When Free Isn’t Free: email edition

I see many businesses using free email services to run their business. While Gmail and ISP provided accounts have their advantages, I’d like to discuss some reasons to consider having your own email.

The Internet has made the yellow pages a thing of the past. Now days, people are going to find you first by searching the web, probably by using Google. So, you probably have a web site for your business, right? Which means you already have a domain name: www.mybusiness.com for example. I imagine you’ve put a bit of thought into that domain name, trying to make it something people will remember and associate with your business in a positive light.

So when folks get an email, are they getting it from you@mybusiness.com? Or do they see you@myisp.com? Or maybe even you@yahoo.com? Which one do you think has more impact? Which is more professional? Which reinforces your business image in the best light?

Next, consider privacy and security. Gmail scans your email for key words to select advertising to show you. ISPs can see your email stored on their servers, and if the bill in Congress becomes law, they may be allowed to do the same if they wish. Public email providers are routinely targeted by hackers, and large scale breaches of Yahoo and AOL have made recent headlines. Hosting your own email makes for a smaller presence for targeting, and implementing encryption increases privacy.

Finally, consider ownership of the accounts. If you have an employee using a free account, and they leave, who owns the email? Perhaps you do if it’s through your ISP, but if it’s their Gmail account? that’s a different story. Even if you control the account, can you control what your email provider does with your data?

Setting up your own business email involves a bit more overhead, but it gives a business more control over their information and their image, and can be done at an affordable price. I’d be happy to discuss your email needs with you.