Why You Need to Skip Gmail and Get a Professional Email Address (+ Tips for Creating One Fast)

Most people have seen a professional email address. If the email address doesn’t end in a popular domain name like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, it’s likely attached to a specific domain name. Domain email addresses look more professional and help messages stand out. 

With our professional email address examples, you might take note of something like “myname@mybrandedemailaddress.com” or “lastname-firstname@companyname.com” as possible variations you can choose for a domain email.  

Here we’ll focus on key areas related to branded email addresses and how to create one for yourself. 

You’ll learn:

• The benefits of branded emails 
• Tips for choosing a professional email address
• Professional business email address ideas 
• How to make a custom email address 

The Benefits of a Domain Email Address

There are several benefits of using a professional email address instead of a free email provider like Gmail. 

Let’s examine a few reasons why you should use a professional email address: 

1. It builds your brand awareness: Brainstorm professional email address ideas, come up with a solid domain email address and start to send messages from it. You’ll begin to see an increase in your brand or company’s reputation. 

A professional email address can help you turn more leads into sales, too. It also conveys the sense that you take your work seriously. 

2. It offers a professional look: Simply put, domain-based addresses look professional. If your address ends in @gmail.com, it can come across as unprofessional.
3. It gives you greater control over your information: Since your emails will be stored on a server you’re paying for and not on a free email hosting server, you will have greater control and access over the data you send and receive. This also ensures a greater level of privacy. 
4. It ensures proper delivery: If you don’t send emails from your domain email address, your messages are more likely to be caught by spam filters. Don’t let this happen to the hard work you do for your small business.

Best Practices for Choosing Professional Looking Email Addresses

As you brainstorm professional email address ideas, keep a few best practices in mind when you create your email address:

• Don’t use numbers. Numbers are often at the end of email addresses to fulfill the unique requirements for free email providers. Omit the numbers and streamline your address’s look.
• Keep it short. There’s no reason your email address has to be wordy. Keep it simple and to the point. 
• Make it easy to remember. Any email address you choose should be simple enough for most people to remember. That’s why using your name, or company name is often suggested.
• Make sure it’s pronounceable. Your email address should be clear and easy to understand. Don’t run words together and make people have to decipher what it says. 
• Use “.” or “-” to separate words. If you want to include a few words in your professional email address, you may find it helpful to separate them with a period or hyphen. This ensures the address remains pronounceable and legible. 
• Make it relevant. If your professional email address will be on your website’s contact page, consider using the word “contact” in it. If it’s a generic website address, something like “hello” or “questions” can work. Regardless, keep your email address relevant to what it will be used for.

Follow these best practices to ensure your business emails appear professional. This extra effort can also pay off financially — if people are able to remember your email address, they’re more likely to reach out to you directly. 

A professional email address can generate viable leads. 

Now, here are some professional email address ideas. 

Professional Email Address Ideas

• Use your full name as one word 
• Use your name separated by a hyphen
• Use your name separated by underscores
• Use your first initial + last name 
• Use your last name + first initial 
• Use your full name, including middle name
• Use your initials 
• Condense or abbreviate your name
• Use your name + a keyword 
• Use your name + your location
• Use your name + your profession 
• Use your name + your degree or title 
• Use your name + your specialty 
• Use “hello” + your name 
• Use just “hello” or “sayhi” or “contact” 

How to Make a Custom Email Address

Now that you have a sense of some of the best professional email account ideas, let’s move on to the process of making your own branded account. 

1. Select a web hosting provider: There are several email service providers for businesses available. If you want to set up a website as well, you’ll need a hosting plan and a domain name. iPage’s WordPress plans include at least one free email address. 

Or, you can opt for a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) plan that uses Gmail but adds your custom domain email to it.

2. Choose your email name: Weigh the variety of professional email address ideas and pick one that best suits your brand identity when you create a new account.
3. Pick an email client: This can depend on which device or operating system you use. Often, individual hosting providers offer in-depth guidelines on how to connect your new email address with your email client. A few options include Apple Mail, Outlook, and Google Workspace. 

Final Thoughts: Professional Email Address Ideas: Domain Email Must-Haves

A branded professional email account makes your company or personal brand identifiable. And it’s easy to configure, especially when you have several professional email ideas on hand. 

It’s easy to get a professional email address set up for your company or personal brand. Check out iPage, which offers a wide range of hosting plans that include email addresses for as low as $1.99/month*.