IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLS MAKE IT THIS

This one small thing is killing your credibility.

This is not hyperbole.

I am not being dramatic (in this instance).

And for approximately $4-$10 a month - you can fix it.

Looking at the image below, which companies email info tells you that they’re established and they take themselves seriously?

Having a custom domain makes a huge difference in your perceived professionalism. It's not just an email, it's the main means of contact people may have with you.

When you think about phishing 101 - the first thing you check to verify an emails credibility is the domain. We know that our iCloud account isn't disabled when it came from an email like 'reply@predited.org'. Really. That's an actual email I received this month from that exact address.

Don't judge the email address I made when I was 14. It could have been worse.

Having a free email provider like @gmail.com can send the message that you're not as invested in your business. It can make your audience wonder if they can trust you to deliver quality when it feels like you're not 'all in' on your offering.

I know you've poured your heart and soul into this - that's why I'm writing this here not-a-blog post. When your audience sees that you've invested in the most professional image possible, they take notice.

Aside from all of that (which is literally so important) having a custom email domain is also more secure than using a free service like Gmail. You’re able to control your security settings and protect your business communications. Having a custom domain will also improve the deliverability of your emails and make them less likely to be marked as spam. This is because custom domains are perceived as more credible and reliable compared to ones sent from free email services. Even Yahoo and Gmail are trying to tell you to upgrade your email.

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT

We're all about solutions here. I'm not going to bring a problem to the forefront without an actionable solution.

Step one: secure a domain.

A domain will run you approximately $10-$20 a year. I am a slut for research so I learned the fuck outta this. But I am also a huge advocate of doing your own exploration and forming your own opinion. The most recommended platforms by people who eat sleep and breathe tech in a way I never want to:

• Porkbun

• Cloudflare

• Namecheap

The only name I repeatedly saw paired with 'avoid avoid avoid' was GoDaddy.

Step two: select an email host.

The best option will depend on your needs - but I'll at least give you a place to start. I use Google Workspace Business Standard because it has 2TB of cloud storage for the best price. I made a cute little table to show some of the more valuable offerings (in my opinion) when it comes to Google vs. Microsoft.

GOOGLE WORKSPACE BUSINESS STARTER	GOOGLE WORKSPACE BUSINESS STANDARD	MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS BASIC	MICROSOFT 365 BUSINESS STANDARD
$7.00 user/month	$14.00 user/month	$7.20 user/month	$15.00 user/month
Sale price for new users	Sale price for new users	Only discount is by paying for the year in full vs monthly	Only discount is by paying for the year in full vs monthly
30 GB of cloud storage	2 TB of cloud storage	1 TB of cloud storage	1 TB of cloud storage
Docs, Sheets, etc. but those are already free	Docs, Sheets, etc. but those are already free	Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook	Desktop versions of their biggest apps
100 participant video meetings	150 participant video meetings + recording, noise cancellation	N/A	host webinars for up to 300 people
N/A	eSignature with Docs and PDFs	Additional fee per signature	Additional fee per signature
N/A	Appointment booking pages	Appointment booking pages	Appointment booking pages

If your only desire is email hosting, you can save even more money. Porkbun offers that for just $24 a year. That's like one coffee from Starbucks.

When it comes to the platform you buy a domain and host email service - you have options. What isn't an option, is sticking with your @gmail.com if you're financially able to commit to a professional one. I promise you, the result is worth the investment.

Ok love you bye.

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All of these opinions are the same words of wisdom I would share with my closest friends and family. There are no affiliate links and I receive no compensation for my recommendations. I don't look at SEO keywords - I just share knowledge. Because remember, this isn't a regular blog - it's a cool blog.