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Customers are understandably cautious when conducting business through email. Cybercrime continues to rise and phishing is a serious concern. Businesses using free Outlook or Gmail accounts lose credibility in those cases. A small investment in a business email address recovers that credibility and provides extra controls to businesses.
Most hosting providers and internet developers offer commercial email plan options. Although it varies in terms of the final setup steps, there are five fundamental steps that must be followed before final setup of the mailbox account. These five steps to creating a professional email address will help you get the best deal, a smart domain name, and plan a format for your email address.
Start by opting for a professional email server. While it is technically feasible to create a self-hosted business email account on your private or business servers, the procedure can be time-consuming and delivery delays are common.
For most businesses, using an established email host is the better option. An email host is like a web host, except it specializes in email delivery. Many of the best web hosts also offer this service, and there are some email hosts that are part of other business software packages such as Google Workspace (Gmail for businesses) and Microsoft 365.
Once you’ve selected a provider, it’s time to set up a package. The email plan can be included as a component of internet hosting, or it can be an add-on or standalone plan.
When opting for a plan, look for:
Your email domain call is the same as your online page. If you already have a traditional domain, you probably don’t want to log in to a new one. However, while some servers settle for subdomains for email, not all do, so check the terms to be sure. For example, Google Workspace doesn’t work with free subdomains from online page developers, and it also rejects less common domain extensions like Arraysite domains.
Domains generally average between $10 and $35 per year, with prices varying greatly based on the domain name, domain extension (the part after the dot) and the domain registrar. High-demand domain names can cost millions. However, there are plenty of low-cost options and free domains are also available.
Most Internet hosts offer a free domain for one year, or you can purchase one from the domain registrar of your choice.
The part of the email address before the @ is entirely up to you. However, a popular username format, such as firstname. lastname@example. com, will make it less difficult to upload new usernames as your business grows.
The procedure for final configuration of mailboxes varies depending on the mail server, but the general procedure for most providers will be as follows:
Business email addresses from the most productive email servers typically charge less than $10 per month per user for entry-level plans. Differences in the number of mailboxes, garage space, user access to POP/IMAP email (desktop email readers), and the number of aliases could inflate the charge depending on the user.
However, where the biggest extra costs come in is usually extra apps. For example, some Google Workspace pricing plans add in video conferencing, eSignatures on PDFs and docs, and even AI-generated video tools.
With the proliferation of Gmail, having a professional email address may seem unnecessary at first, but having a trusted branded email address protects your professional email and builds popularity and credibility for your business. Plus, a business email plan is a relatively affordable investment for most small businesses. After following those five undeniable steps, you’ll be able to start engaging with consumers and suppliers in no time.
As a small business owner, Liz understands the demanding and unique situations marketers face. Knowledgeable about the virtual landscape, she combines real-world experience in design, e-commerce store building, social media, and marketing control with years of experience in research and reporting on topics similar to technology, SaaS, e-commerce, and small business. business.