How a Custom Email Domain Can Boost Brand Credibility
TL;DR
We implore you to avoid using a free email service and start using a custom email domain. Full stop. We are here to provide consultation based on your needs and budget.
Having a professional online presence is essential for individuals and businesses alike. A custom email domain is an effective way to establish this professionalism. Utilizing a custom domain can enhance your brand image, improve email deliverability, and gain a host of other benefits. In this post, we will explore the top five advantages of using a custom domain and provide step-by-step instructions on obtaining one.
This article discusses the following:
Critical Questions to Ask Yourself:
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- Your email must match or align your domain if you have a website.
- Custom domains are not expensive. We can help you with that.
- Using Gmail or another commercial service lowers your brand reputation and deliverability.
End State:
A custom email domain offers numerous benefits, including enhanced brand image, improved deliverability, increased security, better organization and management, and long-term control and flexibility. Following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this article, you can obtain your custom email domain and leverage these advantages to establish a professional online presence. Embrace the power of a custom domain and take your email communications to the next level.
The Deep Dive
In a bustling city, a small business exists called “Gourmet Treats.” They specialize in creating delectable desserts that tantalize taste buds and leave customers craving more. However, despite their mouthwatering creations, they struggled to generate significant sales. The reason? They use a free email service for their communications.
Potential customers browsing their website hesitated to place orders when they saw email addresses ending with “@freemail.com.” This lack of professionalism and trust in the brand hindered Gourmet Treats’ growth. Customers doubted the legitimacy of the business, wondering if the person on the other end handles their personal information and payment details securely.
Realizing the impact this had on their sales, Gourmet Treats decided to invest in a custom email domain. With their new email addresses ending with “@gourmettreats.com,” they instantly gained brand credibility and professionalism. Customers felt more confident in sharing their information and placing orders. The custom email domain enhanced the brand’s image and strengthened customer trust.
Sales skyrocketed as news spread about Gourmet Treats’ delectable desserts and their new custom email domain. The business saw a significant increase in online orders and inquiries from corporate clients. The custom email domain symbolized reliability and professionalism, attracting a broader customer base and boosting revenue.
By recognizing the importance of a custom email domain, Gourmet Treats transformed their business. They left behind the limitations of a free email service and embraced a powerful tool that enhanced their brand’s image and instilled trust in their customers. In a competitive market, having a custom email domain proved vital for success and growth.
What Is a Custom Email Domain?
A custom email domain is a personalized email address that takes advantage of your domain name instead of a commercial email provider, such as Gmail or Yahoo. For example, instead of using a disturbingly common “[email protected],” you can have an email address like “[email protected].”
What Are the Benefits of Using a Custom Email Domain?
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- Enhanced brand image: A custom domain will improve your brand identity by using your domain name in your email address. Your email looks more professional and instills trust and brand credibility in your recipients.
- Improved email deliverability: Custom email domains can help improve email deliverability rates. Many generic email providers have stringent spam filters, and emails from these domains tend to end up in the recipient’s spam folder. A custom domain can help avoid this issue and ensure your emails reach the intended recipients.
- Increased security: Custom email domains offer enhanced security features, such as advanced encryption and protection against phishing attempts. Industry-approved security can help safeguard your sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access to your email account.
- Better organization and management: A custom domain allows you to create multiple email addresses, such as [email protected] or [email protected]. This enables better organization and management of emails related to specific functions or departments within your business.
- Long-term control and flexibility: Unlike relying on a generic email provider, having your custom domain gives you complete control and ownership of your email addresses. You can switch hosting providers without changing your email address, ensuring flexibility and continuity for your communications.
- Collaboration and productivity: Certain providers provide a range of functionalities, including shared calendars, instant file sharing, and team collaboration tools to enhance productivity and meet communication requirements.
How To Choose an Email Provider
When choosing an email provider, there are several factors to consider. One of the most important factors is having a custom domain. Having a custom email domain adds a level of professionalism to your communications. It lets you have an email address matching your business or personal brand. This personalization can help build trust and credibility with recipients. Another factor to consider is the storage capacity of the provider. You may require additional storage for your emails and attachments, depending on your needs.
Additionally, you need to consider the provider’s security features, and the industry is standardizing authentication requirements for deliverability. Look for providers who offer Sender Policy Framework (SPF), Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM). Encryption, anti-phishing, and spam filters protect sensitive information and clean your inbox. Finally, it is worth considering the email provider’s user interface and ease of use. A cluttered or confusing interface can make managing your emails a frustrating experience. Take the time to research and compare different providers to find the one that best fits your needs.
What Are the Top Five Small Business Email Providers?
When choosing a custom email domain for your small business, there are several providers to consider. The list below highlights the top five providers that offer great features and reliable service. From Gmail to Microsoft Outlook, these providers provide customizable email addresses that can help give your business a professional edge. So, let’s dive in and explore the best options for small business email providers.
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- Google Workspace (formerly G Suite)
- Microsoft 365
- Zoho Mail
- ProtonMail
- Yahoo Small Business
How Can You Get a Custom Email Domain?
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- Choose a domain name: Select a domain name representing your brand, business name, or personal identity. Ensure that the chosen domain name is available for registration. You can move on to the next step if you already have a domain name.
- Register the domain: Choosing a domain name is one of the most challenging steps. If you have a unique business name, you may be in luck. Otherwise, you can look at alternative top-level domains (TLDs) like .org, .net., or .biz. Once you select a domain name, register it with a registrar. Numerous domain registrars are available, including IONOS, Namecheap, and Bluehost. We do not recommend GoDaddy or Network Solutions. Follow the registrar’s directions to complete the registration process.
- Set up email hosting: After registering your domain, we recommend you set up email hosting. Your hosting provider may offer a free solution, but they typically do not provide the necessary security and authentication. There are various email hosting providers, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Zoho Mail. Compare features and pricing plans, and select the best service.
- Configure DNS settings: To connect your custom domain with the email hosting provider, you must configure the Domain Name System (DNS) settings. You can complete this action by adding specific DNS records provided by your host to your domain registrar’s DNS management panel.
- Create email accounts: Once you configure your DNS settings, you can create email accounts using your custom domain. Most hosting providers offer easy-to-use interfaces for managing accounts, allowing you to set up email addresses, passwords, and other settings.
Recommended Email Formats
After you’ve set up your domain and connected to your email host, you face your final challenge; what will your email be. This choice may sound fairly easy, but a lot of thought goes into how you format your email. Of all the combinations available, more than we list in the table below, we advise against listing first name and last name. For example “[email protected]” is a vector for spam and privacy breaches. This is not to say that your website doesn’t have your full name, but putting it on your email leads to your entire company becoming at-risk.
For reference, we allow our team to use their initials (makes it very easy to type) or a professional nickname. For those who mainly behind the scenes, they use their department email like “[email protected].”
Here are our recommendations based on common business standards.
Recommended Employee Email Formats
| FORMAT | EXAMPLE |
| First Name | [email protected] |
| Nickname | [email protected] |
| Last Name | [email protected] |
| Initials | [email protected] |
| First Initial and Last Name | [email protected] |
| First Name and Last Initial | [email protected] |
Final Thoughts: A Custom Domain Is an Easy Win for Brand Credibility
Using a custom email domain offers a variety of benefits for your business. Firstly, it enhances professionalism by allowing users to have a personalized email address that aligns with their brand or identity. Secondly, it increases brand credibility by demonstrating a level of seriousness and commitment to one’s online presence. Thirdly, a custom email domain provides better security, reducing the risk of phishing attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Additionally, it allows for better organization and management of emails, as users can create specific email addresses for different purposes or departments. Lastly, it offers better control and flexibility, as users can easily switch email service providers without changing their email addresses. To get a custom domain, one can start by choosing a domain registrar and following their specific instructions to purchase and set up the custom domain.
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