If you’re using an email address with someone else’s domain name—you’re losing a great branding tool—and you’re advertising for other people. Comcast, Hotmail, Yahoo, Charter, AOL, Gmail, and other Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) are happy you’re giving them free advertising…but it’s not helping your business at all.

A benefit to consider in using your domain name email is you don’t have to change your email address every time you move or switch to a different ISP. How often do you get a change of address notice from family, friends and business associates? If they’ve got their own website, it’s unnecessary to change their email address every time they change ISP’s or jobs.

My partner and I moved across the United States a few years ago. We didn’t have to change our email address even though we changed ISP’s. Our customers didn’t lose track of us and we didn’t have to bother them with a change of address notice. Simple.

Here is another advantage to using your domain name email address:

Although my Internet Service Provider (ISP) is Comcast….I don’t use the Comcast email they provide. Why? Well, why would I advertise for Comcast? I already pay them for a service….I don’t need to advertise for them with every email I send! I’d rather advertise for myself. Every email you send should have your own branding on it….not someone else’s branding. It’s your way to get your website address out there to everyone on the receiving end of your emails.

Most website hosts give you multiple email addresses FOR FREE! I use IXWebhosting. Inexpensive, (I pay only $3.95/month) great service…and 2,500 email addresses. Of course, I’ll never need that many. Take advantage of this benefit—you’re already paying for it.

I’m always surprised to see art gallery owners, actors, business owners, etc. using their ISP’s email addresses. These people spend countless dollars on advertising and press—but when it comes to their own email address, they advertise for someone else. Makes no sense.

So—-if you’ve got a website, brand with yourself and never change your email address again!

Diane Burket has been in Show Business for over 20 years, performing in Commercials, Industrials and Multimedia events. As an award-winning actress, she currently voices commercials, corporate films, Internet copy, telephone prompts and games for clients across the United States. She has a professional recording studio and is a member of both SAG and AFTRA.

In addition to her Voice Over career, she represents Armand Cabrera, an award-winning oil painter who shows his work at fine art galleries on both the East and West Coasts.