Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You – Email-Marketing
Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -- they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every e-mail we send. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and use sig files -- even AOL.I've heard some people who don't use sig files defend their position by saying, "All my clients know my info -- I don't need to remind them with every e-mail." Stop! You're missing a perfect opportunity to promote your business, as well as do your clients and prospects a favor.When you think about how many e-mails you actually send a day, it's probably more than you realized! Some people send over 100 a day. That's a lot of mail -- and a lot of chances to slip in your own subtle marketing messages.Sig Files Put You at Their FingertipsPeople love it when you make information easy to find. Sure, your clients have your phone number somewhere, but they'll really appreciate it when they can grab your number right from an e-mail they're looking at. In fact, e-mail is such a part of our lives now, that if someone needs your phone number quickly, she may be more likely to grab it off your latest e-mail than to dig up your business card. (Don't underestimate this occurrence -- there are many disorganized people in the world!)Also, if people want to put your info into their contact management software (Outlook, ACT, Palm, etc.), they can simply copy and paste it right from your sig file.Good Sig Files Tell Strangers What You DoBack in 1999, when I was a full-time copywriter, I also served as co-chair of New York's Women in Communications Inc. (WICI), I booked speakers for our monthly cocktail events, conducting most of this work via e-mail. The speakers I corresponded with only knew me as a representative of WICI; they had no idea what I did for a living. But one woman, after spotting my sig file, promptly wanted to learn more about my copywriting services. She then hired me for a $5,000 project. Thank you, sig file!Sig Files Are Ready to TravelE-mails are forwarded all the time. You never know where yours may end up, and one of the recipients may be very interested in your service or product. I learned this shortly after I started my business, when I was shocked to get a call from a prospect in Israel. A colleague of hers here in the U.S. had forwarded her an interesting issue of my newsletter. She learned about my services and got my phone number from the sig file at the bottom.Sig Files Are a Great Promotional ToolNow, let's move beyond the obvious stuff. Think of your sig file as a little messenger who speaks to everyone you send an e-mail to. What do you want him to say? Do you have great news? A new product or service? A free newsletter or report? Let us know via your sig file!Your Sig File ChecklistHere are several items to consider putting into your sig file. CAUTION: Do not attempt to insert them all! Choose what's most important for you and your business.*your name and title
*your company name
*your company tagline, or a short phrase that describes what your company does
*your address
*your phone, cell phone, and/or pager numbers
*your fax number
*your e-mail address (sometimes people can't get it directly or quickly from your actual e-mail)
*your Web URL (be sure to include the "http://" prefix to ensure it will translate as a hyperlink on most e-mail programs)Make sure you also include a bit of promotion, such as:*an invitation to subscribe to your free e-zine
*an offer for a free report or product you offer
*an offer for a free consultation or trial offer
*a company announcement (new client, new product, award won)
*a link to your latest press release, article, or Web site featureIn the interest of space and your reader's time, keep your offer or announcement to one or two sentences only. (Tip: Always throw in the word "free" when possible. It's everyone's favorite word!)Bonus: Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and keep several signatures on file, so you can change them easily and often. This makes it a cinch to switch your messages weekly or even daily, and maintain ones for different businesses.Choose What's Important to YOUOf course, it's possible to get carried away and include too much information. We don't need random quotes that have no relation to your business, cute illustrations made up of keyboard characters, or your weekend phone number in the Hamptons.Try to keep your sig file to a maximum of eight lines. More than that will overwhelm the reader, and it will look silly if your sig files are always longer than your e-mail messages!Here's a good example:Jane Smith, President
Smith I.T. Consulting
'Take a Byte Out of Network Headaches'
ph: 800-321-0000 fax: 212-321-0001
jane@smithitconsulting.com
*Visit http://www.smithitconsulting.com and get your FREE report on the top 10 most common computer network problems and how to solve them!*Notice that "Jane" opted not to give her mailing address here, in order to use the space for her tagline and an invitation to receive her free report. It's all up to you. If your customers frequently need your mailing address, then you should include it. (I don't include it in mine, since 99% of my work is done via e-mail.) Decide what bits of info are most valuable to keep, and use the rest of the space for a unique message or promotion!One Last Thing: Make Sure We "Get" What You DoI've seen some seemingly complete sig files that still leave me wondering, "Thanks for all the info, but what do you DO?" We all know what IBM and Kodak do, but the whole world doesn't know what your business does (yet). For now, it's your job to help us all learn. Include a tagline that describes what your company does or a short phrase that helps us understand. If your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what you have to offer your prospects, it will reward you numerous times in the future!
7 Key Items To Include In Your Email Signature File – Email-Marketing
7 Key Items To Include In Your Email Signature File
One of the most important and often overlooked methods of promoting your on line business or service is your email signature file (sometimes called a "sig"). There are two types of signature files, one is the more simple one at the close of each email, the other might be attached to writing or discussion group posts, etc. and is sometimes called a byline.Regardless of the usage, having an effectively written signature can make the difference in higher sales, more networking contacts and more prosperity for you today! Using the following as a guide, to build a signature file that will help you meet your needs, and reach your goals.1. Your Name and the Name of Your Business. You cannot build your brand or name recognition without it. No one would forget to include this, right?2. Your email address. If you have written compelling content, people will want to contact you. Having your email address immediately available (and clickable) is the best means to satisfy the need to "do it now". Since some email clients don't recognize and hotlink email addresses, consider putting the mailto: in front of your address. This ensures your address is a hyper link (i.e. mailto: href="/group/article_announce/post?protectID=200056018009078135227056000043231253000048234051197">kevin@d...)3. Your Web Address. People will be enticed to take action immediately if the information is readily accessible, and like your email address, being an active link is always the best. Don't forget your URL! While it may be best to send them to the home page, the content of your writing may suggest you send them to a specific page. If so, use that address in your signature file.4. Phone Number. Email is great, and the web is nice, but people often like to connect with you at a different level. Make sure they have the information so they can! If you have a toll free number, consider adding it (and letting people know that it is toll free). If your toll free number but is only available in your home country, either leave it out, or note where it will work. Remember your fax number too!5. Statement of Mission or Purpose. If your business has a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) include it here. This is a short sentence that differentiates you from others in your business. If you don't have a USP yet (create one!), include a descriptive tagline about you and your business.6. A Reason why they should contact you now. If you have written an effective article or post, suggest an additional resource you could provide to them, or a way you could help them. Make sure they know how to quickly request this additional help.7. Ways to Read More. If you produce an ezine, let people know that it exists and how to subscribe. Again, make it easy with a hyperlinked email address (see number two above) or a URL to subscribe from the web.Overall, while there are no hard and fast rules regarding your signature file, there are some guidelines. Your "sig" in your everyday emails might be shorter - not containing each of the items above, while sigs for your article or posts may be longer. Use your good judgment, use this list of guidelines, and experiment to find what works best for you.About The AuthorJulie Jordan Scott (julie@5passions.com ) and Kevin Eikenberry (kevin@discian.com ) are speakers, writers, consultants and people who help organizations and individuals reach for - and achieve their goals. Both have content rich websites and free email offerings. To learn more go to http://5passions.com and http://discian.com.
Make Use of the Signature Line in Your Email – Internet-Marketing
Make Use of the Signature Line in Your Email
Think about it, how many emails do you send out every day? How many of these forwarded jokes, pictures, stories etc do you receive every week?Why not put your email to work for you?! Add a link or two to your signature file. Mine looks something like this:~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SusanneI am a Work at Home Mom Wannabe
http://www.wahmwannabe.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~You get the idea. You can start as simple or as fancy as you'd like. You do want to get your readers attention though. Make a statement, ask a question. If you'd like, offer something free. A free coupon if they place their first order etc.You may also want to change your signature around a little from time to time, particularly if you email the same people a lot. Never miss an opportunity to display your links though. You never know when
someone's situation or circumstances change and all of a sudden, they may be interested in what you have to offer, be it a product or a business opportunity.Right now, a lot of people that I email on a daily basis may not be interested in www.wahmwannabe.com. But what if one of them just found out she is pregnant and is all of a sudden considering starting a business from home. I may not know about it for a while, and she may not want to tell me, but the link is there.The idea is to get as much exposure for your business as possible. Maybe one of your friends has a slow day at work and clicks on one of your links out of boredom and ends up making a purchase.You may also want to consider all the funny stories, pictures, jokes etc. that inevitably end up in your inbox. Imagine, if you just forward them to 5 people, who forward them to 5 of their friends and so on. All of a sudden your signature links have to potential of reaching hundreds of people.To make this even more effective, take it a step further and add your link right above the story, joke or picture, with a little "brought to you by www.your-url.com." Spend a few minutes today setting up your signature line, or if you already have one, make sure your links are working and come up with
some fun lines to go along with it.About the author:
Susanne is a partner of http://www.WAHMWannabe.com, the one-stop online WAHM shop. WAHMWannabe offers home business comparison, business tools, work-at-home related articles, a unique WAHM marketplace, message boards, and a whole lot more. Be sure to stop by and check out what's new, as WAHM resources are added constantly!