Why A Business Should Never Use Free Email Addresses
Electronic mail, more commonly known as email, has become a standard form of communication and is currently being used for a wide range of purposes. Many people use the system to share files and photos with friends and family, while employees use it to transmit important documents. For someone who runs a company online, email is more than just an optional means of communication – it’s an integral part of the business. The fact that it has become a part of everyday business is the reason why you should consider email ownership opposed to all the attractive free email offers available.
Most internet users send mail online in one or a combination of the following ways: a free webmail address, a free account provided by their ISP (Internet Service Provider) or an address provided by their job. In this article, we will cover all three variations of free email accounts and discuss the disadvantages associated with them.
Deceptive Beauty
The best known example of free email is Microsoft’s Hotmail, a system that is more aptly termed as webmail. Recognizing the value and how essential online mail would be in the future, Microsoft purchased Hotmail at the whopping price of $400 million in 1998. Around that time, Hotmail provided service to roughly nine million users. Today, that figured has soared to more than 120 million users and counting, easily making it the largest free email provider. Throughout the years, Microsoft has used the Hotmail name to leverage its other products, encouraging users to make the upgrade to paid accounts. The software giant isn’t alone in this strategy, as almost every other provider has employed similar techniques to profit from their free service.
While having the luxury to send online messages at no cost offers obvious benefits, the drawbacks might not be so apparent on the surface. A free service such as Hotmail leaves you very limited - you have no idea of how the account will be administered behind the scenes or what level of customer service to expect. Furthermore, you have no way of knowing what restrictions will be imposed in the future or if it will even exist all. Although it goes without saying, this is not something to put the fate of your business in.
The bottom line is that your business deserves more than a free account. After all, would you send money to a company who was simply operating out of a free email account?
Almost Free, Just as Bad
Email addresses supplied by an ISP such as AOL, Ihug or Xtra come included as part of the standard internet service. Depending on how you view it, such an account may not be free if you are already paying for service, though AOL does allow former clients to use their mail server at no cost. Regardless of the perception, these services present even more challenges and leave you with limited options for effectively running your business.
The major problem here is that the provided email address literally binds you with the ISP, as most of them will not allow you to switch to a new service without paying ridiculous charges. More important is how this address comes across to your visitors. Anyone can sign up for an AOL account, essentially making you appear as the average Joe trying to pose himself as a legitimate business.
There could be several reasons why your ISP may no longer be able to support your needs: a mediocre quality of service, lack of virus protection and spam filtering and most importantly, the unprofessional blemish it stamps on your business. You can always make the switch to a different provider, but then again, that only factors in a different level of complexity.
A Short-term Solution
Many companies now provide their employees with free email addresses. While this obviously serves a purpose on the job, for some employees, this is the only email address they have. There are a number of disadvantages that come along with relying on this address for business communication, even though it does add some level of professionalism. Aside from the fact that you might not have access to the account outside of the workplace, the major issue here boils down to something that is absolutely critical to the integrity of your business - privacy.
Despite the security mechanisms your employer may have set up, this type of account makes it far too easy for co-workers to access your messages. Most of the other drawbacks are closely tied with free webmail and addresses provided your ISP - little control over the account and no guarantees that the service will be there in the future.
Your Very Own Email Address
Apart from having a personalized domain such as you@yourbusiness.com , the major difference between the types of email accounts mentioned above and having your own is simple - control. As the owner of your domain, the email account belongs to you as well, meaning you have control of where and how it is managed. You can determine how much storage and bandwidth is required to manage it, what security features are implemented, if you prefer a webmail interface or an offline client and so forth. Having your own email establishes credibility with your audience, and being that it’s associated with your website, it makes you much easier to find online.
Conclusion
Free webmail, ISP accounts and work email addresses might serve benefits to the average user, but as a business owner, they will do nothing but limit your potential. By owning your email address you can distance yourself entirely from a third-party company and have more authority over the fate of your business.
