Ask HN: Founders, what title do you use in email? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Founders, what title do you use in email?

15 pointsericb36 comments

I'm wondering what title people use when emailing customers? For my load testing consultancy, I have to periodically send introductory emails to sales prospects, and I'm struggling with what I should call myself. So I'm wondering, what do you list as your title in emails?

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Depends on how you want to be perceived. One of the most interesting article I read talked about how this founder carries 2 business cards. When he meets prospective clients, his title on the card says "VP of Sales" so his organization seems much bigger than a 1 man shop. But if he is meeting investors, he uses his CEO title card so he seems to be the one in control.

I think this scenario would apply to you pretty well :)

I also like the VP of Sales pitch if you want an out in any negotiation, "well I have to talk to higher management, but what if I could do xyz for you..."

He carried two business cards: a plain one with just his name and another that read "I'm CEO...Bitch."

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/21129674/the_battle_f...

All my business cards I've chosen when working for other companies say only "Programmer." I like that.

But when you're a founder or such, you have to cop to it. You don't want it to look like you're evading responsibility or jerking people's chain.

So it's "CTO and Co-Founder" on my business cards and (when appropriate) on email.

I take after Mobutu, myself: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobutu_Sese_Seko)

"In 1972, Mobutu renamed himself Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga ("The all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, goes from conquest to conquest, leaving fire in his wake."), Mobutu Sese Seko for short."

No, but seriously, I use "Principal." It conveys my central role in the company from a financial perspective without having the dangers of sounding pompous, pretentious or immodest to the ears of people who think "President" or "CEO" is a bit lofty for a 1-3 man show.

Principal might be good--I've seen that used. I tried googling to figure out what it implies exactly, and wasn't successful. Can define for me what it "means" a little better?

It has a somewhat flexible meaning, but is usually used to refer to the partners (owners) of a business with an emphasis on the financial aspect of their ownership. The ownership has to be significant; elementary shareholders don't qualify. It is also sometimes used more loosely of corporate officers, i.e. CxOs.

The signature of a principal is often required in serious contracts. In other words, the defining attribute of a principal is his or her ability to represent the firm in a legally binding way with no limitations.

http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/principal/4945311-1.ht...

You should use whatever you think your actual title is at this point in time. "President" or "Founder" would probably work well. For a small shop "CEO" and "VP" titles can be a little over the top. 90% of the time, this isn't an issue, but in some cases people will honestly have more of an impression of "Oh, isn't that cute!" instead of "Oh, he is is the CEO". I guess what I'm saying is that in general you will do well with no over or understating your reality in the company.

Do what you say, say what you do.

It depends entirely on what your selling and what your client is like.

For example when I am prospecting work for my day job I always use "VP <company>" or "Senior Analyst"

On the other hand for my own company I usually choose something light heartened related to the rest of the mail: "the man" or "the tech guy" etc. it goes down quite well.

Just use your name and explain in human language what you do.

What about in the signature?

I usually don't put any titles in the actual email itself. In the signature, I sometimes go with Co-founder, other times, just put the company name.

Generally I sign emails to customers with my title as "Developer". When you're responding to a support email or a pre-sale email, a lot of customers think it's very cool that they can contact the guy who built the product, not some random support person.

I don't use a title.

Scott Whigham

LearnItFirst

<phone>

<fax>

http://www.learnitfirst.com

Just my name and my company's name. We're dealing mostly with consumer's though.

I've just been using Founder... especially since it's jut me here.

It depends... when speaking with people I want to make deals with, I use my title. If I'm dealing with users/customers, I just ID myself as co-founder.

I put my degree BSc (Hons) even though a friend says it's irrelevant.

I earned those letters dammit!

Sorry to say this but .. I agree with your friend. Your qualifications are pretty much irrelevant in an email; mentioning them anyway may well be taken negatively by some people.

Still, at least it's a respectable degree. I once had to converse regularly with a guy who signed his emails "(full name), M.C.S.E.", flaunting those letters like they were equivalent to Medical Doctor or Order of the British Empire or something. Needless to say, merciless ridicule ensued.

I'd rather have THAT than my stupid degree!

Ha! Believe me .. no you wouldn't. In many circles an MCSE is like an anti-qualification in that unless the person has a good excuse, it is often viewed as a negative. At best it's neutral. And any employer wanting one - steer clear.

In my humble opinion, of course.

Optimist Prime at Blindoptimists

Call yourself what you are, don't be too cute, keep yourself out of Valleywag.

I use the title of "Product Manager" because that is what role I play.

VP Sales.

Make something up, make yourself the "Senior Sale Maker"

Chief Nerd

Really, a downvote for that? I answered the question truthfully - http://theninhotline.net/features/staff/

Or nearly truthfully (ie not!) "Founder, Chief Nerd".

Well I got a down vote for correcting your false assertion, so karma is restored, or somesuch.

Janitor

Depends on who I am emailing.

Creative Director, Business Development manager, Creatively Directing Product Development.

Sincerely,

Paul Blart

Mall Cop

Do not lie to me.

Casual: First name

Introduction: Full name

Sales email: Full name + "\nOwner, {{ company }}"

Vice President for Special Projects

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