Professional E-mails & Websites

When I made a blog post about business cards, I briefly touched on having things simple and having your name on your email and websites.  Perhaps I was a bit too vague because I'm still running into emails and websites with "foo foo".

Your email should always be your name.  I cannot express enough how important this is.  If you're starting out and can't get or afford a domain name that will let you have your name as a dot com you're allowed to temporarily have a gmail or yahoo or whatever makes you happy.

Acceptable:
janesmith@gmail
jsmith@gmail
janes@gmail
janesmithbeauty@gmail
janesmithmakeup@gmail
And so on...

UNacceptable:
sparklesofglitter@gmail
ghettoliciousmakeup@yahoo
Anything that isn't your name is absolutely just a NO!

Your name is not sparklesofglitter.  If it's not on your birth certificate, it should not be used in your email or website.

Some may have free websites where you can't help but have that particular websites name all over it.  I used to have bridal site through wix.com (that I've left up as an example) but guess what's in between all that?  My name! (It's http://yisellsmakeup.wix.com/yisellsmakeup).  I can't help that "wix" is in there but I made it a point to implement my name in there so clients can remember.  For my updated and permanent bridal website, visit www.yisellsantosmakeup.com.

If you already have a domain name that allows you to have your name as a dot com, then that's fantastic!  You're on the right track.  My pro site is www[dot]yisellsantos[dot]com along with my pro email which is contact[at]yisellsantos[dot]com.

Acceptable:
info@yourname.com
contact@yourname.com
yourname@yourname.com

The point is, your name is on it!

Please always keep in mind that this is how your client will always remember you.  Don't think that just because you're starting out that this is ok.  That you can probably just change it later.  2 things can happen, you either don't ever change it because now all your clients have this particular email and to change it now will be a pain in the behind OR you do change it and have to email every single client that you've changed your email and we all know that sometimes that doesn't work.  You'll have no choice but to keep the old email just in case someone emails you there.  If you disable it, you could possibly lose jobs and/or clients and no one wants that.  So now...you're managing two emails.  If you ask me, that's just way too much work and your client will forever know and remember you as ghettoliciousmakeup.  This is not professional in any way, shape or form.

If you want to be treated and paid like a professional, you need to conduct and handle your business like a professional.  I find it difficult to take anyone seriously who doesn't have a professional email or site.

Moral of this story:
Act as a pro
Be a pro
Conduct business as a pro
And please, I beg you, stop with the ridiculous email and site names.

Is That a Soccer Ball Under Your Shirt?

I never post personal things in my blog.  I'm a very private person and really only share with those very close to me.  Though, once we're close and you really get to know me, I'm quite the foul mouthed, no holds barred kinda girl ha!  I'm from NYC, whatevah!

Many people who follow me of Facebook , Twitter and Instagram (@yisellsmakeup) know that I'm...wait for it...PREGNANT!  Yes!  I've created life and am now carrying a human in me!  WOO HOO!  I've kind of sneaked in some hints and even posted pictures here and there.  Some noticed my growing belly, some didn't.  I didn't exactly publicly announce it (again private person), but I've decided that since the time is soon approaching for me to take a break from work, I'd go ahead and make it really public.

Mid to ending May marks the beginning of my 8th month (I'm 32 weeks now and due June 30th / July 1st) and man I gotta tell ya, I'm starting to feel it.  I was doing just great - taking jobs, getting up early to answer emails, help other artists with their sites etc.  But lately, my poor little legs and ankles are starting to yell at me if I stand for too long.  Tho, this doesn't impair my work in any way.  I just go home and complain to my husband, he tells me to relax and stop working so much but of course I don't listen and he ends up rubbing my footies for hours. WIN!

My little guy at 27 weeks sucking his thumb

Thankfully as a freelance artist I can pick and choose the jobs I know I can handle and make my own schedule but I've promised myself that after June 2nd (the 1st I have a bride lol) that I will take it easy and put myself on Maternity Leave until I know and feel ready to go back to work.  I'll take that last month to slug around, catch up on TV shows and do last minute adjustments to baby's room.

I love my job and can't ever quit completely. I know the work flow won't be the same again (for a long while) and I'm ok with that.  Traveling for now is out of the question.  I was raised to love being with family and that's what I'm going to do.  After almost 10 years in this business, now it's mommy time.  I started out doing weddings, worked damn hard to get where I am, moved up and did lots of print work and even some TV/Film work.  I've been very fortunate and so grateful to the people I've met along the way.  I've had one hell of a good run.  All I wanna do is make people pretty and be with my family.  And that's exactly what I'm gonna do!  I'm back to concentrating only on bridal (for now) which would only really take up a couple hours of my weekends and the rest of the time I'll spend with the hubby and cuddling with my son.

Now this doesn't mean that I won't post here anymore, share my beauty finds, update on the social networks or give anymore advice.  It just means that I might not be able to respond to your lovely comments and questions as fast as usual.  Please, please do keep commenting and emailing me.  I love to hear from you guys and I love with all my heart to help you and give any advice I can.  You guys are a big part of why I love to do what I do.  Without you, a piece of me would be lost.

And now I leave you with some pics of my belly lol!

Me & BFF of 20+ yrs                     College BFF giving the belly some love                       Me and the Hubby

I love you all, seriously!

Biggest hugs and kisses to all. XO!