OK, so you took the plunge and purchased your internet domain. Good for you! Now what? According to Google.com there are about 8,058,044,651 current web pages. That's billion with a "B"! So how do you stand out?

The first thing you should do is stop using a free email service. More often than not, a potential client will delete your email if they are not familiar with whom it is coming from. Think about what you do with emails that you are not familiar with. Having your domain name in the "From" field lets them know that it is you and your business that is calling on them. Plus, don't you want your business name in front of as many eyeballs as possible?

If you use a free or fee-based email service (Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Earthlink, etc.) then at least make it work for you. Having an email named wilsonwidgets@hotmail.com is much more identifiable than wilwid123@hotmail.com and again puts your companies name in front of the client. If you choose to send email via one of these services then most people will assume that you do not have a web presence and that can reflect negatively on your brand.

The best way to present your identity to your clients via email is to make sure that they are reading what you are sending out. If they delete it then they never read it.

In many cases, email accounts come free with standard hosting of your domain, so it makes zero sense to not have your own personalized email account.

Bottom line: If your email address doesn't convey any meaning about you and your business, every email you send will be a missed opportunity.

Glenn Geiger is the Director of Interactive Services for Pixallure Design LLC, http://www.pixallure.com. Glenn has worked in Web site design, development, systems administration and management since 1987, including work for DynCorp, Accent Software, GlobalKey, Inc., and Digital Equipment Corp.

This article may be freely distributed as long as the author's bio is included with an active link to http://www.Pixallure.com.

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