How Much is TMI on Your Website?

Column by Janine Popick, Inc.com "Girl Power Female CEOs" September 19, 2011

Yep, I did the unthinkable. I put my email address on my company's website. Most people say I'm crazy, I know it. But I thought it was important. At first I thought I would get a flood of emails from vendors, customers, random people, but frankly, the emails that I get are pretty relevant and nine times out of 10 it's a customer commenting on something or asking a legitimate question.

So why did I put my own email address on the site?

• It's transparent. I'm not one of those who hide behind his or her people or company. I try to answer all emails as quickly as possible so that people know we're a real company, not just a robotic email marketing website.
• It has helped build business. I've had people email me with partnership ideas as well as prospects reaching out to ask me questions.
• It has helped get new employees. Someone that our HR department might not have thought would work well with current positions might be good for a future one.
• It has helped with potential financing. I've had numerous people requesting meetings to help with financing the company.

I do put a slightly different email address as a link on the website, so that I can see where people are seeing it and emailing me from. If you're skittish about including a link because of spiders or spam, you can use an image that links to your email. Either way, it's something you can do to put a personal "face" - and an email address - behind your business.