This is our second in a series of online marketing tips for real estate.
While a free email service might seem like a bargain, do you really want to be promoting a free email service instead of reinforcing your own branding?
What do we mean by that? You can get an email from brands like Yahoo, Google, MSN or AOL, for nothing, with instant access wherever you have a browser. It is a very tempting offer, for sure. Free is a great price, but not at the expense of your branding opportunities. Who would you rather build your brand or a brand like Yahoo?
But think of your email address as an extension of your branding. Every email you send is part of your online marketing strategy and should reflect you in the best possible light. Not that a free email account brands you poorly, it just isn’t branding you as effectively as it could. Which do you think makes a better impression? Charlee78934@aol.com or Charlee@charleehomes.com? Hosting your email on your own domain gives you a level of professionalism that can’t get with a free account.
Paying to have your email hosted in your own domain can cost as little as $10 year by using a company like GoDaddy.com. There are other email hosting services online as well; choose the one that works for you. Typically, these services will interface with Microsoft Outlook and other popular email clients. Make sure to check ahead of time with your preferred hosting service.
As a small business, using email to market to your leads and prospects is a cost effective tool. By having your email hosted on your own domain you add an additional level of professionalism and brand impression you don’t get with free email services.
One last thought: Another way to enhance your email brand is to use a branded stationery in addition to hosting your email on your domain. Each message can carry your photo, logo, and contact information. Which looks better to you?
Unbranded Stationery
Or
Custom Email Stationery
Posted by: tara.sybrant@realprosystems.com, NOT tara.sybrant16547@hotmail.com
Really good article with a lot of geat information. Email addresses can be professional or quirky. I hope this will open a lot of reators eyes to the facts.