Are you in business?! Think about your communication mediums...

There are so many things going through your mind as you start your new business. What am I going to name my business? How do I set up my business for legal and tax purposes? Do I need a building/office or is my business virtual? And the list goes on and on....

One important question to answer is, How are my clients/customers going to contact me?? This is definitely essential in whatever business you are in and I know you have some solutions like phone lines (landline or cell), email, social networking, etc....

However the question we don't tend to think about is, Can my clients/customers still reach me in 5 or maybe 10 years through these same mediums of communication?? Depending on your business type, probably not!!

So many times, I see businesses or self-employed individuals with email addresses connected to their ISP, Internet Service Provider or to their particular franchise name. Tell me.... What happens if you decide to change your ISP or if you change the franchise that you affiliate with?? How will your past clients/customers find you?

I would suggest thinking a little more permanent when it comes to how your clients reach you.... This can be accomplished in a number of ways.

First, get a web-based FREE email account. This will allow you to access your email from anywhere on the planet from practically any device connected to the Internet. It also gives you a virtually permanent email address that is not attached to any other service or subject to disconnection for non-payment or non-affiliation.

Next, you should take your communication mediums AND the branding of your business to the next level by purchasing a domain name and creating an email address, using that domain name, that brands your name or business every time you send an email or give out your email address. Once this step is accomplished, then you can forward or point that email address to your web-based email account for complete accessibility.

Having an email address that has your domain name in it allows you to market your website address without being forward or pushy. Every time someone either receives an email from me or asks me for my email address, they have also been informed of my web address and will likely visit the site out of pure curiosity.

In addition, this sends a very impressive message to not only your current customers/clients but also to your potential customers, clients and business partners that you are established and you have created a unique brand for yourself, no matter how large or small your business is. You also have created some real flexibility for yourself in the expansion and growth of your business and the products and services that you may offer in the future. By branding yourself and/or your business name, if you decide to change what you offer or should you begin to offer additional services and products, your brand does not have to change.

I hope this helps you with at least one step in the establishment or re-design of your business....