Blue Cat Design Web 101

FREE MARKETING - via your e-mail Signature!

An e-mail signature can transform your e-mail message from that of being written on a blank electronic page to one of corporate stationery with an effective marketing message.

What is an e-mail signature? It is user-specified text which is automatically inserted at the bottom of each e-mail message you send. Most e-mail software programs have a "signature" option that you can configure. In Eudora - one of the most popular e-mail programs - the option is found in a pull-down menu entitled "Windows". Select the "signature" option in the "Windows" menu, and you will be presented with a blank window. Anything that you type within this blank window will become your e-mail signature and be automatically added to the messages you send.

What should be in an e-mail signature? The name of the person sending the e-mail, the organization name, contact information such as telephone number, fax number and address. Don't forget to include the URL (Web address) of the organization's Web site to direct people to your Web site for additional information about your organization. A brief mission statement or one line description of about your organization can also be included.

Try to layout your e-mail signature so that it is compact and doesn't take up unnecessary lines. Instead of having eight lines of text with individual lines for phone number and fax numbers, it is much better to combine items to arrive at a four or five line signature. Five or six lines should be the maximum length used according to accepted Netiquette practises.

Once your e-mail signature option has been configured, you won't see it within the message you send - the program adds it when the message is being sent. But just because it's out of sight, don't let it be out of mind. Remember to occasionally check the text in the "Signature" option window to review if it's still valid and current.

An e-mail signature can be a powerful tool for raising awareness if it points to an effective Web site that contains relevant useful information. It only takes a few minutes to set up e-mail signature - try it out!