The Tech Trio Every Business Must Have!
- Mandie Kramer
- Sep 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 8
If your business email ends with "gmail . com" this one's for you! PLUS... 2 other critical pieces of tech that need to be set up before you send your first newsletter.
The foundation you need before sending your first newsletter
A few weeks ago, I spent time at a local festival chatting with many biz owners. Many of them were excited about starting a newsletter.
Then I started asking about their tech foundation.
"Do you have a business email?"
"What email platform are you thinking of using?"
"Where will people sign up for your list?"
The excitement quickly turned to panic.
"Wait, I need all that stuff first?"
Yes, you do. But don't worry... I'm going to break it down so you don't want to throw your computer out the window!
You didn't sign create your business because you love technology, unless you're a tech company 😅.
BUT. Nevertheless.
Even the edTech companies I've worked with in the past have struggled with ensuring the basic foundations of email marketing were put in place before they could properly execute their plan.
Think of it like building a house
You can't just start hanging pictures on the walls. You need a foundation, walls, and a roof before you can make it pretty inside.
Email marketing works the same way.
You need three foundational pieces working together before you can start sending those amazing newsletters we've been talking about.
Let me walk you through each piece and why it matters...
Piece 1: Secure a Domain
Your domain is your digital address. Without it, you can’t set up a professional email and therefore cannot do email marketing.
Why it matters:
It’s the first step to owning your brand online.
It unlocks your business email and website.
It makes you look serious and credible to customers.
Pro Tips for Choosing a Domain:
Stick with .com if you can (it’s what people remember first).
Keep it short, clear, and easy to spell.
Avoid hyphens, numbers, or creative spellings that confuse people.
If your exact name is taken, try adding your city, niche, or “shop” (e.g., sarahsboutiqueaustin.com).
Where to get it:
If you’re starting fresh and want everything (domain + website + email marketing + online shop) under one roof, book a coffee chat with me and I’ll get you established on Wix.
Already have a site or want to keep it flexible? Start at GoDaddy.com. It’s easy to buy your domain there and transfer it later to whatever platform you choose.
Piece #2: A Business Email Address
What it is:
An email address that uses your business name/domain instead of Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail.
Instead of: sarah.boutique23@gmail.comYou want: sarah@sarahsboutique.com
Why you need it:
It makes you look professional (customers trust businesses that look established)
Email marketing platforms require it (they won't let you send from free email addresses)
It matches your branding and helps with recognition
How it works: You buy a domain (your website address) and create email addresses using that domain.
My recommendation: Google Workspace (about $7/month). You get all the Gmail features you're used to, but with your own professional address.
Don't have a website yet? Let me help you start with Wix. They bundle domain, website, and business email together, which brings us to the next piece...
Piece #3: Pick an ESP
(Email Service Provider)
What it is: The platform that actually sends your newsletters and manages your subscriber list.
Why you can't just use regular email: Sending marketing emails to people without the opportunity to "unsubscribe" is a big NO NO and even illegal in some countries. When you send emails directly from your Gmail, there is no "unsubscribe" option you can add, plus, the amount of contacts you can send at once is heavily limited.
The goal here is to help you stay on the right side of the law, avoid fines, and ensure your marketing emails actually reach your customers’ inboxes.
Not only do you have the chance of your email being suspended from violating Google's terms, you can't track who opens what, manage unsubscribes, or gather proper analytics to track ROI on your efforts.
What and ESP does for you:
Sends emails to your entire list without getting marked as spam
Tracks opens, clicks, and other important metrics
Manages subscribe/unsubscribe automatically
Provides templates so your emails look professional
Ensures you're following email marketing laws (yes, that's a thing)
How it connects: Your ESP uses your business email address as the "from" field. So when people get your newsletter, it shows up from sarah@sarahsboutique.com, not some random platform address.
My recommendations:
If you have a domain and professional email already and just looking for an ESP, I recommend Sender.
It's user-friendly, affordable, and has everything you need without overwhelming you with features you'll never use.
Want 10% off ? Use my affiliate link: https://www.sender.net?ref=yty4ymq and discount code PARTNER at checkout.
Want to build from the ground up with my support on Wix? Their built-in ESP (Ascend) works great. No need to overcomplicate things if you're already in their ecosystem.
I sound like a broken record, but just book a coffee chat with me and I can help guide you on whether WIX is for you or if you should go a different direction.
Don’t Get Stuck in Decision Fatigue
Here’s the thing: you could spend weeks researching platforms, reading reviews, and comparing tiny differences between pricing tiers. Or you could skip all that noise.
Option 1: Follow my links in this email and you’ll be set up with proven tools I know work for small businesses.
Option 2: Book a free coffee chat with me, and I’ll walk you through exactly what you need (and what you don’t), so you don’t waste time or money.
Don’t let analysis paralysis be the thing that stops you from connecting with your customers.
The tech is just the foundation; the real magic starts once you’re actually sending.
💌 Mandie
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