How Much is TMI on Your Website?

Most CEOs are hesitant about putting their e-mail address on their company website. Here's why I do it.

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Yep, I did the unthinkable. I put my e-mail 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 e-mails from vendors, customers, random people, but frankly, the e-mails 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 e-mail 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 e-mails as quickly as possible so that people know we're a real company, not just a robotic e-mail marketing website.
• It has helped build business. I've had people e-mail 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 e-mail address as a link on the website, so that I can see where people are seeing it and e-mailing me from. If you're skittish about including a link because of spiders or spam, you can use an image that links to your e-mail. Either way, it's something you can do to put a personal "face" - and an e-mail address - behind your business.

Janine Popick is the CEO and founder of VerticalResponse, a leading provider of self-service e-mail and event marketing, online surveys, social media, and direct mail solutions. The company was ranked No. 1,771 on the 2011 Inc. 5000 list. @janinepopick