Create a good impression: get a proper business email address
Using a business email address is far better than using your personal email address and it's not as difficult or expensive as you may think. For example a.smith@wheelerdealer.co.uk creates a far more professional image than asmith561@freemail.co.uk.
You can get a business email address even if you’re not ready to have a website just yet. Here’s how to set up and use your business email address in 3 easy steps:
Step 1 – choose your domain name
How? Visit the StartupStore to find and register your domain name. Ideally your business name and domain name should be the same. Try and pick a name that is:
- easy to remember
- not hyphenated
- doesn’t use an unusual spelling
Avoid names that are:
- trademarked by another business
- misleading in any way
See our article on choosing a name for your business for more guidance.
Domain names are allocated on a first come, first served basis and are usually registered for anywhere between 1 and 5 years. Make sure you renew your domain name before it expires: make a note of the renewal date rather than relying on a reminder from the company you registered it with.
Having a ‘.co.uk’ domain is still considered the most appropriate for UK businesses but there are other suffixes you can choose from.
Step 2 – find an email-only hosting package
How? The StartupStore provides an email only hosting service with up to 5 email addresses for only £4 per month!
There’s no need to pay for website hosting if you haven’t got a website, just choose a supplier who provides email only hosting services.
Step 3 – set up your email software to send and read your emails
How? View this short VIDEO TUTORIAL from about.com on how to set up different email accounts in Microsoft Outlook Express.
Setting up an email signature
You should, by law, provide business and contact details on all your emails - see our article on what contact information should be on your communications for more information.
The easiest way to do this is to set up a standard email signature which is automatically added to the bottom of all your emails. If you employ staff make sure they are all using similar email signatures too.
How? View another short VIDEO TUTORIAL on how to set up an email signature in outlook express.
Create a good impression: get a proper business email address
Using a business email address is far better than using your personal email address and it's not as difficult or expensive as you may think. For example a.smith@wheelerdealer.co.uk creates a far more professional image than asmith561@freemail.co.uk.
You can get a business email address even if you’re not ready to have a website just yet. Here’s how to set up and use your business email address in 3 easy steps:
Step 1 – choose your domain name
How? Visit the StartupStore to find and register your domain name. Ideally your business name and domain name should be the same. Try and pick a name that is:
- easy to remember
- not hyphenated
- doesn’t use an unusual spelling
Avoid names that are:
- trademarked by another business
- misleading in any way
See our article on choosing a name for your business for more guidance.
Domain names are allocated on a first come, first served basis and are usually registered for anywhere between 1 and 5 years. Make sure you renew your domain name before it expires: make a note of the renewal date rather than relying on a reminder from the company you registered it with.
Having a ‘.co.uk’ domain is still considered the most appropriate for UK businesses but there are other suffixes you can choose from.
Step 2 – find an email-only hosting package
How? The StartupStore provides an email only hosting service with up to 5 email addresses for only £4 per month!
There’s no need to pay for website hosting if you haven’t got a website, just choose a supplier who provides email only hosting services.
Step 3 – set up your email software to send and read your emails
How? View this short VIDEO TUTORIAL from about.com on how to set up different email accounts in Microsoft Outlook Express.
Setting up an email signature
You should, by law, provide business and contact details on all your emails - see our article on what contact information should be on your communications for more information.
The easiest way to do this is to set up a standard email signature which is automatically added to the bottom of all your emails. If you employ staff make sure they are all using similar email signatures too.
How? View another short VIDEO TUTORIAL on how to set up an email signature in outlook express.