Catch-All Email for Small Businesses (And Why It’s Rarely the Best Option)
Why Catch-All Email Sounds Like a Good Idea
- Misspelt emails
- “Just in case” thinking
- Not wanting to miss enquiries
The Downsides of Catch-All Email
- Spam volume
- Harder to manage
- Security considerations
- Messages going to the wrong place
Somewhere in the multiverse you can hear the cry
“Roll-up Roll-up Ladies and Gentlemen See the Mighty Lord of the Jungle Tamed by a Humble Packet of Ready Salted”
The surprising truth being, in that world, the fearsome king of the beasts will become an oversized pussy cat in exchange for the taste of a ready salted potato crisp (if visiting this world please never try Cheese and Onion crisps, as these get them higher than catnip, and anything could happen!)*.
Well, maybe, maybe not … but almost all entertainers know the power of advertising, and back in our world most have social media presence, and many encourage “get in touch”.
If you’re thinking
“Hmm, a Crisp Eating Lion Tamer from Beyond Beige, I wonder what his email address might be?”
Try it you might be surprised to find it works.
It works, not because I’ve been touring the multiverse visiting the plains of Africa with multi-packs of your favourite snack, to prove my theory, but because of a little trick used when setting up an email system – a catch all email address … yes, ok, like the addicted lion above who catches all the crisps.
While a “catch-all email address” that catches all emails sent to your business, even those sent to unknown names, may seem like just the solution you’ve been looking for, there are negatives as well as the positives. Quick tip, for most modern businesses, the negatives will outweigh the positives.
Although once popular, a catch-all email, these days is rarely the best fit. Discussing the underlaying goals to better understand what you’re trying to achieve, usually reveals more a reliable, and often safer, way of handling those “nearly right” or general enquiries.
Understanding the good bits, and well as the not so good, in solutions helps decision-making and builds the right solution for the right person.
If you feel you need a crispeatingliontamer@ email address, or just want to talk over some email ideas, or concerns, you have, please contact Simon – you may already know his email address, or you could use crispeatingliontamer@beyondbeige.co.uk
Talk to Simon: 0744 6006 663 – Great when unknown issues are stopping you from working
Message Simon: https://beyondbeige.co.uk/contact/ – Ideal when you’ve an occasional problem, or have some screenshots to share.
Read more blogs https://beyondbeige.co.uk/blog/ – For views and comments on IT, support, and more about working with Simon.
(Also some self help and tech guides for the non-technically minded)
WARNING!
* In the world we all live in Please DO NOT TRY feeding potato crisps to lions, it’s really not a good idea for either the lion or you. No responsibility for any such actions will be accepted by Simon or Beyond Beige!
