One of my biggest pet peeves since we have been in the business of developing websites has been people using a different email address other than their company email address.

The first thing that came to my mind is that this email is SPAM. Yes, spam. When someone sends me an email about a product or service and they are using gmail, hotmail, yahoo, AOL or their ISP (free email addresses) …etc, I will more than likely delete it without opening it (that is if the spam control filter doesn’t catch it first.) I figure, if the company doesn’t care about using their company email address — then why should I care about their products or services? The second question that comes to my mind is – are they hiding something – or not want me to know who they are associated with?

Here are a few favorite lame excuses that I have heard over the last 10+ years for not using their company email address.

All my friends know this email address, I’ve had it for years

It’s too hard to learn something new

I only want to have to keep up with 1 email address

I use “fill in the blank” because I can access it anywhere I go

I have my web address at the bottom of the email letter

And my most favorite one:
Just make me email addresses and forward it to me that way

Using your company email address is all about being transparent. The first thing it tells someone who gets your emails is that you have a website with information about you and your company that may benefit them. Your chances of someone opening your emails are higher.

Don’t get me wrong. Having a personal email address to send emails to your friends and family is great! I have a “personal email address” as well as my business one. Don’t use your personal email address for your business. Just like you should separate your business from personal life, so should you separate your email addresses. Look at it this way – when you’re at home during your off time, you don’t have to worry about business things, and when you’re at work, you don’t have to be bombarded with your personal emails.

If you are a spammer – please, just keep using the free email services so my spam control will delete you before I even get it.

Remember, the internet is all about being transparent. Don’t hide! Be transparent and use your company email address.