5 Most Popular Mistakes That You Make With Your Email Signature
1. Including all possible kinds of contact information
2. Using images as your email signature
3. Neglecting small screens
4. Adding irrelevant details
5. Having a boring closing
If your email has a lame subject, no one is going to read it. On average, we receive about 50 emails per day, and some of us can receive up to a hundred.
But let’s assume you’ve managed to think of a good subject line, and your email has got opened. You may think your job’s done, but there is another element you might want to reconsider if you want to stand out to the reader. It’s your signature.
A good email signature is your extra chance to shine as well as a great marketing tool. But used incorrectly, it can backfire. You can enhance your email signature by avoiding these five widespread mistakes:
1. Including all possible kinds of contact information
With multiple social networks, websites, email addresses, and phone numbers, you may find it hard to resist the urge to include all ways of contacting you in your email signature. But this is one of those cases when more is less.
Giving too many contact details often appears desperate, and if the reader sees 5+ different options, chances are they won’t click on any.
Pro-tip. Include up to three ways to contact you which you think are the fastest and the most convenient.
2. Using images as your email signature.
Some devices and email providers block images by default. If you decide to use an image that has your name and contact information as a signature, you should also bear in mind that the recipient might end up not seeing it. And what can be worse than a signature which can’t be seen? You can use alt text behind the image if you still want to use it as a signature.
Pro-tip. Use email signature generator to create an HTML-based email signature. Most online editors host images on their server, helping you this way to avoid the situations when your sign-off appears as an attachment.
3. Neglecting small screens.
At least half of recipients read their emails on mobile devices, which means that your signature is very likely to be displayed on a small screen. You have to make all the links in your signature big enough for the reader to click on them with their thumb. Plus, don’t forget about the font. It would be best if you used serif fonts of sizes 11 to 14 so that your signature is easily readable on a small screen.
Pro-tip. Create a responsive signature that displays correctly on mobile and desktop email clients. Follow the best practices to make your sign-off stand out.
4. Adding irrelevant details.
There isn’t anything wrong with promoting your business or blog by adding a link to them in your signature. But if you do that, check if the content you are about to share is relevant to your email recipient. Sending the reader to a page that doesn’t exist anymore or a blog that hasn’t been updated for years isn’t a great idea as well.
Pro-tip. Don't overwhelm your signature with unnecessary buttons and call-to-actions. Make sure you include only one CTA that leads your recipients to conversion.
5. Having a boring closing.
Traditional sign-offs, such as “Best wishes”, “Regards”, and “Sincerely” follow the principles of business etiquette and are fine. But you won’t stand a chance of getting noticed with a “Take care” at the end of your email.
We all try to fit ourselves in a frame of what is considered to be professional. But why don’t you let your personality radiate through a fun and surprising ending of your emails? Of course, don’t go over the line, and don’t offend anyone in your closing.
Play about with your sign-off and think of a phrase that can make your reader feel excited about responding to your email.
