You have the perfect business name.  You email run to gmail and lock down the email address myperfectbusinessname@gmail.com.  You print up business cards and leave them at strategic locations. You print out flyers and stick them on the doors of potential clients in which you follow-up with an email. 

And nothing.  Most people don't respond and those that do reply that they are not interested.

The problem?  You are trying to sell a professional service or product using an unprofessional email address. 15 years ago having a website would new uncharted territory.  It was a luxury only those who could hire an expensive web developer could afford.  Today, hosting with companies like BlueHost cost less than $5 a month for a website.  The bare minimum for every company is to have a website url or domain as close as possible to the business name and for all employees - yes, even you small business owner with only yourself on staff - must have a professional email address.

Who would you rather do business with?  WidgetsRUs@gmail.com or JohnSmith@WidgetsRUs? 

If you want customers to take your business seriously, you have to take your business seriously.  One of the first steps is a professional email address tied to your own business url.