The email address you choose when setting up your online accounts and profiles is a tiny detail with huge implications. It has to be memorable, easy to spell and not belong to another user already. It’s also the first impression someone has of you online. If your email address looks like some sort of username, it probably won’t help you land a job or network with potential collaborators. Don’t worry, we have all been there! Everyone makes mistakes when creating an account on a new site. And in this post, we will show you how to choose a good email address and avoid making the same mistakes again.
What’s in a Good Email Address?
The main feature of a good email address is that it’s memorable. You should be able to look at the address and instantly remember who the email is from, even if you’ve never been to the site. While there is no universally agreed-upon best way to create an email address, there are a few factors you should keep in mind. - Length - how long does your email address look? Longer email addresses are harder to remember, especially if you are lacking creativity. - Word choice - if you decide to go with a play on words, make sure the words are pronounceable and understandable. - Domain name - What sounds more professional: @me.com or @example.com? - Punctuation - what does the email address sound like when you say it out loud? - Tone - does the email address reflect your personality? Is it formal or casual?
Why is a good email address important?
If you’re in the process of setting up a new email account, you might be wondering why you should spend time choosing a good email address. It’s true that you can always change it later, but the email address you choose when you sign up for your account is the one you’ll be using for a very long time. A good email address will be the first thing people see when you send them an email or invite them to collaborate on a project. And if your address is hard to pronounce, pronounceable or looks like a username, then it’s unlikely you’ll get a response from anyone. If your email address is memorable, people will be more likely to engage with you. And when you’re applying for jobs or trying to network with potential collaborators, having a memorable email address can make all the difference.
Where to find a good email address
- Brainstorm - If you are having a hard time coming up with a good email address, take some time to brainstorm. What are some words that describe you, or what are some activities you enjoy? - Look to other industries - You can find inspiration in all sorts of places. In fact, people in other industries have a lot of insight into what makes a good address. For example, someone in the fashion industry may have an account named @model or @designer, while someone in the tech industry may have an account named @developer. - Check other social media accounts - Are you on any social media sites? Your username could be a great inspiration for your email address.
Don’t use your initials
Depending on what your name is, this might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprisingly common. Don’t use initials. This is even more restrictive than your name since you only get to use initials.
Don’t use words that are hard to spell or pronounce
If you’re trying to seem more professional, you don’t want your email address to be one that nobody can pronounce correctly. It’s not just unprofessional, it’s also really annoying. And if a colleague is reading your email and finds the address confusing, they may miss out on some important information because they misread it.
Don’t use words that only have meaning to you
You might think your email address has a special meaning only you know, but you are probably the only person who gets it. Make sure your email address is something that can be understood by anyone regardless of their culture or language.
Bottom line
A good email address is the first thing anyone who wants to reach out to you sees, so it’s important to put some thought into what it says about you. Make sure your email address is memorable, easy to spell and not already in use by someone else. If you want to make a great first impression, you have to start with a great email address. This is the first thing people see when they try to get in touch with you, so it's important to make sure it's memorable, easy to spell, and not already in use by someone else.
