Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about email verification.
How do I actually get a professional email address with a custom domain?
It's a two-step process. First, you need to purchase your domain, such as yourcompany.com, from a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. This typically costs $10-$20 per year. After you own the domain, you must sign up for an email host, which is the service that actually handles sending and receiving your emails. The most popular professional hosts are Google Workspace, which provides the familiar Gmail interface, and Microsoft 365, which uses Outlook.
Does it really matter if I use a free email? My my-cool-business@gmail.com seems fine.
It matters significantly for building trust. A free email address signals to potential clients that your business may be a hobby or not fully established. A custom domain (@yourcompany.com) is a small investment that shows you are serious about your brand. It also gives you control over your brand identity and improves your email deliverability, making you less likely to be flagged as spam.
What if I'm a freelancer or consultant and my "company" is just my name?
This is a perfect use case! Instead of yourcompany.com, register your own name as the domain, such as johnsmith.com. If that's taken, you can try johnsmithconsulting.com or johnsmithwriter.com. A good address would be john@johnsmith.com or hello@johnsmithwriter.com, whereas an address like john.smith.writer.consulting.84@gmail.com looks unprofessional.
Are role-based emails like "info@" or "hello@" ever a good idea?
Yes, but only for inbound communication. They are excellent to put on your website's contact page for general inquiries. For example, you can use hello@yourcompany.com on your website's contact form. However, you should not use that same address to send personal sales or networking emails. People want to receive emails from a person, like jane.doe@yourcompany.com, not a generic inbox.
My name is very long or hyphenated. What's the best format?
The key is readability. Let's say your name is "Elizabeth Montgomery-Jones." The address elizabeth.montgomery-jones@yourcompany.com is simply too long. A much better option would be e.montgomery-jones@yourcompany.com or elizabeth.m@yourcompany.com. If your company culture is less formal, liz@yourcompany.com would also work well. Pick the cleanest, most professional option and stick with it.
What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and do I really need them?
In short, yes, you absolutely need them. They are technical settings, called DNS records, that you configure for your domain. Think of them as your email's digital ID; they prove to receiving email servers like Gmail and Outlook that your email is actually from you and not from a spammer pretending to be you. Having these set up correctly is one of the most important things you can do to protect your domain's reputation and ensure your emails land in the inbox, not the spam folder. Your email pr
More blogs like this:
How Invalid Email Addresses Sabotage Your Marketing Campaign
Invalid emails damage your reputation, cost you money, and create legal risks. Our guide covers how to detect, fix, and prevent bad email addresses from getting on your list.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Email List Hygiene: The 2026 Guide to Cleaning, Automation, and Deliverability
Don't let a dirty list kill your ROI. Our 2026 guide to email list hygiene covers automated cleaning, re-engagement workflows, sunset policies, and the tools to boost your deliverability.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
5 Best Email Hosting Providers for Small Business (2025 Guide)
We review the 5 best email hosting providers for small businesses in 2026. Compare Google, Microsoft, and Zoho on pricing, security, and new AI features.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Stay Ahead in Email Marketing
Join marketers who get fresh strategies, growth ideas, and new feature updates — only the useful stuff, no spam.
