Using free email account Iniziatore argomento: Ade Indarta
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Ade Indarta 
Indonesia
Local time: 01:17
Membro (2007)
Da Inglese a Indonesiano
Hi,
I often read in this forum that many people advice not to use free email account (yahoo, Hotmail, etc) because it will make you look unprofessional.
Do you have any experience about this? do people refuse to work with you because you use free email account?
Is free email account really that bad?
Thanks
Ade
| | | | Jack Doughty
Regno Unito
Local time: 19:17
Da Russo a Inglese
+ ...
In memoriam | Not sure, but if so, maybe using a less well-known one would help | Jul 30, 2007 |
I can only say that I know of some highly-respected members of ProZ who seem to manage quite well with such accounts.
But if it is a problem, well, everyone has heard of Yahoo and Hotmail, but if you used a less well-known one, would they know what sort of account it was? try for instance, http://www.pochta.ru/?lng=en (it's the English-language version of a Russian web-based email).
| | | | ATIL KAYHAN
Turchia
Local time: 21:17
Membro (2007)
Da Turco a Inglese
+ ...
| No other choices | Jul 30, 2007 |
Never heard of a negative experience. What if you do not have any other choices? Suppose you are a freelancer, and you do not have a company or a website. Isn't a free e-mail account the only choice you have?
Regards,
Atil
| | | | Harry Hermawan
Indonesia
Local time: 01:17
Membro
Da Inglese a Indonesiano
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | Free email accounts, my two pennies | Jul 30, 2007 |
Well Ade,
I would feel that free email does not reflect a trustworthy image since you can easily make an account with free emails so I guess this is just one downside. In business, trust in numero uno. But then we have prozmail, thanks ProZ.com.
Another thing, on some free email account, one need not worry about size of attachment if you need to send large files, as several prominent free email providers ... See more Well Ade,
I would feel that free email does not reflect a trustworthy image since you can easily make an account with free emails so I guess this is just one downside. In business, trust in numero uno. But then we have prozmail, thanks ProZ.com.
Another thing, on some free email account, one need not worry about size of attachment if you need to send large files, as several prominent free email providers offer very large and even unlimited storage... Guess?
My two cents.
From bright and sunny, Jakarta... ▲ Collapse
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Williamson
Regno Unito
Local time: 19:17
Da Fiammingo a Inglese
+ ...
| Google mail. | Jul 30, 2007 |
How unprofessional is gmail. With its 2.8 gig, it has the advantage that you can store your files on it using gdrive.
I use gmail as a means of storage. Moreover, it has some handy features and you can link it with your pop-mail.
If your hd crashes, your house burns down or another calamity happens, you still have your files and mail.
| | | | Pavel Blann
Repubblica Ceca
Local time: 20:17
Da Inglese a Ceco
SITE LOCALIZER | security and backup/restore strategy | Jul 30, 2007 |
Williamson wrote:
How unprofessional is gmail. With its 2.8 gig, it has the advantage that you can store your files on it using gdrive.
I use gmail as a means of storage. Moreover, it has some handy features and you can link it with your pop-mail.
If your hd crashes, your house burns down or another calamity happens, you still have your files and mail.
some clients may not like the idea their data (even in encrypted form) is lying around in cyberspace (perhaps in a place where gmail is developed), available for internal/external hacking/disclosure.
there may be handy features but gmail is still in beta version and accessible only if someone sends you an invitation to it. gmail/gdrive servers (wherever they are located) are subject to calamities, too.
if your hd crashes you should have a tangible backup. if you're concerned with your house burning down you should put a second backup to a safe deposit box in a bank, e.g.
if you backup files on gdrive you should have a restore strategy as well because the internet connection (in your [part of] town) can go down, too (due to a flood or electricity outage, e.g.)
| | | | Percy Balemans (X)
Paesi Bassi
Local time: 20:17
| A domain name with email adress isn't expensive | Jul 30, 2007 |
ATIL KAYHAN wrote:
Never heard of a negative experience. What if you do not have any other choices? Suppose you are a freelancer, and you do not have a company or a website. Isn't a free e-mail account the only choice you have?
Regards,
Atil
Of course you have a choice, even as a freelancer. All you need is a domain name that comes with an email address; you don't even need a website to be able to use the email address. You'd have to pay for the domain name and for using the email address, but that shouldn't be too expensive these days. At the (Dutch) ISP I'm currently using this costs around EUR 20 a year.
| | | | | Two different issues | Jul 30, 2007 |
One issue is having a yourname @ yoursurname.com as your e-mail address. It imparts a powerful, professional, serious image. But for people on the savvy side, it doesn't mean much.
I have one like this, part of the bundle in hosting my web sites. But it's limited in capacity, poor spam-handling capabilities, and I only use it in its rather inefficient webmail. Tons of spam with one or another useful message now and then. It is the one indicated on all my web sites. When I get a vali... See more One issue is having a yourname @ yoursurname.com as your e-mail address. It imparts a powerful, professional, serious image. But for people on the savvy side, it doesn't mean much.
I have one like this, part of the bundle in hosting my web sites. But it's limited in capacity, poor spam-handling capabilities, and I only use it in its rather inefficient webmail. Tons of spam with one or another useful message now and then. It is the one indicated on all my web sites. When I get a valid message there, I immediately redirect it to my main address. For me it's a kind of a bumper for first contacts.
The other issue is dependability. It's a name @ paidservice.com. It means I outsourced my e-mail service to a dependable company, which I hold responsible for fulfilling certain service requirements.
For this I use Mandic.com.br. Apart from keen readers of Harvard Business School cases, nobody outside Brazil knows Aleksandar Mandic, the founding owner. But they offer me several valuable features for some USD 6/month, like unlimited storage space, and IMAP. The latter means that THEY safely hold all my messages, which I can access from any www-connected computer. If my hard disk blows up, no messages will be lost. Some state-of-the-art antispam features are included as well, and they are able to collect all messages I have in any other e-mail address (even my own site's , if I wanted to).
I think that widely-known-as-free e-mail providers, regardless of how serious YOU are, convey a message of flying by night. Address known today, e-whereabouts possibly unknown tomorrow.
My 2¢. ▲ Collapse
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Samuel Murray
Paesi Bassi
Local time: 20:17
Membro (2006)
Da Inglese a Afrikaans
+ ...
Ade Indarta wrote:
I often read in this forum that many people advice not to use free email account (yahoo, Hotmail, etc) because it will make you look unprofessional.
I have always suspected that some free e-mail domains have a better reputation than others. I suspect Gmail has a better reputation than Hotmail, for example. But I can't back that suspicion with research.
I use Gmail because it is commonly known that Gmail accounts can handle very large files. I do have my own domain name and I do get e-mail names included in my hosting account, but I never got round to setting it up.
| | | | Irene N
Stati Uniti
Local time: 13:17
Da Inglese a Russo
+ ...
| Not just the image but speed and reliability | Jul 30, 2007 |
I too have my doubts regarding having Yahoo as a prime account for a busy professional. It sure does raise some doubts, maybe the unfair ones but still...
For two, I can't imagine managing without broadband and, of course, the email account that comes with. The connection costs me ~50 bucks a month with my cable TV provider. Savings on the ground line, which I don't have, balance the costs all right compared to a hardline+DSL, the slowest I can afford. With a cheap (under $100) Wi-... See more I too have my doubts regarding having Yahoo as a prime account for a busy professional. It sure does raise some doubts, maybe the unfair ones but still...
For two, I can't imagine managing without broadband and, of course, the email account that comes with. The connection costs me ~50 bucks a month with my cable TV provider. Savings on the ground line, which I don't have, balance the costs all right compared to a hardline+DSL, the slowest I can afford. With a cheap (under $100) Wi-fi router the speed now is 100 Mbps. Nice network at home too. 2 instances of loss of comm in 5 years, less than 1 hour each. Easy access from the provider site and yes, from Yahoo "check other mail" when on the road, much less crowded and well-protected provider's server (never used it for storage so far but it's there)
I have read about 300 spam mails a day... Well, I get mad when I receive 5, and I conduct all my life through the Internet - banking, 70% of shopping etc.
Nice write-off too. For tax purposes Skype-In plays the role of my personal number for ~$30/year.
Yahoo is a good backup, especially for PDA holders. However, over the years I was asked by a couple of clients about how secure my email account was and they seemed to be pleased with the answer other than Yahoo.
[Edited at 2007-07-30 15:05] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Steven Capsuto
Stati Uniti
Local time: 14:17
Membro (2004)
Da Spagnolo a Inglese
+ ...
1) Some e-mail services automatically mark incoming messages from Hotmail and Gmail as spam.
2) When I get a message from a potential client with a free e-mail account (or, almost as bad, an AOL account), my irrational gut reaction is that they're somehow not serious businesspeople. I do more careful checking into potential clients with free e-mail accounts than I do of others. Often they turn out to be fine, but it makes me wary.
[Edited at 2007-07-30 18:51]
| | | | Ade Indarta
Indonesia
Local time: 01:17
Membro (2007)
Da Inglese a Indonesiano
AVVIO ARGOMENTO | What about the agency? | Jul 31, 2007 |
Hi all,
Thank you very much for the answers.
I my self feel reluctant to respond to a job offer that is sent through free e-mail account because I would be worried about the future of my cash flow.
But I am curious how would this matter be seen by an agency in dealing with its translators since it would not really involve cash in it. I mean an agency would no have to worry about how to find the person if he does not pay.
Would this also be cred... See more Hi all,
Thank you very much for the answers.
I my self feel reluctant to respond to a job offer that is sent through free e-mail account because I would be worried about the future of my cash flow.
But I am curious how would this matter be seen by an agency in dealing with its translators since it would not really involve cash in it. I mean an agency would no have to worry about how to find the person if he does not pay.
Would this also be credential problem for an agency?
Would an agency underestimate a translator because of this free e-mail account?
Ade ▲ Collapse
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I use Gmail for the same reason as Samuel. I personally don't like the idea of using Hotmail for work. I freely admit to being a snob about this.
I'm also against "cute" usernames or ones where it is obvious that you share the email account with your spouse/partner. I don't think they don't look professional.
Actually, I have my own company email account with my top client. I do PM work for them in Irel... See more I use Gmail for the same reason as Samuel. I personally don't like the idea of using Hotmail for work. I freely admit to being a snob about this.
I'm also against "cute" usernames or ones where it is obvious that you share the email account with your spouse/partner. I don't think they don't look professional.
Actually, I have my own company email account with my top client. I do PM work for them in Ireland as well as translation, which is why they decided to set up a company email for me. I only ever use that account with that client, never with other agencies.
As long as the email address looks relatively professional and secure and it can accept mails and attachments, I don't think an agency minds too much what address you use. I have never had any objections from a client about my Gmail. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Chunyi Chen
Stati Uniti
Local time: 11:17
Da Inglese a Cinese
| I use paid Hotmail | Aug 2, 2007 |
I have been using Hotmail since 1995, and haven't had any serious problems with it. I did, however, upgrade my Hotmail at some point so that I could get rid of the annoying banners/advertistements that follow your messages. So I am actually paying $20 a year to use a "cleaner" Hotmail. Most people would probably not notice that my Hotmail account is "different" from the free ones, but the agencies that work with me never seem to have a problem with my Hotmail. But again, I can't be sure as I... See more I have been using Hotmail since 1995, and haven't had any serious problems with it. I did, however, upgrade my Hotmail at some point so that I could get rid of the annoying banners/advertistements that follow your messages. So I am actually paying $20 a year to use a "cleaner" Hotmail. Most people would probably not notice that my Hotmail account is "different" from the free ones, but the agencies that work with me never seem to have a problem with my Hotmail. But again, I can't be sure as I wouldn't hear from the ones refraining from working with me due to the free email/unprofessional issue anyway. On the other hand, I do have one or two small agencies who use free email accounts like Yahoo, but they turn out to be very professional and prompt payers:)
So I think the bottom line is, do your job professionally. Then people won't bother about all the other smaller things.
[Edited at 2007-08-02 16:09]
[Edited at 2007-08-02 18:12] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Kootvela (X)
Local time: 21:17
Da Lituano a Inglese
+ ...
| Business card | Aug 4, 2007 |
Ade Indarta wrote:
Hi all,
Thank you very much for the answers.
I my self feel reluctant to respond to a job offer that is sent through free e-mail account because I would be worried about the future of my cash flow.
But I am curious how would this matter be seen by an agency in dealing with its translators since it would not really involve cash in it. I mean an agency would no have to worry about how to find the person if he does not pay.
Would this also be credential problem for an agency?
Would an agency underestimate a translator because of this free e-mail account?
Ade
Dear Ade,
I advice you to give the doubting company more details with your contacts, like a business card, so that they can reach you even if your email cannot. I myself use Yahoo because it is fast, has lost of space, handles viruses and spam, can check away from home.
Ele
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