Do I need a business phone number and email for my VA business?

A business email is essential.
You want something professional rather than [email protected] or [email protected]. If you don’t have a business name, at least use your name.
Other than your specific domain name address ([email protected]), Gmail is the most popular and professional email these days. Please retire your AOL address – they scream outdated and technologically challenged. Same with hotmail.The challenge with using email addresses that your service provider gives you (Verizon, Cox, Comcast, etc.) is that you lose the address if you ever change services.
A business phone number is ideal, but not always financially possible for VAs when just starting out. A dedicated line for business lets you have a professional voicemail and security that the phone will always be answered in a professional manner.

  • If you choose to have your home phone be your business line, here are some tips:
    • Have a professional sounding voicemail greeting
    • Do not...
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What’s in a Name? Select Your Email Address Carefully

How you present yourself to potential clients can make or break a relationship. First impressions are always important, and in a virtual world, those impressions are often phone and email.

If you are promoting yourself as a professional service provider, have your email address reflect the same. Having a business domain name as your email address is best ([email protected]) but if you do not have a website yet, at least have a professional email address. [email protected] or [email protected] may be descriptive of you in your everyday life, but for clients it is better to have a business address.

So what’s more professional? Use something like [email protected] or [email protected] until you have a domain purchased for your business. Stay away from aol addresses, or an email address that you may have to change if you move or change internet providers.

I know this may seem minor to people, and there may be questions of if an email address is...

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