over a business card with a domain name for an email address. Why would anyone feel that has changed?
Using a free email account implies that you won’t invest in a hosting account that includes an MX record.
A few years back I made a presentation to a business group regarding “web credibility”. There were some interesting statistics of how people determine the credibility of businesses they see on the Internet. Credibility has a direct impact on a person’s likelihood to become a customer.
One of the biggest factors was the email address. Businesses using blind (free) email addresses tanked in the web credibility surveys. The impressions were everything from feeling the business was being cheap, to thinking the site might be a spoof. Real businesses with real domain names, after all, use the domain name address. Don’t they? It’s a pretty safe bet that Steve Jobs had an email address at apple.com, not gmail.
That is not to say that free email is a bad thing. It is accessible from just about everywhere, is easy to remember, and has plenty of space to store all those kitten photos friends and family keep sending for your personal amusement. Google in particular has so many useful features that it’s tempting to just live in the house that Google has built for you and spread the gmail love far and wide.
Like every other human being on the planet, I have a gmail address but use it strictly as a login for the Google Console and for mailing lists that I don’t want clogging my regular email accounts. And yes, that includes the inevitable puppy videos and motivational memes from well meaning content providers.
Gmail has its place, but making a professional email impression is not one of them.