If you’re serious about your business, you should own a custom domain name and use that for business email. But keep reading.
I’ve worked in tech for the the last ten years and sometimes I forget that the general population doesn’t think like me. Namely, what does your email address say about you?
So, I’m building this FAQ here on my website to help small businesses and freelancers see the value in:
- buying a domain name
- setting up Google Workspace
- having a basic website
Custom Emails Show Professionalism
Custom emails are professional. Look, I’ll be the first to say that I loved AOL and I had it for years until I switched to Gmail back in 2001(2)?. My AIM handle and Gmail username has always been my childhood nickname: Gidgey. (Bridget, Gidget, Gidgey).
So, my email name is historic and easy and all of my life is run through that Google Calendar, etc. But on my business cards? It’s hello@bridgetwillard.com.
When I first started out, my domain name was taken. So I went by “You, Too, Can Be a Guru.” When I found out that BridgetWillard.com was available, I bought it and transferred my site. (My first host was SiteGround.)
Like, you can’t be a marketer and not have a website. But what about other professions?
Why should I have my own domain name?
When you own your own domain name (bridgetwillard.com for example), you now have the ability to build a website that you can control (instead of relying upon third-party social sites), send professional emails, whitelist your email address for email marketing (DKIM, etc), use it on your invoices, and use that email on your business cards.
For a nominal fee yearly ($12/yr on GoDaddy or Namecheap), you have control over your basic business infrastructure.
Should I host my website with the domain name provider?
Absolutely not.
You want your DNS (Domain Name Service) separate from your website host so that if one goes down, the other does not.
There is no such thing as 100% uptime, even on Rocket.net (my host).
Do I have to use Google Workspace for my email?
You don’t have to use Google Workspace for your custom email address. But you should so you can set up Google Analytics, Search Console, a YouTube channel, control your Google Business Profile, and pay for Google Ads.
Many people prefer Fastmail.com for privacy reasons. If you’re building a business that relies on SEO (findability), you want to play in Google’s playground. Bad idea to ignore Google.
I really like my Yahoo! address can I still use it with a custom domain?
Yes. (Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.)
You can always forward your custom domain emails to a Yahoo! (et al) address. I have a client who does this. The downside is that when you reply to that business email to you @ your business dot com, it will be from you @ yahoo dot com. That defeats the purpose of using a professional email.
You’re a professional; you can learn Gmail and install the app on your phone. I believe in you.
Can’t I use my Gmail address for email marketing?
The short answer is no. You can’t use an email client (Mailchimp, Constant Contact) with a generic Gmail/Yahoo/Hotmail/AOL address.
You’ll need to have DKIM, DMARC, and SPF records for sendability. This is done at the domain level in DNS settings.
Quick FAQ Recap
Do I really need my own domain if I’m just starting out?
Yes — it’s one of the simplest ways to look professional right away and show people you’re serious.
What’s the big deal about a custom email?
Think of it like a business card. you@yourdomain.com builds way more trust than randombiz@yahoo.com.
Why bother keeping DNS and hosting separate?
Because if one breaks, you don’t want everything else to go down with it. It’s just smart insurance.
Do I have to use Google Workspace?
Nope. But if you do, you’ll unlock helpful tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and even Google Business Profile.
Can’t I just forward my domain email to Gmail or Yahoo?
Technically, yes. But it kind of defeats the point of looking polished and professional.
Why does email marketing care about this?
Because tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit need domain authentication (DKIM, DMARC, SPF) so your emails don’t land in spam.
Need help setting up your domain or figuring out email?
Contact me here — I’ll make sure you get started the right way.