An email signature is an incredible way to sign off on your communication with a recipient. It is an important way of branding and personalization.
There are so many forms of communication available in the world right now however, email communication remains one of the most effective and most popular means of communication, especially in the professional world. It is a direct means of communication that allows for confidentiality and the ability to insert signatures improves brand recognition.
It also reinforces who you are and helps in building trust and credibility. Notably, a professional email signature can leave a long-lasting impression on the recipient. This is why it is important that you put so much care into the creation of your email signature in terms of text, font, color, inputting disclaimer, and the use of images.
In this article, we will discuss step-by-step how to insert signatures in your emails, and the best practices required to successfully do this.
Understanding the Importance of Email Signatures
To begin with, email signatures allow your recipient to know who is corresponding with them and it also helps to boost your brand awareness.
Imagine an email sign-off with eye-catching colors, beautiful fonts, and professional images.
This can propel your recipient to want to learn more about you personally or about your brand. Email signatures are also important for documentation purposes as they help to ascertain who a piece of information is coming from.
That’s not all, email signatures also help your recipient to easily contact you should the need arise. This is because, in a professional setting, an email signature also bears the sender’s job title and name.
Designing Your Email Signature:
There are so many tools and platforms available for you to easily and quickly design your email signature, whether as an individual or as an organization. One thing you must keep in mind is that creating a professional email signature is finding a balance between readability and providing necessary information.
In this section, we are going to touch on effective tips you need to design your email signature.
Tips for creating an effective email signature.
- Include Essential Information: Your email signature should include your full name, job title, and company name. It should also have your contact information such as your email address and phone number.
- Add Design Elements: You can include your company logo or social media icons in your email signature. These elements can make your signature more visually appealing and provide additional ways for people to connect with you.
- Keep It Simple: Your email signature should be simple and uncluttered. Avoid using too many colors or fonts as they can make your signature difficult to read.
Creating a Signature in Different Email Platforms:
Creating an email signature varies slightly depending on the email platform you are using. Here are step-by-step instructions for popular email platforms:
- Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General tab > Signature. Here, you can create and format your signature. Once you’re done, simply click on save changes and your new signature will be saved and ready to use.
- Outlook: Go to Mail> Settings> Compose and Reply> Email Signature > New Signature. You can create a new signature and assign it to your emails here.
- Apple Mail: Go to Mail > Preferences > Signatures. You can create a signature and assign it to an email account.
Adding a Signature to Mobile Devices:
Adding a signature to mobile email apps is also straightforward. Here’s how you can do it on Android and iOS devices:
- Android (Gmail App): Go to Menu > Settings > Choose the email account > Signature. You can enter your signature here.
- iOS (Apple Mail): Go to Settings > Mail > Signature. You can enter your signature here.
The process is slightly different compared to desktop platforms, but it’s just as easy once you know where to look.
Introducing Online Signature Forms and Form Analytics in Formplus
Ensuring Consistency Across Devices
We have discussed how you can easily create your email signature. However, there’s a need to touch on insurance consistency across your devices. This is important in the case where you use multiple devices, such as a laptop, phone, and iPad to send emails to individuals or people within and outside the organization.
This is to maintain professionalism and also to avoid confusion and impersonation. Here are some tips:
- Test Your Signature: Send an email to yourself and open it on different devices and email clients to see how your signature appears.
- Adjust as Needed: If your signature doesn’t look right on a certain device or email client, adjust it until it does.
Don’t forget that the goal is to leave a professional and lasting impression, no matter where your email is read.
Legal and Compliance Considerations
You must take into consideration the legal and compliance aspects when creating an email signature. For instance, you might need to include disclaimers or comply with email regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These regulations can vary by region, so it’s recommended to consult with legal counsel to ensure your email signature is compliant.
Updating and Modifying Your Signature
Your email signature isn’t set in stone. You can update or modify it as needed. Here’s how you can do it on different platforms:
- Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General tab > Signature. Here, you can edit your existing signature.
- Outlook: Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures. You can edit your existing signature here.
- Apple Mail: Go to Mail > Preferences > Signatures. You can edit your signature here.
If you wish, you can periodically review and refine your signature to keep it current and relevant.
How Formplus Can Help in Collecting E-signatures
Formplus is a multipurpose tool that provides over 1000 free form templates and can also help in collecting e-signatures. Formplus allows you to create online forms that users can sign digitally.
This feature can be particularly useful for businesses that require signatures on contracts or other documents. With Formplus, you can streamline the process of collecting signatures, all you need to do is open an account and get started. Formplus’s E-signatures collection feature is one of the best available options in the market right and it is easy to use and more efficient.
Conclusion
Email signatures are to be taken seriously if you intend to be on top of your professional communication. Email signatures will not only provide an opportunity to showcase your essential contact information but also enhance the overall impression of your emails. This article has outlined key steps to create, insert, and modify an email signature, along with important legal considerations. You can now practice how to create your own effective email signatures, keeping them current and relevant to your professional needs.