|
You're in a Rut
For years you've had one e-mail addressat least since you last changed ISP's. Changing your e-mail address last time was a royal pain, and you swore you'd never do it again. There's only one problem with that: you don't control the destiny of your e-mail address, your ISP does. Bummer.
SPAM Out of Control
Over the last couple of years you started getting SPAM. Your ISP magnanimously volunteered filters, but they don't really work. You've gone to a lot of trouble to setup SPAM rules in Outlook, but the truth is you have to go through it everyday to pick out the legitimate messages as well.
Has it occurred to you that changing your e-mail address will stop the SPAM? If you use the e-mail services already provided in your web site, you can control the e-mail addresses in a way that will virtually eliminate SPAM (see Controlling SPAM).
Forced Advertising
You are advertising for your ISP. The domain in your e-mail is the ISP's domain, not yours, not the domain you're paying for. Is that what you want? Some of you are sending "Viral Advertising" messages with every e-mail you send, and you can't stop it because your ISP puts them there.
Obscure E-mail Addresses
Then there's your account name, the first part of your e-mail address. There were thousands of customers for your ISP, and your choices are thin. Certainly your first name is out. Maybe your address is long or cryptic, so that no one will be able to remember it for very long and you can't just tell it to someone in passing without writing it down, letter-for-letter. Inevitably, some misspells your obscure address. They complain your e-mail is down. Eventually you understand they made and error, but is it really their fault?
The Myth of Stability
Stability? How do you know you'll have this ISP next year? Will you always be happy with them? How many ISP's can you name who haven't changed their address or gone out of business in the last 10 years? The truth is this is a business that is overly competitive and not very stable. Even the largest of providers have gone in and out of business. Where does that leave you?
|