Company Name or Personal Name for FROM emai?

13 replies
I havent have found any research or article while Googling for this. Do you get better open rates if you use your company name or personal for emails or a combination of the 2?

So the options are:
  1. Baadier
  2. Baadier Sydow
  3. Company
  4. Baadier Sydow @ Company
  5. Baadier @ Company
  6. Baadier | Company
  7. Baadier Sydow | Company
  8. Baadier at Company
  9. Baadier Sydow at Company
#company #emai #personal
  • Profile picture of the author Greedy
    I depends on how you brand your company.

    If you build it around a person for example "Baadier Sydow Blog" then use the name.

    Something that is more professional like Walmart, then use "Walmart".

    But you can always have a company like Walmart, and you want to make the letters a little more personal by using a name like "Baadier Sydow | Walmart", and saying you are in charge of Walmart's newsletter. That work as well.

    You just have to get the feel of the companies branding and decide.

    Regarding the formatting "@" vs. "|" .... I don't know.
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  • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
    I branded my business under my company name. I am running a promotion starting on Monday which will run over a week and expose the business to a lot of new subscribers. I was thinking for the purpose of the promotion I should create a personal connection with the subscribers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Wendy Maki
    Whatever you do, do it consistently.

    Pick the name that you are most likely to need to be identified with over the long term, ideally one that gives you the most flexibility and recognizability. It's a bit of guesswork trying to see what kind of email situations you might encounter in the future, but it's worth trying to create a useful identity (whether that is corporate or personal).

    I know that there are some who will recommend just using your first name... don't do it (although your first name IS really unique and identifiable). I can't tell you how many times I've started unsubscribing from idiots who think I should know who "John" or "Shane" or "Bonnie" is. Contrary to all the advice to be 'mysterious'... all it does is aggravate me. The truth is that the emails I will NEVER unsubscribe from are those coming from recognizable entities who are really transparent and consistent on their FROM identities.
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    -- Find blues festivals around the world at the bluesmusicfestivals.com directory and jazz festivals at jazzmusicfests.com.

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    • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
      Originally Posted by Wendy Maki View Post

      Whatever you do, do it consistently.

      Pick the name that you are most likely to need to be identified with over the long term, ideally one that gives you the most flexibility and recognizability. It's a bit of guesswork trying to see what kind of email situations you might encounter in the future, but it's worth trying to create a useful identity (whether that is corporate or personal).

      I know that there are some who will recommend just using your first name... don't do it (although your first name IS really unique and identifiable). I can't tell you how many times I've started unsubscribing from idiots who think I should know who "John" or "Shane" or "Bonnie" is. Contrary to all the advice to be 'mysterious'... all it does is aggravate me. The truth is that the emails I will NEVER unsubscribe from are those coming from recognizable entities who are really transparent and consistent on their FROM identities.
      Thanks for this advice, much appreciated. I think I should stick with my offline business name and remain consistent.
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  • Profile picture of the author Greedy
    Whatever you do, do it consistently.
    I HIGHLY agree with this.

    And you can make the decision better than I can. I don't know your company's brand.

    Just go with your gut and you'll be right.
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    • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      Personal names work best for me.
      I've always thought of doing personal names for IM and business names for offline but Im slowly warming up to the idea of using my personal name more offline. My plan is to launch more "offline" ventures in the new year that involve coaching, seminars and training in which case I would like to brand myself as a consultant separate to the business. Am I creating too many personas or is this the best path going forward?
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      • Profile picture of the author Wendy Maki
        Originally Posted by Baadier Sydow View Post

        I've always thought of doing personal names for IM and business names for offline but Im slowly warming up to the idea of using my personal name more offline. My plan is to launch more "offline" ventures in the new year that involve coaching, seminars and training in which case I would like to brand myself as a consultant separate to the business. Am I creating too many personas or is this the best path going forward?
        I think you can do both, if you are careful and strategic. Think Oprah/Harpo. Think "Chicken Soup"/Jack Canfield. etc. You probably want to do some of both. A real person is easier to remember sometimes, but you also want the business not to rely ONLY on YOU -- you want it to be viable without you doing everything.

        (Oh, and both examples have lots of sub-brands within their spheres, for specific products, programs...)
        Signature

        -- Find blues festivals around the world at the bluesmusicfestivals.com directory and jazz festivals at jazzmusicfests.com.

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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    Totally depends on the context of the mail.

    If it's obviously a mass newsletter, I use the company name.

    If I'm responding to a single customer who's mailed a contact/support address, I use my name.

    On some of my sites, new customers get some "welcome" type mails a few minutes after signing up, and a few days after signing up, to push them to start using the service and see if they need any help getting started. These are from "Dan @ Company".

    Same site/product, same mailbox, 3 different From: names depending on context.
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