Is using a Gmail Email address unprofessional?

I agree, if you have a website and domain then why not use that for an email and brand yourself, it can't hurt

Use your domain to be email address, so it look professional.

Thanks for your replies guys. Looks like I'll have to go digging in my new domain control panel!

I believe if you are going to use a domain email make sure you have a professional looking website...otherwise you might as well use a hotmail/yahoo/gmail - as it will have the same effect.

Well it all depends what you're trying to achieve?


If you want to "look" professional, then of course email@yourdomain.com
"looks" far more professional than a free email account.

However,

If you're in direct response... you may favor "results", rather than "looks"?

Sometimes this helps adding that "personal touch" feeling
where you can build more trust & rapport with your audience.

Especially when they feel you are a real, "contactable" person.

So if you're target audience responds better to an email@gmail.com
email, then you gota go with what works best for you.

Here's a simple Gmail Trick you might like to implement
in all the online web businesses you build.

• Create your site
• Create a gmail account (related to your domain).
• In cPanel Click "Email Forwarders"
• Create all your domain email addresses and forward them ALL to your Gmail account.
  
  i.e.
  
  - aj@domain.com
  - support@domain.com
  - payments@domain.com
  - admin@domain.com
  - whatever@domain.com
• Go into your gmail account & Click "Settings".
  - Click "Accounts and Imports"
  - Click "Send Mail From Another Address"
  - Do this verification process for ALL your domain emails
• Now Check the box below
  
  - "When receiving a message:"
  Reply from the same address the message was sent to"
• Now go to 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP"
  - Check the box "Forward a copy of incoming mail to"
  - add your MAIN email address, and "keep a copy".
  
  Or, leave it as is, if you're going to use this gmail account
  for logging in and replying directly.

Here's what this will do and
how it will streamline your business...

Basically, any email sent to any email@yourdomain.com email addresses
will be forwarded to your Gmail address.

You can "reply from same address" directly from your gmail account
i.e. aj@domain.com >> aj@gmail.com

However, you can "Reply as" aj@domain.com

There's also a drop down menu so you can "Reply From"
ANY verified email address you choose.

This Saves LOTS of time, no more logging into separate email addresses.
It's under ONE account.

This is handy if you have 20 differrent internet businesses,
you can send and reply from just ONE Gmail account.

Gmail also has Unlimited* Storage, so you never have to worry about
"Full Inboxes", etc.

They Also have great spam filters.

and when it comes time to sell any of your internet businesses,
you can sell the gmail account as well. (or simple create another one
with all the forwarders etc) for the new buyer...

without losing any of your emails.

Hope this helps, all the best.

- aj

I agree 100%. You can select either of the two options mentioned above. Use your .com (or whatever domain) email and link it, or use a similar and related name with a direct gmail account.

I rent holiday property outside of my own country and I am amazed at the number of agents and travel promoters that use a gmail address.

Perhaps we, as Internet Marketers are over concerned about about spam and scam emails - hell, not surprising with the amount that most of us receive.

Personally, I have no problem using a gmail address, but the same does not apply to many other free email account providers.

Just my thoughts,

Jeff.

I use Gmail as my main business email for many reasons; first off, it allows me to import all my other email addys without any issues. I also think that since Google is a widely respected and known domain, using Gmail is not hurting my business, nor is it turning my clients away.

Compared to a Yahoo inbox, Gmail alows me to collaborate with my team all from the one spot without having to login to dozens of other accounts and makes my day so much easier. Yahoo on the other hand is spammy just looking at it with countless crappy flashing banner ads and what not. Definitely not business material.

In the end, it matters more to be professional in your email communication. Using fast responses and getting back to people within 24 hours matters more than worrying about a domain branded email and never replying to your queries - and believe me, I've seen plenty of that.

Monika

Thanks again for all your replies. I always use the same domain/hosting company (Blacknight). Their service is fantastic in many ways, but their email sucks bad!

AJ Wilson- Thanks for your forwarding suggestion. I'll definitely look into that. Gmail really just is a joy to use.

Hi Ray. I agree for the most part, or at least I would have, until I read some of the replies here!

I still think people have a lot of respect for Gmail because it has become so ubiquitous. I mean, lots of "professional" companies use Facebook, Twitter and Myspace, so I'm not too surprised or worried when I see a Gmail account anymore.

Still, even if it only makes a 5% difference, it must be the better option to go for the @domain option.

LOL..

Nah man,... If my finger was to the bone, I'd rather stick in my mouth
rather than asking for a plaster from a bum.

But good point, if you got what people want,
no one's really gona care what the hell you use
to give them the solution theyre looking for.

Anything 'business' related use @yourdomain. Buying a domain name costs pretty little. You just need the domain name, not their mail services. Google will even store your @domain mail. So if you're a Gmail Fan, same look and feel and services. Google will even help you change your mx records. i.e. who looks after your mail. Where does it get delivered to.

Junk, Signups,Newsletters, i.e. non business mail. I tend to get sent to @gmail Account email address.

You can get can forward @gmail to your @mydomain and reply using either or both.

With @domain using Google you can also use Google Apps, which is pretty great if you're on the road or having a dispersed workforce.

Same rules apply to backing up data. Google are pretty great, yet, you might as well be sure.

Happy Travels

A

I also use several Gmail accounts and haven't noticed any problems. Actually I love using them.

The support replies make me a professional.

Marian

Yes it would be personal Preference of what service you want to use,
but, what's more important, is what your Clients/Customers think of your e-mail address.


I wouldn't feel safe at all for example, if I was going to buy a $1500 template from a Company, whose contact info showed up to be ???@gmail.com.

I would have second thoughts that it could be some sort of scam.

-------------------------------------------

I agree with what many others said here.

Using g-mail as your Business Contact is pretty unprofessional.

Use your own Domain-Email.

Even if you have to Set up all your "Domain E-mails" to forward a copy/re-direct messages to your Normal E-mail.

Because sometimes it's annoying to manage too many addresses.

gmail is a wonderful service but since the domain gmail.com is perceived as unprofessional in IM, just use gmail with your own domain. The solution is called Google Apps...