At BestBreed Marketing & Consulting, when I create new websites for my small business and startup customers I do not setup an email account with the hosting service.  I use Gmail instead.

Why?

1).  Let google do the spam filtering for you.
2). Your new email address stays with you.  If you change providers or your dotcom name you still have the same email address.
3).  Gmail is a respected brand, and looks a lot better for your small business than some small brand like a local host provider, or OMG, something like AOL.  Hotmail is ok, but I  think Gmail is much better.

I always winced when some one had an AOL email.  I thought right away they were small and not in the know, as AOL was not even the world wide web.  It made an impression on me and not the kind you want to create.  You want to look like you are established, so go with the best of breed, and in email, Gmail is it.

Gmail refreshes content automatically, and with Hotmail you have to continually refresh your browser to see new mail.  Gmail has a superior login system, and also your account links easily to other services that relate to SEO, google analytics, adwords and more.

So create a Gmail account, use your personal name and combine it with your company name, or better yet ask me about creating a brand.

Everyone should be thinking branding, when creating a website name, your email name and so on.

I am working with two small business real estate agents in Bend Oregon, and we have started to move into how to create a memorable brand for each of them.  Look for my blogs and upcoming page on branding.

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