There’s a number of websites and articles online providing tips and trick for translators, and advising on growing freelance businesses. A vast majority of them suggests really useful solutions, like having your own website, or proofreading your CV one hundred times before sending it out. It’s not uncommon to learn that one of the very first things to get is your own, “branded” e-mail account, something like [email protected], or [email protected]. Using free e-mail accounts is frowned upon and treated like a serious professional misbehaviour. If you use Gmail, Yahoo mail or Hotmail, you’ll surely lose trust and never make serious business connections. So, what is wrong with translators using free e-mail accounts?
Nothing. I’ve had my Gmail account since I was 13 or so, I got an invitation from my tech-savvy Dad, who learned about Gmail from his geeky programmers. My Gmail account has been there with me in 4 different countries, on about 6 different computers, and I have never had any problems getting clients. And today, I am going to be an advocate for Gmail.
Come on, it’s from Google!
I don’t know any other company that did more to facilitating communication online. Also, Google is a landmark of geekery, and a home for the most brilliant minds of our times. What is wrong with being associated with them? Google is a brand like any other, and offers seemingly free service to their loyal followers.
It’s not just an e-mail account
Whenever I log to my account (ok, I never log off, but that’s another thing), I have this handy tab showing other Gmail users who ever wrote to me being online. Now that’s great for a quick follow-up, or for just being nice and small-talking. Gmail takes e-mail further, allowing for closer interactions.
Applications
I can’t possibly imagine my translation business without Google Calendar and Google Docs. And thanks to synchronisation with Android, I have my calendar and docs available on my mobile and tablet, so I can carry my office around without any fuss. I do get enquiries when I’m on the go, and I can’t imagine remembering about them all, or making notes in a paper calendar. It’s so easy with Google Calendar! And I’m always reminded about my deadlines as well. Google Docs saves so much time when I’m co-operating with someone on a project! Google Reader is more than handy as well: I can keep all my subscriptions in one place.
Ease of access
I was visiting my family some time ago, but as a compulsive workaholic, I wanted to check all my e-mail accounts when I was away. I thought: nothing easier than configuring Outlook on my laptop. Wrong. When I did configure it, apparently only some accounts worked, the others didn’t. And one account was fine to download e-mails sent to me, but wouldn’t let me reply (no, because no, because you can’t – even my Dad didn’t know what’s wrong. It was probably due to a huge difference in location and sending protocols). I don’t want to think how I would end up if that was my main translation business account. Luckily, Gmail works everywhere. It may ask you about your phone number to confirm that it’s really you who’s logging from another country.
I’m Marta, I’m not info@
The other thing I like about my Gmail account is that it’s really me. It’s linked with my G+, it has all my history and friends in there, I never lose any e-mail. And I’m not a great fan of impersonal e-mail addresses starting with info@. I’m a successful freelancer, here’s my name, this is who I am, thank you very much. I don’t want to hide behind a vague info@, because we already have enough of depersonalisation online. I was considering setting up [email protected], but that would suggest that there’s more people here than me, and I may not be the boss. If I ever change my e-mail to that one, it means I just became a company.
What do others get wrong?
One has to know how to use free e-mail. I wouldn’t go for Hotmail, because hot is one of these adjectives I don’t want my clients to associate with me. Or anything with “free”. I’d also never use [email protected], or anything as vague as that. Not to mention using a truly creative username you got yourself when still in high school… It’s also a shame to have an account with Gmail and not to use the breath of their applications. Or not to have a signature…
Gmail features I couldn’t do without
Priority Inbox – lets you decide which mail is important, and what doesn’t need your immediate attention.
Calendar – you can organise your time and synch your calendar with others, so that they can see when you’re busy and what you’re working on.
Mobility – I can take my Gmail everywhere, without the need to configure an e-mail client.
Applications – Gmail allows me to keep a lot of business things in one place. Add Dropbox and you can work anywhere!
What do you think? Are you in favour of free e-mail accounts? If not, why?
Marta Stelmaszak
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14 Comments
Hi, Marta! I think you can get the best of both worlds: have your e-mail show as your domain name but managed through a Google account. That’s what I do.
I personally think it looks more professional to have my address be “intralingo.com” than “gmail.com”; plus, it’s a quick reminder to people that I do have a website and they know immediately what it is.
But by operating that e-mail address through a Google account, I have access to everything that you mentioned: my e-mail wherever in the world I might be, whatever computer I’m on, my Google calendar, my Google chat, etc. (And yes, I use Dropbox, too!)
Thanks for your comment, Lisa! I must admit I toyed with this idea for some time, but I’m still not convinced to having my “branded” e-mail account. I’ve heard some opinions saying that these times when having your own e-mail account impressed anyone are long gone. Now you can get one in a matter of minutes. We should get some outsider advice on that one.
I agree with Lisa! I made sure to have my email proxy @untangledtranslations set up before I even considered printing business cards- I want clients who invest in their businesses and work, so I have to at least look like I’m pulling out all the stops on my end, too. Plus, by using myname@mybizname, I give myself leeway if I want to grow into a full company, or subcontract out part of a job, or what have you. Even if right now, it’s just me
Hi Carolyn, thanks for joining the discussion. I’m still torn apart on this one. But the leeway approach definitely scores a point!
Lisa, I was going to make more or less the same comment! I have a Google account [email protected], which I use whenever I need to register on a website, and which allows me to use all the great features of Gmail. And the email I give to people, which is on my business cards etc. is [email protected], to help “identify my brand”. But I managed that email through my Gmail account.
Maybe it’s less a problem to use [email protected] when you are already a successful translator though!
Thanks for your comment, Jeanne! I’m still wondering how we could get some clients answer to that one. Brand identification is one thing, but if you’re a freelancer, you may want to identify with your own name and surname (yes Marta, but then you can get yourself a nice [email protected], can’t you?)
Hi Marta,
I understand your points, and mainly I agree with them. Although that I have to admit that “Gmail” sounds a bit less professional to me than having one’s own domain name, even if you are the only person in your “company”. But hey, you are a living proof that one can run one’s own business as a succesful freelancer and use a Gmail account for business purposes. One question: to my knowing, Gmail doesn’t have the “read receipt” feature, does it? If that’s the case, that’s a pitty, I think. I hope Google will provide that anywhere soon now.
Hi Jan, thanks for your comment. I’ve never had any, any problem whatsoever with my e-mail address, and most of business cards I got from other freelancers have these “even less professional” e-mail addresses. But you guys are making some serious points here!
I agree with Lisa and Carolyn Y. I just recently bought my domain and I’m getting ready to print my own business cards soon. I had been thinking about printing them for about a year now, but I didn’t want to do it until I had a better email address. I DO think gmail is much better than hotmail or aol or any other similar ones. I DO think it works better and looks a little bit more professional, but, I still agree on the fact that an email address under your own domain will (I hope!) help you find better jobs and be looked as more of a professional.
Plus, like Jeanne said, it gives you the chance to be able to grow into a larger company, if you want to.
Just my opinion.
Thanks Jane, your opinion is much appreciated. However, I think that we’re all so used to having platforms do the trick for us. Take Proz - there are thousands of freelancers out there using the link to their Proz profile to act as their “website”. Why don’t they get a proper one?
Marta, as with all your lessons, this one was very interesting.
I’ve been a freelance translator for 21 years now and I’ve always used free email accounts. I have a hotmail and a gmail account and I can access them anywhere in the world. I’ve never felt the necessity of having a private domain - my clients have always been able to contact me and the accounts have never let me down. I change passwords often and I’ve never lost documents. My idea is: keep email addresses short, easy to remember and avoid numbers, underscores, dates, etc and you’ll be fine.
I’m not entirely sure what agencies and/or companies think about hiring translators/interpreters through free email accounts, but it’s never been a problem for me and no-one has ever told me I shouldn’t do so. So, in the end, what’s all the hassle about it?
If you have a tip-top resume or CV, a great profile on Proz or TranslatorsCafe or even LinkedIn; and to top it off, if you have great reviews or WWA’s, that alone should be proof of what you’re worth. Even if I work another 21 years (which I hope I do), I’m not planning on changing my emails at all. Although I DO respect others’ opinions who think they need a domain because it gives them a more professional look.
Here’s wishing you ALL much success in your profession, whatever email you choose to use!! Take care!!
Hi Maggie, thanks for your comment! Finally we got someone from the other side of the discussion! I’m definitely with you on keeping e-mail addresses short and memorable! I might get in touch with someone from an agency, or ask a client what are their views on that.
You’re making a problem where there isn’t one. If you like Google’s services, then by all means keep using them. If you want to get a professional-looking email address with your own domain name, google is not stopping you. If you go into your google account’s options, you can link the two addresses together. Then, when clients send emails to “[email protected]”, google will forward them to your gmail inbox, and you can read them as if they had been sent to your gmail in the first place.
Thanks for your comment, Chris. I think that my main point was whether to use free or domain-bound e-mail address. I am aware of forwarding, but it doesn’t solve my main issue here.