#freelance-talk
Thread
Edit: This is resolved. Kindly do not reply.
Is it necessary to get paid business email when setting up your freelance business? Does it make a big impact on buyers?
Been thinking about them
I'm restarting my freelance business and this time I'm committed to go long term.
However I saw a fellow freelance friend use paid outlook account
I already have my website domain bought. Now I'm looking at adding paid email to it but I'm not sure
Does it really make a big impact on the buyer if the freelancer has a gmail account vs an official domain account?
From a business point of view - is it an essential expense?
For a "business" business, you definitely need a business email for credibility. Using a free Gmail or Outlook is just lazy. For a freelancer, I don't think it makes much difference. As long as it looks somewhat professional. But if you already have a domain, that won't hurt.
@Navin Israni it's nice to have, but not essential.
I never did. Wouldn't sweat it. Although if you're doing outbound it'll help you look more legit
You might need one if you download a lot of gated content (like reports for research, for instance). They usually require a "work email." I got mine via my website (Squarespace comes with Google workspace integration).
I have seen many professionals using Gmail for private communication and freelancing gigs, and these people were really good at their jobs. However, not everyone understands that people might use a Gmail account for convenience. For those clients, it is safe and recommended best practice to use a business email. And setting one up is quite easy; you can get a $1.99 hosting account with a free domain and set up a work email. Or get a domain name and set up an office365 or Google Workspace account.