Whether you're just starting out or have been on-line for a while, you'll want to make sure you understand the basics of email addresses.
You might be tempted to use a free email account to save money. You can get one from Yahoo, Google, MSN (hotmail), and Inbox, to name some of the most popular services. If you're using it for personal purposes only, that's probably OK.
If you're looking for a job or starting or running a business, you'll look more professional if you use an email account from your Internet Service Provider (Comcast, Insight, Roadrunner, your local telephone company) or one that comes with your domain name (more about that in a minute).
If you absolutely must use a free account for business purposes, please think carefully about the name you choose to put before the dot. Would you want to work with someone whose email address is redhotmama@hotmail.com?
It's definitely a good idea to use a free email address as a secondary address for personal reasons and to have another free email address for business purposes. That way, when you want to order or download something from a web site that requires an email address, you can just fill in one of your free ones if you don't want to give out your personal or business information.
Since you probably won't be checking these addresses very often (that's why they're called disposable), don't use them to sign up for stuff you really want to read.
Back to domain names. You're probably used to thinking of them as web sites. For example, NoMoreBookkeepingHeadaches.com is one of my web sites and I get email there at Sheryl@NoMoreBookkeepingHeadaches.com.
I also get email at Sheryl@NoMorePayrollHeadaches.com. I don't have an actual web site with that name, but I do own the domain name and have email set up to use that name. You can use something similar for yourself or your business.
Most registrars (that's the folks who you pay for the domain name) offer free parking (that's a domain name that doesn't have an associated web site) and email capabilities.
You can register something like YourBusinessName.com and you'll have a professional looking email address you@YourBusinessName.com, even if you don't have a web site.
Costs can be as little as $ 10 per year. I think you'll agree with me that your image is worth ten bucks. Remember that many people judge by appearances. I believe it was Will Rogers who said "you never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Sheryl Schuff is a Certified Public Accountant, author, and consultant who has been in private practice for almost 30 years. She teaches small business owners how to use PCs and the Internet to simplify their business operations. You can get Sheryl's FREE audio mini course with time saving tips at
http://www.SherylSchuff.com
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