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Branding with your Email Address | Little things that matter

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RealtyXL Marketing Inc.

Google AppsI get emails from realtors (and other business people) that come from their ISP's address.  Even though they have their own domain.

This is a branding faux pas.  Take the time to set up a personal email ( you@yourdomain.com ) it looks so much more professional than you@aol.com or @comcast @telus ... it's just not pro.

If you like their service and you want to keep using it to collect email fine.  Set up a FORWARD ONLY in your email server or even at your domain registrar - most of them will let you set up forwards so you don't even need a hosting account for that.

Then set up your reply address in your ISP account to say YOU@YOURDOMAIN.COM ... so even though you're checking and sending from YOU@AOL.COM your audience is going to get it from yourdomain.

Better yet, give up the whole crappy "download to your computer" type email setup and switch to a hosted email service that won't stick ads along the bottom of your emails.

I'm a huge fan of google's hosted applications.  I've moved all my clients (and of course my companies) onto it and they are all very happy with the results.

Shared calendars let you know where your team is at, hosted mail lets you check from anywhere and the shared documents, while not yet as powerful as WORD, are awsome for sharing and collaborating on simple lists, marketing copy and assignments.

The free version is fine for most people, and for $50 per Year per User, its a pretty cheap alternative even if you do want the extra space and features of a pro account.  (I'm still using the free one over 18months later)

Check out Google's Hosted Apps

If you need help configuring google apps for your domain I'm happy to set it all up for you 

Comments(4)

The Brewer Team - Benchmark Realty
Benchmark Realty - Franklin, TN
good post - I'm going to rid myself of top producer since I don't use it anymore. Google has almost everything I need for 0 dollars, and I also have a point2agent website with most of the same functions. Top Producer and it's competition are in trouble.
Feb 05, 2008 01:42 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy
I always wonder when I see business cards with yahoo or hotmail address.  Even the Gmail addresses set me back a bit.  We always need to control our name domain anyway.
Feb 05, 2008 01:42 PM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

Take your pick.  ERA has been doing it for years but few of the agents take advantage.  I don't think they understand the value.

gene@atkinsonrealty.com

gene.allen@era.com

 

Feb 06, 2008 07:19 AM
Calvin Neely
FLI Properties - Lagrange, GA
Let's get you moving!
Good post with great information.  I have spoken to several realtors that have a website why they continue to use their AOL, Yahoo or Gmail email address.  Most didn't know it was so easy to change or just didn't think it would matter.  I agree....use your domain to get the most out of it.
Feb 06, 2008 07:30 AM