Besides the obvious message, there is an added message that many people don’t think about.  Your signature.  The email signature is an important tool for entrepreneurs.  That signature will remind the person you are emailing about your business, how to find you, and alternative ways to contact you.  Even if you only recruit one new customer, you have done yourself a service by simply making sure every person you contact has the information they need to learn more about you and your business.

Email signatures do much more than just generate a few new customers.  They also remind the people you’re emailing that you are accessible.  If they haven’t previously visited your website, your signature might urge them to do so.  A phone number might offer them the opportunity to call you if they have an important question.

You don’t have to be fancy, you don’t need half a dozen pretty graphics either.  The basic information is usually more than enough to do the job you require: to inform.

What is the perfect signature?  While it is there to share your information, the last thing you want to do is overdo it.  Try to stick with the most important information.

Your name.  Your signature should always include your name.  Whether it is your full first, middle, and last name or simply a combination of just your first and last name is up to you.  While some people do prefer to use just their first name, sharing your first and last is a bit more professional.

Your title.  If you’re the founder of a company, mention it.  Many companies have different people to handle different areas of need.  Your title will tell the reader who exactly, in relation of status, they reached.

Your business name.  This should be a given.  Unless your URL has your business name in it, this will offer the person on the other side if your email a clue to what your business is before they click through.

Your website url.  As nice as it is to link specific keywords, it doesn’t hurt to make your website a little more obvious.  Spell it out for them, literally.  http://… Just because a link was clickable before you sent the email does not mean the person receiving it will be able to click it too.  By spelling out the link you’re giving them no excuse to avoid visiting your website.  If it’s not clickable, visiting is as easy as copy and pasting it into their search bar.

Your email address.  Yes you are stating the obvious when you have your email address listed in the signature of the email you just set from that address.  It doesn’t hurt to offer a reminder.

Your phone number.  If you’re in the type of business where you want people to be able to reach you, this is the perfect place to put your number.  If you prefer to stick with email-only contacts, just leave this out.

Need an idea of what that signature would look like when put together?  Here is what mine looks like when following the rules mentioned above.

Angela J. Shupe
Freelance Writer | Blogger | Virtual Assistant

AngelaShupe.com
http://www.angelashupe.com

askangel@angelashupe.com
(517)774-2005