Email From: Field Display Matters!

I get emails from other business onliners where the From: field is not set up correctly or used to its full advantage. Every day. Two this morning which prompted this post.

Why is the From: field so important? From branding to perceptions, those you are emailing are now more than ever scanning their inbox and making a snap decision on which email they should open or not.

How the From: field displays, especially to new contacts,
can make or break you.

Email = Branding

Every email you send for company business makes an impression. For example, the From: field can determine if a new prospect will consider you legit. Will they view you as credible or hit delete because they don’t recognize your response to something they requested?

It would be best to use your domain (dot com, net, biz, etc.) email address from the start. Inexpensive and easy to set up.

There is no good reason that I’ve heard of not getting your own domain and email setup and in use for your day-to-day communications. Email is an integral part of your branding efforts. Don’t miss that opportunity.

Do Not Use Freebie Accounts

Refrain from using “throw-away” freebie accounts such as @yahoo, @gmail, @hotmail for business correspondence. These are called throw-away accounts because they are free.

Spammers set up accounts and spam, knowing full well they’ll be shut down. They then open another account.

In addition, if someone requests information through your website, they’ll recognize a matching domain email address. So how can that potential customer recognize your response if you use a freebie address?

Formatting is Imperative

Every day, I get emails from “professionals” whose names are in all small case in the From: field. Make sure your name is typed correctly and formally. For example, John A. Smith — not john a smith, john, or JOHN A SMITH.

If you were to type your name on company letterhead, how would you do so? That’s what you need to reflect in your From: field.

Using your domain email address and ensuring your name displays appropriately in the From: field is just the basics, folks. You help to safeguard against your emails not being recognized and taken seriously by doing so.

For the little effort involved in setting your From: field up correctly, why would you do otherwise? Don’t leave the answer to that question up to those who receive your emails that have to determine if they will open them or not.