[Jill]

I have a portfolio website and am wondering what is the best way to go about email. I am not going to advertise my service on any search engines, it is for my local area and friends and family. I have created an email account thru my server (I guess that is what you call it) with neomail. It is very plain but seems to work fine. I am just wondering what those of you with your own website do. I could have the email from the website forwarded to my home email, or I could create a different account name on my home email and just use that, or keep the email that the website server provides. What looks more proffesional? Say for example my email at my website is right now jill@pastandpresentphoto.com but I could create one for my home email that would be
pastandpresentphoto@msn.com
Does this rambling make sense?! Sorry if it doesn't...

[DJ Dubovsky]

Yes you make sense. For mine, I just have my website e-mail address forewarded to my regular e-mail. I don't have a problem with it yet because of the low volume I get. Could be a problem if I got alot more e-mail generated from it. So I guess I'm not much help for you.
DJ

[Paul Rupp]

Forwarding your e-mail to another account is probably the easiets and best way when you have a low volume of e-mail comming in.

The nice thing abot forwarding it to something like a Yahoo account is that you can check it from anywhere, and if you get on some spam lists, you can delete the e-mail address and create a new one.

HTH

Paul Rupp

[Jill]

That does help, thank you both. I never thought of the spam attack....very good idea to forward to whatever address I choose...keeping the same for customers...see you guys are such a great help!

[Vikki]

I think it's better to use your business name in your email. To me, it's more professional looking, and also, another way to advertise.

[George]

Jill

I agree with Vikki that it looks more professional to use your business name in your E-mail address. When I had a business web site, I set up a number of E-mail accounts, Gallen @xxxxx.com, Sales@ xxxxx.com, CustomerService@xxxxx.com and etc. I had all of the E-mail accounts on my web site forwarded to my home E-mail account. On all my business cards and letterhead I used the Business E-mail address and the URL of the web site. I also had my web site setup so I could send a reply or new E-mail to my customers using my web site E-mail. This way the customers send their E-mail to my site and got a reply from an address on my site.

George

[jeaniesa]

I would vote for "jill@pastandpresentphoto.com" which you then forward to another account. Being able to check yahoo or another free account is definitely a plus when traveling. Having your website as part of your e-mail address is definitely good advertising. I go check out websites from people's e-mail addresses all the time.
Jeanie

[Ed_L]

I really like the way George handled it. With more than one address, the customer might feel as though if a problem arose, a larger company (which this suggests) might not be a fly-by-night operation, and easier to deal with. Just my two pennies.

Ed

[Sanda]

I also use "We" insead of "I" when talking about services I provide, that also makes the company sound larger and possibly more reliable.

[Doug Nelson]

Wouldn't that be misleading, ie: dishonest? Shouldn't we aim to build an excellent reputation as an industry?

[Ed_L]

My personal opinion is that I agree with Sandra.
"I" seems too self centered if nothing else. "I do great work" just doesn't sound as good as "We do great work". Additionally, suggestive advertising is widely used by many businesses, and IMHO it does not suggest (for lack of a better term) dishonesty. I'd be interested in how others feel about it. And yes, we should build a good reputation as an industry. That should be done by giving the customer professional quality work, and by not taking advantage of certain circumstances such as when someone is grieving or is otherwise vulnerable.

Ed

[Sanda]

I used the "we" to help inspire confidence, I wasn't out to be dishonest with my customers although I can see how you would think so. But isn't having different email addresses just as misleading if they are all going to be answered by the same person? Maybe I've said too much.

[Doug Nelson]

I use several email addresses, but for a good reason: I have them all filtered to go to their proper email box. That helps keep me organized.

I can only speak for myself, but when I hear someone referring to themselves as "we", and find out later they work alone, I change my opinion about their business. Why aren't they confident enough to take credit alone? What are they hiding? Do they really think they're fooling anyone? And why do they feel the need to fool anyone?

[Vikki]

I think this is a tough decision to make (deciding between I and We).
I personally like the idea of taking credit for my work, as I am the one doing it. However, most of my business is done in a partnership with a local camera shop. So although "I" do the labor, "we" provide the services.
Also, some people like to think ahead. You may only be a one man operation now, but plan to expand some day.

[Jill]

Thank you all so much for such great information. I have a lot to think on....and will use the jill@pastandpresentphoto with the forward to home addy. Thanks for your help on this issue
For me, on my site I will stick with the "I" statement, for this reason....I live in a small/rural town and know almost all my prospective clients personally, I am a Beautician and this is where I will get most of my clients for Graphic Designs They are all following my new venture with interest and are very supportive and they all know it's just me...so everyone has quite different reasons for this question of I or we. Interesting to hear everyones well thought out views.