Your e-mail address is one of the first things folks see when you reply to Web site inquiries.
What does your e-mail address say about you?
How about:
- you are tech savvy (by “getting” that using free, throw away or personal accounts just won’t do for your practice’s communications).
- you take your image seriously (by understanding that this gig is all about perception).
- you are a professional (by having a domain e-mail address that represents your healthcare organization and its services with clarity).
- you don’t shy away from challenges (by keeping any aol.com address instead of using your dot com)
Perception is Key
I say it all the time. Perception is the only reality online. Folks will form an opinion about you based on how you use technology. They can tell what is important to you and what isn’t by the efforts you make — or don’t make.
One tool that is critical to any online enterprise, especially for anyone in the healthcare field is your e-mail address. Your e-mail address is what the recipient first sees when your e-mail address lands in their inbox.
What do you think it says about your practice when you reply to a with an address like “DRamazingbob2012@(aol,gmail,msn,yahoo.isp.com)?”
Here are a few others I have seen used recently in practice communications that have nothing to do with the practice.
crazydrguy@
mywifesslave@
preferblondes@
dark-horse@
Funny and Cute, But not Professional
Yeah, I get it — some of those are cute and/or funny — but not for your practice!
Using e-mail addresses like those above for practice e-mail communications reflect not only a lack of tech savvy but a lack of understanding when it comes to the basics of online marketing.
Every practice should be using their practice dot com as their e-mail address.
Doing so is a minimal cost when you think about the marketing and professional perception doing so offers. Additionally, due to all the spam filtering going on, you want to be able to have new contacts get your e-mail address in their address book or white list to ensure your e-mail gets through.
By using your dot com e-mail address, your e-mail will be recognized as an expected contact instead of a spammer. The same goes for gmail.com, yahoo.com and msn.com type free accounts. These accounts are known as “throw-aways” and are used by spammers all the time. If you think about it, what does using a free e-mail account for your practice communications say about you and your company?
But, I have had this email for years…
I can hear the gasps now!
Yes, there are reasons to have a free account. I have a gmail.com account for when I am out of the office. “But I want to use my gmail.com account!” When asked for a good reason why?
Silence… they just want to.
You still can use your freebie account — when you are on the road or away from your computer. And have your work email forward to this account. Ask your computer geek friend, IT department, or kid down the street to show you how or even better, just Google it and you can set it up yourself in just a few minutes.
These types of accounts do have a place as a backup — but not as the primary if you are serious about how you will be perceived.
Less Excuses, move up to the big leagues…
Another excuse I’ve heard — “I know AOL and all my friends are there!” E-mailing friends really has nothing to do with building a serious practice. AOL, gmail, yahoo, msn — none of these services allow you to use one of the most valuable marketing tools available to you — your dot com as an e-mail address in the FROM: field.
Doing so is very inexpensive and only requires a few setting changes in the e-mail program of your choice. Time to take off the training wheels, get an e-mail program and e-mail like the big boys/girls if you are serious about online success.
Thoughts on email professionalism in healthcare
Do you still use a throw away email for your healthcare organization? Give us your thoughts.
