How to register your Domain Name

Here are 10 web tips on how your email address can help your business:

 

tip 1
Register your own domain name. This will also protect you if you ever need to change your Internet Service Provider as you will always be able to keep your Domain Name Email Address (i.e. yourname@yourname.com.au).

Register your Domain Name Now

tip 2
Make sure you set up your email address properly so that when you send email addresses the receiver sees yourname@yourname.com.au. This will provide a professional image when potential and regular customers see your email (believe me I know a lot of businesses that don't do this even though they own their Domain Name). You can normally set this up in the Tools > Accounts menu of your email browser.

tip3
An 'Alias' is an email address that simply forwards to a single email box. This can be useful especially if you are a small business and you have one person fulfilling a number of tasks. For example youremployee@yourname.com.au may have aliases that will include info@yourname.com.au, admin@yourname.com.au and accounts@yourname.com.au

tip 4
Set up general email addresses such as info@yourname.com.au, sales@yourname.com.au etc. Even if these addresses are simply 'aliases' that point to your main email address, they will help with the future management of your business. For example if you grow and an employee takes on one of these roles, or if an employee leaves and you need to employ someone new you can easily change where the email address goes without disruption to your communications with your customers.

tip 5
Keep a file that lists all of your email addresses and their passwords and settings. Have easy access to this file which should also include the phone number of your host company so if you ever have an issue you know how to get help quickly.

tip 6
Build an online strategy for your business. Consider what you employees should/should not be using their email/internet access for. Be up front and let them know that the email address they are supplied with is part of your business property and you may choose to continue using their account for a period of time after they leave to ensure that your communications stay open with your customers. Include this in your Employee Contract.

tip 7
When you get your emails set up with a Host Company make sure that a 'catch all' is set up. A "catch all' is an address that all emails are sent to that are incorrectly addressed. Usually a 'catch all' will look like: '@yourname.com.au'. You can then log into this account at regular intervals and make sure that you are not missing any important messages.

tip 8
Make sure that your emails have a 'signature' attached to them. A good signature will often include your name, position, company name, contact details and website address. It should also include your privacy / confidential statement and an Anti SPAM Statement (SPAM is unsolicited emails).

You set up your signature in your email program, normally this is located under the Tools > Options > Signatures area.

Anti SPAM Act 2003

tip 9
Supply the required information about your shopping cart plans to your website designer and/or shopping cart provider. Your website designer may need design guidelines for your website to meet a shopping cart specifications, while your shopping cart provider will need your selected payment gateway information and some sample data on your products for testing (most shopping cart providers will have a recommended format for you to deliver this information).

tip 10
Set up anti-spam and/or blacklist filters in your email browser. If SPAM is a big issue consider subscribing to a professional SPAM and anti-virus filter service. This could save you a lot of time and heartache.

SPAM Filter Companies:
MailGuard
MailShield