Indi businesses - please stop using free email addresses

02 Dec, 2025

Perhaps I am being a judgemental asshole -- hey, it does happen; I am not always Mr supportive, full of sugar and cheer!

I have a problem with businesses using free email addresses.

So you want me to pay your hourly rate to fix my plumbing; order hand-made cakes; buy hand-crafted greetings cards; reserve my meat from the local butcher..... but you want me to contact you on a hotmail, gmail, or outlook email?

Come on guys, I love supporting small, independent businesses. And I will do it as much as I can. However, equally you need to support small independent tech companies. They can quickly, and cost effectively, set you up with an email address on your own domain name.

It looks far more professional. AND you support another small business, much like you want me to do.

Yesterday I saw a plumber's van. It proudly boasted a web site, a mobile number, and a gmail.com! I just rolled my eyes and thought to myself -- he's already paid for a domain name for his website, so why not have the email there too.

Another top tip

Facebook is NOT your website. You should have a website of your own, even a simple one. Running your entire business via FB leaves you at the mercy of a billionaire who can change the rules at any time.

Imagine if the setup changed on how your posts were shown via the sausage machine -- perhaps they banned your account, or wanted to start charging for commercial posts. Your business, which you have worked so hard at, is doomed; instantly.

Don't have all your eggs in one basket.