Email feels like a moot point; something that is a part of the digital direction business is headed in, but not really at its core. For some reason, email doesn’t really get the acknowledgement it deserves. Often overshadowed by the new, trending, or more exciting platforms and apps. However, there is a very good reason why our mailboxes continuously pile up with promotional mailers and SPAM; it’s because marketing companies and hackers know that email is still “IN”.

“Much like social platforms, checking email is second-nature,” says Domains.co.za CEO Wayne Diamond. “People are so used to it. And because email is convenient, less intrusive and super smart we don’t even realise how dependent we are on it. There are 3.9 billion active email users in the world and 85% of users access emails via smartphones. Furthermore, a high percentage of this number check their mails after normal working hours. Simply put, email is and always will be the primary communication tool for businesses. It is a global and effective support structure that works well with other communication platforms and instant messaging applications.”

Email is continuously evolving. Today mailboxes offer professionals multiple smart features to help save time and organise emails more efficiently. Apart from using these great features, there are other aspects that businesses can do to make sure email works as smartly as it should.

1. Register a business domain name
Owning a professional business domain for your business is affordable and easy to obtain. And you don’t have to wait for your website to be ready to start using your email either. With Domains.co.za’s email hosting with free email SSL you can send emails professionally and securely from the get-go.

2. Set up email domain authentications
For better email security you should setup DNS TXT records that authenticate and secure your emails to avoid tampering, or getting blocked by the recipient’s server, are Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) and Sender Policy Framework (SPF).

Setting these up manually can be slightly tricky if you aren’t familiar with the process. At Domains.co.za, we automatically configure any domain that has taken out a domains.co.za web hosting or email hosting package for DKIM and SPF.

3. Follow proper email etiquette
Individuals and companies can create and build good reputations, prevent misunderstandings and save time by sending professional emails and following email etiquette both internally and externally.

Email has and is adapting to the business landscape by improving its features consistently. The question is, “are you using it effectively in your business?”