This is especially geared toward real estate professionals, but this applies to anyone transitioning to a professional email. Think about professional organizations and directories you are listed in, including your local chamber of commerce. They all need to be updated. Here are some preliminary steps you can do. Before you pull the plug on any free email or outdated system, be sure you have exported your contacts from the old system.

1. Set Up Email Forwarding First, configure your free email account to forward all incoming messages to your new professional address. This ensures you won’t miss important client communications during the transition period.

2. Update Your Contact List Export your contacts from your free email service and import them into your new professional email system. This maintains your valuable network without manual re-entry.

3. Update Email on Your Mobile Devices This critical step is often overlooked and can cause significant confusion:

For iPhone:

  • Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts
  • Add your new professional email account
  • Once synced properly, you can remove the old account or set it to “Mail Off”
  • If you’re using Gmail contacts with iCloud, update your contact email addresses in the Contacts app

For Android:

  • Go to Settings > Accounts (or Users & Accounts)
  • Add your new professional email account
  • Once synced, you can remove the old account or disable sync
  • Update your contacts in the Contacts app with your new email

Important Note: If you’re transitioning from Gmail to a Google Workspace-hosted email (with your domain), you’ll need to use the specific Google Workspace app and may need to set up app passwords for seamless integration.

4. Send a Professional Notification Inform your clients, colleagues, and business contacts about your new email address. I can provide you with a template that positions this change as a professional upgrade rather than a mere administrative update.

5. Update Your Online Presence Ensure your new email address is updated across all platforms: your website, social media profiles, real estate listings, business cards, and especially your MLS profile and NRBA directory listing.

6. Implement Email Signature and Compliance Elements Create a professional email signature that includes your new branded email, along with all required real estate disclaimers and compliance elements for your state.

Need help with any of these steps?

[Visit ] to learn how I can handle this entire transition process for you – allowing you to focus on your clients while I ensure a professional, compliant, and seamless email upgrade.