Question: what's your first impression of the email address sxxxygrrrl08@yahoo.com?

What? You mean funding-worthy, smart, and professional didn't come to mind?

It may sound obvious, but it never ceases to amaze us how many entrepreneurs (and other relatively smart, well-adjusted people) use unprofessional-sounding email addresses for business purposes.

Let's face it: most people use email in some form or another these days to communicate. But that doesn't mean you should use the same email address with everyone. That's because while, yeah, biggunz69@hotmail.com is funny when you're emailing your old frat brothers, the same doesn't hold true when you're trying to communicate with a potential business connection or investor. Trust us, if an investor finds it funny, it's only because they're laughing at you, not with you. And no, you're not off the hook if your email is "cutesy" either. Emails like HunnyBunny10@aol.com and PregMommy@hotmail.com are just as disturbing—and equally unprofessional—as (some) graphic email addresses.

At the risk of sound old, crotchety, and generally lame, get a new email address. Keep it simple. This is going to sound crazy, but try just your first and last name, and if it's not available, find a simple variation. Don't use slang, nicknames, or any words that end in "z." It's a free, simple, and quick way to automatically make a better impression on an investor or important business contact.