What is an email signature?

Ahhh, the email signature.

That small block of information that is at the end of any business email and that tells us everything we need to know about the sender.

Well done, it concludes your email with style, professionalism and dynamism.

An electronic signature is a visual reminder of you and your brand that can stay in the reader's head long after they've closed their inbox.

It can generate new leads, boost engagement with a range of channels, and be an effective way to introduce a CTA.

But time and again, electronic signatures fall short.

Try to incorporate too much information and it will look overloaded and messy.

Format them incorrectly and they won't be readable.

But don't worry:

We are going to tell you everything you need to know to perfect yours.

What is an email signature?

An electronic signature is a block of text at the end of an email that includes business contact information and corporate branding.

Some email signatures also contain images, hyperlinks, and clickable calls to action (CTAs) that present offers, products, and services that are relevant to the email recipient.

Also known as email footers, email signatures are separate from the main body of the email and should not overload the content with what you say.

On the contrary, they simply end the email with a nice flourish.

They tell your reader who you are, what your business is, and how to contact you.

Why do you need an email signature?

Email signatures aren't just about revealing your job title and Twitter ID to the world.

The fact is that:

An elegant and informative electronic signature is a must for successful email marketing.

It can determine if your emails are succeeding... or failing.

Ultimately, the email signature will determine the lasting impression of each email you send.

Do it well and you:

• Provide your recipients with all the key contact details of you and your business, in a clear and digestible manner
• Build brand awareness by using a design that aligns with the color palette and overall aesthetic of your business
• Make your email stand out from the always cluttered inbox
• Generate traffic to your social networks via hyperlinks
• Make your emails look professional and stylish
• Show consistency across the organization, with all team members using a similar model

There is no doubt about it:

Spending a bit of time and energy perfecting your electronic signature is definitely worth its weight in gold.

What should (and should you not) include in your email signature?

Email signatures should be informative, but that doesn't mean they have to be lifeless.

You can have a bit of fun with them, but don't get carried away.

The cardinal rule of content:

Keep it short and to the point.

Now is not the time to list your successes, share your favorite inspirational quote, or link to every social network under the sun.

In fact, as with many things, less is more.

A common mistake is massively overloading an email signature with WAY too much information.

Do you want to encourage your readers to take an interest in it?

A clear, concise, and simplified electronic signature is much more likely to do the trick.

The 3 absolutely essential elements in an electronic signature are:

• Your full name
• Your business
• Your job title

But it would be a good idea to include the following as well:

• Your business phone number
• Social media icons, hyperlinked to your business profiles
• Your company logo
• A link to your business website and blog
• Your registered business address

And maybe even:

• A simple call to action, like a reminder to book your latest webinar or download your eBook
• A professional photo, so recipients can put a face on the email address

Attention: don't let yourself be surprised by confidentiality provisions and disclaimers . Learn about the laws in your area and the need to include them!

Next, the things NOT to include in your electronic signature:

• Links to your personal social media profiles or website
• Your phone number or home address
• Fleas
• Your favorite quotes
• Personal Achievements

Selectivity is key when it comes to selecting your electronic signature.

Be sure to include all the key information and say goodbye to the rest.

How to perfect your email signature

This is where you can get creative.

Designing the look and layout of your electronic signature is your chance to show off your personality and the unique style of your brand.

But again:

Keep it simple.

An overly elaborate design will distract from the information you are trying to present.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Keep colors and fonts to a minimum to ensure that your electronic signature is neat and well-coordinated.
• Use tables or dividers to keep your design well-aligned, neat, and visually appealing.
• Design your electronic signature to draw attention to the parts you think are most important

Formatting: dos and don'ts

Your content is now relevant and your design looks great.

But if you don't format your electronic signature correctly, all that will have been for nothing.

Incorrect formatting can mean that your electronic signature becomes stretched and warped, too small to be deciphered or — God forbid — invisible at all.

But don't be afraid:

We're going to go over some essential dos and don'ts to make sure your formatting set doesn't fail you:

• Insure -make sure it is adapted to mobile devices. 46% of email openings happen on a mobile device . So it's critical that your design works across a range of screen sizes.
• Ne don't create a complete picture. This would increase the size of the email and could automatically block it or store it as an attachment. Also, recipients can't easily copy your information from the image.
• Avoid to use HTML if possible. This could cause layout issues when using different email clients. Most signature tools like Signitic offer a simple copy and paste of signatures that can be used without HTML.

It's over!

If you want to improve the electronic signatures of your employees, learn more about electronic signature marketing.

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