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Quick Tips: Use an email signature
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An email signature is a convenient way to remind people about your site without pushing them too hard to visit.If you use Gmail, you can add an email signature by going to Settings. There's a signature option about halfway down the page.
Type your signature into the box and save the changes. Now, when you create an email, it'll start off like this:
Of course, your signature will be there, not mine.
Things to avoid in email signatures
This is down to personal preference, but I personally dislike any signatures containing one or more of the following:- Too many links (3 is probably the absolute maximum)
- Animated images
- Scrolling or blinking text
- Large or colourful text
- An image with very fancy text instead of just plain text
- More content than the body of the email!
What do you think?
Do you use an email signature? Why/why not?Can you think of any more things to avoid?
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Comments on Quick Tips: Use an email signature
Yes, I use email signatures with just about every email program I have set up.
My work email has my contact information on it (phone, cell, address) while my home email has the link to my website (which is about my dogs, so not relevant here).
Probably my G-mail account is the only one without a signature and that's because I very rarely send email from there.
Margaret
This reminds me, I removed my email signature for some or other reason, must put it back. I agree with you on the animated and flashing bits, that would drive me nuts. Fortunately GMail does not allow one to be too artistic as it does not permit HTML signatures.
I miss having a real email signature when we could use ASCII art. I type in a link now but don't have the heart to make an art out of it. Those days are gone.
Laura - I'm surprised to read this -- I think I still see people using ascii art in their email siggys. Not as many and not as elaborate in the "old days", but still some.
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I have a signature in my Gmail account, which I use for my blog. I also access my personal account through Gmail, which automatically includes my signature.
When you have a web site, it is very wise to include you site in your signature as it is a free, and easy, way to promote your web site.
Just remember to keep it simple.
I kept using ASCII art in my email signature until I didn't want to keep explaining what all the scrambled looking text was when I sent an email. MS hit hard on ASCII art when they began their HTML email and eliminated the plain fonts which worked for ASCII art.
I tried ASCII sigs in Gmail. Everyone said they did not come through. I haven't even done any more art in ages. I miss it. Still kept all my old ASCII creations up though. :) Did you make any? I used to be really active in the newsgroup. Miss people from those old days. Most of the sites they had then are 404 now. Even mine has moved but I kept a redirect at the old Geocities link. I even go there once a year to check it. :D
I have never ever thought to use an email siggy.
Thanks for this one Ben, I'm going to give it a try.
I use email signatures for work emails, but for my personal email I tend not to because based on what group of friends someone is from, they know me by different names so it's actually better that I don't bother with an email signature.
I do love them though :)
I would agree with the use of an email signature, as people really do notice it and click on them. It is a great advertising medium.