Getting A Permanent eMail Address

By Mike Barnett

Your eMail address is an "asset" of you and your business, so when sending eMail, you need to avoid using a temporary eMail address by instead, using a "Permanent eMail Address."

The use of a Permanent eMail Address will help you to brand yourself properly on the Internet.

What do I mean by that?

Every time you send an eMail, you are branding your eMail address to the recipient (and those to whom the eMail is forwarded). When someone replies to your eMail, your "Reply To" address (which can be different that the "From" address) is saved (by default) in the eMail address book. Others put your eMail address in their contact manager (most doing it as easily as right clicking on an eMail address and adding to their contact list).

So as you can see, branding can and does occur quickly on the Internet and that is why it is absolutely necessary that you create a Permanent eMail Address, so you aren't branding a temporary one.

As an example, if you are still using your ISP's domain., (something like YourName@Comcast.net or YourName@Earthlink.net) in your "From" and/or "Reply To" addresses, then you are branding the ISP's domain when instead you should be branding yours by using a Permanent eMail Address.

For example, even though I use COX.net as my ISP while I am accessing the Internet while at home, and XO.com as my ISP when at the office and/or Verizon.net with my laptop wherever I travel, my "From" and "Reply to"

address is 'either' Mike@MikeBarnett.com or Mike@InternetCrusade.com.

FYI, I use two different Domains (and their respective Permanent eMail addresses) to give me the option of using Mike@MikeBarnett.com for my personal eMail and Mike@InternetCrusade.com for my business eMail communications.

Why is branding you and creating a permanent e-Mail address important?

First, it is perhaps the best way to differentiate you from the hundreds of thousands of real estate agents in the marketplace.

Next, it assure that your customers will always be able to stay in touch with you, as regardless of what ISP you use (or change to)., with a Permanent eMail Address you can always be reached.

Another good reason is you can lower your cost of the Internet as you can be on the quest for the fastest connection at the lowest price knowing you will always be reached.

BTW, have you ever seen one ISP be purchased by another? Same result -- loss of eMail from your customers.

Acquiring your unique Domain name is the first step and then using the Domain to create your Permanent eMail address is the second step.

There are two types of eMail accounts to consider.

The first (and least expensive is eMail forwarding) where eMail send to your Permanent eMail Address is 'forwarded' to the ISP(s) of your choice.

The second option (which is the one I use and if you are serious about eMail communications is my suggestion to you) is to have an eMail hosting account, where instead eMail being forwarded to the ISP(s), it is held by the eMail provider until we retrieve it.

One last point, regardless of the type of eMail account you use for your Permantent eMail Address, is you need to learn how to brand your Domain instead of the domain of my ISPs? To do this, you simply change the reply address in your eMail manager. This can be done very easily through most eMail programs such as Outlook. For more information on how this works, check out the InternetCrusade tutorial at http://internetcrusade.com/Help/eMailSigConfigOutlook.asp

 

See You Online

 

Mike

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I agree with everything you said that is why I have purchased a domain name from Godaddy.com and a permanent e-mail address.

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Hi Mike -

I just want to say that I spent more than 2 hours today trying to find out how to get my ISP (sbcglobal now AT&T) to allow me to put my permanent email address as my return address, to no avail. Aparently, they do not allow any other domains in the return address except their own. In order for other folks to avoid wasting the time I did, is there a resource that tells which ISPs will allow that type of situation?

Also, I bought my domain at Internet Crusade with the email forwarding function. Now that I find out I can't change my return address, what do you suggest I do?

Oh, and last question, this is my first post to realtown, why isn't my signature showing up in this message box?

 

Valarie Van Antwerp

Dickson Realty, Reno NV

valarie@valariev.com

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Re: Getting A Permanent eMail Address Mike, I am just finishing my e-pro and getting a permanent eMail Address is going to be the first order of business I will do. I never understood anything about domains and why they were important before. Thanks, Judy Smoley

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Hi, I also agree with all your points.  However, I have not done that yet but will.  Seeing our name so many times is just an extra advertising method that most realtors do not use.

Kay Perry, Realtor Broker, CRS, GRI, ABR

Cell - 979-220-5644

office: 979-694-8844

www.kayperry.com

kperry@suddenlink.net

Classic Realty, Inc./GMAC

3600 Hwy 6 So, Ste 100

College Station, TX 77845

 

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Mike,

I have found a problem with a permanent email address and my branding...it appears that junk mail systems seem to filter out my branded domain name far more frequently than an isp domain name...therefore, some of my emails go unnoticed by the intended recipient.  Short of notifying people that they should put me on their safe list, how would you address this?

Cheers,

Lee Robinson

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Hi Valerie-

IC has ways to work around this issue. Please call customer service (619-283-7302) press zero and ask for an InternetAdvisor and they will get t going for you.

Mike

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I haven't seen this happeping as most junk mail systems should not filter by Domain (unless the domain is previously entered to block eMail). I suggest you stll use your domain.

MB

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