Creating a Professional Email Address

Creating a Professional Email Address

Your email address is often the first thing people see when they communicate with you online, even before your name. It’s like a handshake to others. If you want to be professional, you have to think about how your email address represents you.

Here are some common email address mistakes:

·  Inappropriate or flirty – Having an inappropriate email address like or is like showing up for a college or job interview in your pajamas.

·  Modified spelling – Modified spellings like or look like you either created your email address in desperation or that you can’t spell.

·  Nonsensical – Phrases that have no meaning like or don’t help people identify you and give the impression you aren’t serious about your communication.

Here are some best practices to setting up a professional email account:

·  Be professional – avoid email addresses with your nickname, pet’s name, hobby or any other personal information besides your name.

·  Be appropriate – If you’re having a hard time finding a suitable combination of your name, include a middle name or initial. For example, would end up in a spam filter, or the recipient would delete it or block it as junk. My professional email, , is a much better choice.

·  Keep it simple – Avoid using numbers and symbols. They’re hard to associate with you and can often be confused. Depending on font, lowercase “l”, uppercase “I” and the number “1” can look almost identical; the same is true of zero “0”, and the letter “o” “O”.

·  Carefully consider your email provider – Even domain names can lead to judgment by the recipient. For example, using AOL can create an impression that the sender is out-of-date with technology. Gmail is currently the choice of most professionals.