7 Reasons Why You Need a Professional Email Address

Be honest: when you read an email from a stranger, what’s the first thing you notice? Most likely, it's their email address. And though we might not consciously realize it, it's all too easy to write off someone—even before they've had the chance to wow us—if their email address reads like a 16-year-old’s AOL address.

Be honest: when you read an email from a stranger, what’s the first thing you notice? Most likely, it's their email address. And though we might not consciously realize it, it's all too easy to write off someone—even before they've had the chance to wow us—if their email address reads like a 16-year-old’s AOL address.

A professional email address, on the other hand, can reflect an air of maturity, credibility, and trustworthiness. It's time to take control of your professional identity and show the world that you mean business!

Using your personal email to communicate with colleagues, employers, customers, and vendors can project an image of amateurism or unprofessionalism—both less than ideal when seeking to establish yourself in the business world.

Still don't see what's the big deal with using your "xXx_luv_pupz_xXx@rocketmail.com" address for work tasks? Consider the following seven reasons why it's time to upgrade your email address:

Employers Communicate Mainly Via Email

While most of us use social media and other digital communication tools to chat with friends and family, employers rely on email for most of their day-to-day business. From job offers to internal memos, email is the go-to way for colleagues, customers, and vendors to get in touch.

Avoid the awkwardness of introducing yourself with an immature email address and get ahead in life by investing in a professional one. Aside from the extra credibility, employers will also have an easier time remembering your name—because it’s right there in your email!

It's Easier to Remember

Was it six underscores or seven? Two hyphens or three? We've all been there: we can't remember our email address, let alone those of our contacts.

With a professional email address, you never have to play the guessing game. There's no need to spend much time thinking up ideas on how to create a professional email address: just use your full name—abbreviating if necessary—plus the domain name and your contact is simple to remember and easy to share, even when you're networking with someone in person.

It Highlights Your Professionalism

Professionalism goes beyond having business cards and dressing the part. It’s also important to represent yourself maturely online, and having a professional email address is an easy way to do that.

Given that email is the most common form of digital communication in the office, it pays off to make sure that your email address is professional and doesn’t contain any references to your hobbies, nicknames, or other potentially embarrassing aspects of your life.

Think of having a professional email address as a way to promote your professional image and skills without going overboard. 

It Projects Authority

Now, this is more important than ever. With social media amplifying every gaffe and misstep you make, it's essential to project a composed and authoritative presence.

Having a professional email address can be the difference between looking like an amateur and appearing mature and reliable. Your peers will take notice when they see your professional email address in their inbox, conveying authority and trustworthiness with every message.

It Helps You Keep Your Personal and Professional Lives Separate

The days of conflating your personal and professional lives are (thankfully) over. No one expects you to be the same person both at work and at home, but it pays to keep the two separate.

Having a professional email address is one way to ensure that your personal life doesn’t leak into business transactions. Not only will you avoid embarrassing yourself, but you'll also make sure your contacts don't get the wrong impression of you.

It Protects Your Privacy

On a similar note, having a separate professional email address also helps you protect your privacy, as it allows you to keep personal and work-related matters in different accounts.

Having a simple, straightforward professional email address can help you avoid email fraud. For instance, if you find yourself in a situation where someone is asking for your email (for example, when setting up an online account), always use the professional address instead of your personal one.

This adds one more layer of security to your data and helps ensure that you decrease the risk of your email account being hacked.

It's an Easy, Inexpensive Task

At the end of the day, having a professional email address is something that can be done for very little money.

Most domains offer plans that allow you to purchase your unique web address, and many give you the option of adding features such as extra storage or aliases (additional email addresses). And if you already have an existing domain name, setting up a new account is as easy as logging in and creating a new one.

By investing just a little bit of time or money (or both), you can make sure that your email address reflects the level of professionalism that you want to project, allowing employers and colleagues to take you seriously and creating opportunities for potential business partners to find you.

Conclusion

It may seem like a small detail but having an impressive email address makes all the difference when it comes to making that great first impression. A professional email address speaks volumes about your character and can open doors to new opportunities. Make sure yours is ready for action!

Written by Katie Pierce