An easy way to look professional in your new business
Even if your business is just getting started, or perhaps you are only thinking about starting a business, it’s easy to look professional right from the outset.
You can quickly and fairly inexpensively set up your own email address (for example, michelle@mynewbusiness.com.au) and keep a domain name reserved for later setting up your own website.
The first step in this is your domain name – in order to have the end part of your email (the bit after the @) you need to “own” this address which is called the domain name. It is very easy to buy a domain name, but the hardest part is thinking up what your domain name should be and then checking that it is available.
In my book “Technology Made Simple for Start-up Businesses” (you can purchase it here), I provide a number of ways you might think about the name that is best for your business. There will be two uses for your business name.
- offline uses (business registration, ATO, stationery, business cards, bank, etc) – this is your business name
- online uses (website, email address, social media, etc) – this is your domain name.
Remember, shorter and more memorable is better than long and complex. It pays to have a few alternatives in mind because not all your choices will be available – like most things, you will probably not be the first to have thought of a particular name. It is also a good idea to start thinking about images that might go with your name. You may not think you’ll need it now and you probably won’t, but if your business goes ahead you will need to be able to build on it to develop a greater profile and presence and further promote yourself.
This post will only deal with how to get your domain name secured, but you should check the advice on the ASIC website about registering your business name (and this is worth doing early so no-one else nabs your name – it can cost as little as $34 for a year and can be completed very simply online).
To check your domain name is available you can start with Go Daddy or Melbourne IT, although there are others. Both offer an easy check of whether your domain is available, and they offer hosting services and website design for when you go live with your website.
You can secure your domain name for a small annual cost (usually less than $15). Once you own the domain name you are free to set up email addresses with that domain name. The above providers offer options to buy one or more email addresses attached to the domain name for a monthly fee (with Go Daddy it’s currently about $7/month), or you can subscribe to Google Apps for Work (currently $5/month/user after a 30 day free trial). Google Apps for Work provides you with connectivity from anywhere so if you’re looking at expanding your team beyond just yourself you can take up extra users at anytime. Both these options will allow you to set-up and use email addresses with your newly purchased domain name. For perhaps an hour of work in registering, setting up and paying and a low upfront cost, you can have your own business email addresses, along with a domain name that you can later use to set up your website!
Interview with Deborah Hutton
Recently, Deborah Hutton and I were interviewed on the Today show. If you missed this you can view the video here.
We talked about technology and its effect on our lives, with many people now feeling stressed because they can’t disconnect or “turn off” from their technology. There are many simple ways that you can save yourself time using technology and also reduce some of the stress of feeling constantly on alert for that next email, text or social media update.
Some of my immediate tips include putting your phone in airplane mode at night so that the beeping of messages or the vibration (which even in silent mode can still be heard) don’t disturb your vital rest. Another idea is to leave your mobile phone in your handbag in the back seat of your car – this removes the temptation to answer a call or text while driving. You can still answer your call but you are forced to pull over so at least you are driving safely and not risking fines and demerit points.
Microsoft recently published a paper called Life on Demand: How technology is transforming daily life which looks at some of the ways technology has changed how we live. Through these blog entries I will aim to share with you my thoughts on some of the issues and risks this report raises. I’ll be looking at ways you can guard against technology becoming your master rather than fulfilling its intended purpose which is for us to manage the technology as an effective tool.
What technology do you really need?
A new first for me – I just received my first royalty cheque from my first book online “Technology Made Simple for Start-up Businesses”. It is only a very small amount, but it is none-the-less significant for me as it took me quite a while to work up to the final book and actually get on and get it published.
Among the many issues I address in the book, one of the key things to consider revolves around your choices of technology. If you are starting your own business you will have many decisions to make. Even if you are re-entering the workforce, assessing what items of technology you need is one of the big issues you will grapple with.
Either way, you’ll need to consider whether you invest in a smart phone, an iPad or tablet, perhaps a laptop computer, a printer and the list goes on. All of these physical tools of technology fall under the heading of “hardware”.
Among the items you need to consider when purchasing your hardware, the first question is usually which overarching system you want to go with – Apple/Mac or all the rest. These are some of the considerations for you to think about:
- What system is your past experience in?
- What do you currently have/use?
- What is standard in your industry or profession?
- Do you have any support or someone to help you with the various pieces of hardware?
- And of course, what budget do you have?
After deciding which camp you want to favour, you will need to consider further hardware choices such as internet/Wi-Fi connections, printers, tablets, phones, screen size, memory capacity, cameras and much more.
If you are considering starting your own business my book, “Technology Made Simple for Start-up Businesses”, provides an easy guide and you can purchase it here.