Here’s a concise guide to creating a professional email address plus ready-made examples and a short signature template you can copy.

What makes an email “professional”

• Uses your real name (or business name).
• Uses a reputable domain (Gmail, Outlook, or—ideally—a custom domain for businesses).
• Is simple, readable, and easy to dictate by phone.
• Avoids nicknames, slang, jokes, and unneeded numbers.

Recommended formats (in order of preference)

• [email protected] ([email protected])
• [email protected] ([email protected])
• [email protected] ([email protected])
• [email protected] (best if you own the domain)
• [email protected] ([email protected]) — good for small teams
• [email protected] ([email protected]) — for role clarity

What to avoid

• petnames, nicknames, or hobbies (hotdogfan@…, partygirl@…)
• long strings or excessive punctuation (jane_doe1234!!!@…)
• ambiguous separators that are easy to mishear (use periods or no separator)
• personal domains for business communication unless they are clearly branded

Examples by situation

• Corporate / Job application: michael.smith@Gmail.com or [email protected]
• Freelancer / consultant: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Small business: hello@Brightbakes.com or contact@Brightbakes.com
• Student / new grad: alex.johnson@Outlook.com or [email protected] (if school-provided)
• If common name is taken: use middle initial (michael.t.smith@…), or role (michael.smith.writer@…)

If you want a custom domain (recommended for businesses)

• Register a domain through providers like Google Domains, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.
• Use an email hosting provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or mail hosting from your registrar).
• Set up simple addresses: [email protected] and common role addresses (info@, support@, hello@).

Quick email signature template (copy & paste) Name
Title | Company
Phone: (123) 456-7890
Website: company.com
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/yourprofile

Final tips

• Keep it short and consistent across your team.
• Use a professional avatar or no avatar for external communications.
• If using Gmail/Outlook, enable two-factor authentication for security.
• Test how the address sounds when said aloud (easy to spell and hear).

If you’d like, give me the name and intended use (job applications, business, freelance, student) and I’ll suggest 4–6 concrete email addresses you can use.