Three Easy Steps to Improve Business and Reduce Spam

This isn't the most groundbreaking post and it's not the most detailed but it's important to highlight some VERY common mistakes I see people make that hurt their business. If you do any of these things you need to stop... now!

Not using a professional email address

I see publishers and other businesses using personal email services for their professional email accounts. Use an email address that includes your URL i.e. yourname@yourcompany.com - this reinforces your brand and ensures you're constantly getting value from every piece of communication you have with people. You should not use Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo or heaven forbid AOL for your professional emails - though Google has a great FREE email service for small businesses that uses the Gmail technology but allows you to use your domain, look into it.

Not including contact information in your signature line

Add your phone number to your email Signature. Add your phone number to your email Signature. Add your phone number to your email Signature.

I can't tell you how many times I've received an email from someone where they say, "call me" and they don't include their email. True, many times I have it but many times I don't and it makes things far more difficult than it needs to be, just create a signature line and include your phone, email and web address and then people can always have access to your contact info.

Publishing your email address on your website for Spambots to find

Do you know  how people get your email to spam you? By you posting your email somewhere online. Don't do it!

Ensure you use a contact form on your website rather than publicizing your email address. While this does add an extra step for users and seemingly puts a barrier between you and potential clients if you expose your email address online then spam-bots will get it and you will get more spam. Seriously! If you can read the email the spambot can read it, there are a few exceptions such as writing yourname [at] companyurl.com however spambots may be able to decipher this and it is prone to error when people try to actually email you and key it in as the address.

So, there you have it, 3 things you should address immediately in your business.