Today, in the age of robotization, the fast development of AI technologies, and the general depersonalization of many aspects of our life, human creativity, attention, charisma, and personal style are becoming increasingly important. This is the only way to stand out from the ocean of information, texts, and messages.
But business communication is coming as tricky in this context because it usually requires a formal style of communication. How would one stand out in this case? Is there any room for creativity and personal style in regular email correspondence with clients or partners? Actually, there is.
The thing is that people are often impressed by things that we may not pay attention to. For example, there are a variety of details that may form the last impression of a message. An email signature is actually among such things.
That’s why we recommend paying more attention to this aspect. In this article, we’re going to tell you about the importance of an email signature and provide you with the most common tips on how to make your signature look professional and catchy. Human attention usually fixates on details, so let’s be careful with them.
Creating an email signature that’s both functional and visually appealing may sound like a challenge, but in fact, there are plenty of ways to create one that stands out from the “crowd”. For example, there are many signature generators, such as MySignature, which are a good help for the beginner. Thanks to them the process of creation won’t be a problematic task: they take the hassle out of creating a signature from scratch. All you need to do is enter your information and choose from a range of templates, fonts, and colours. With a few clicks, you’ll have a professional-looking signature that’s ready to use. The only thing left is to keep in mind all of the recommendations which seem to be common and which we will discuss soon.
But let’s address the most important thing: why do we claim email signatures to be so important with such confidence? As we have already said, it can leave a lasting impression on the recipient. By including your name, job title, and contact information, you make it easy for people to remember you and get in touch later on. This can be especially helpful when networking or trying to establish new business relationships.
After all, professional-looking email signature can help establish credibility and trust. By including your company logo and branding, you show that you take your business seriously and are committed to providing quality service.
Your email signature can also be a powerful marketing tool. By including links to your website, social media profiles, or latest project, you can increase traffic to your online presence and generate leads. You can even customize your signature with a call-to-action, encouraging recipients to take a specific action, but we will discuss all these aspects a bit later.
And one of the most important pros of the email signature is that it saves time – probably the most valuable currency now. Instead of typing out your contact information every time you send an email, a signature ensures consistency across all of your communications. This is especially helpful when sending multiple emails or when you’re short on time. For your clients or partners, it is time-saving in another way: it relieves them of unnecessary questions regarding contact information. In other words, an email signature reduces the number of additional letters.
Finally, an email signature can be a reflection of your personality and individuality. That’s the thing we have started from because it is probably the most important issue. By choosing a design, font, and colour scheme that matches your personal style or brand, you can create a signature that stands out and showcases your creativity.
Now, let’s move on to the process of creation. What you should consider first?
Well, anyone would probably start from recommending you to keep it simple and brief. We understand that it can be tempting to go all out and create a signature that’s full of flashy graphics and colours. However, a simple, clean design can often be more effective. Stick to a neutral colour palette and a clear font that’s easy to read.
Actually, we recommend using up to two-three colours and fonts – more may be too much. But still, it’s your personal choice and you are free to experiment with design decisions. Who knows, maybe you would create something outstanding. But remember that your signature must combine creativity and professionalism because you would use it for business means. Though there may be other amplifications. Still, your style restrictions must result from your goals.
Another recommendation is to stay modern. What we mean is that you should follow the trends and keep up with them. For example, with more and more people checking their emails on their mobile devices, it’s important to make sure your signature looks good on a smaller screen. Keep the design minimal and avoid using images that might take a long time to load. In other words, make it smartphone-friendly – now it may be even more important that the appearance of the signature on the computer screen.
While it’s important to keep your signature professional, don’t be afraid to add a personal touch that reflects your personality or brand. For example, you could include a quote that inspires you or a link to your favourite social media profile. Also, a call-to-action in your signature can encourage recipients to take a specific action, such as visiting your website or scheduling a meeting.
The important part of your signature may be your links. Regarding social media, it’s important to choose wisely. Focus on the platforms that are most relevant to your professional image and the ones that you are most active on. Otherwise, you may spoil the impression a person would get from contacting you by seeing your inactive or unprofessional accounts.
If your social media pages are not well-organized, it may be better to avid adding such links at all. Don’t clutter your signature with too many social media icons. Instead, choose a few key platforms and organize them neatly in your signature.
You may also add an image to your signature. It may be the brand logo or your personal photo. Or both, if the situation permits. Your photo should be professional and reflect the image you want to convey. Avoid using photos that are too casual or inappropriate for a professional setting.
Keep the size of the photo small. A large photo can make your email take up too much space in the signature. And make sure your photo is high-resolution and looks clear and sharp. A low-quality image can be distracting and take away from the professional image you’re trying to convey.
To suь it all up, creating a professional and personalised email signature is an important aspect of your online presence. By following those common recommendations we’ve outlined, you can make sure that your signature stands out from the crowd and leaves a lasting impression on recipients. From using a consistent font and layout to including social media links and even a photo, there are many ways to make your signature unique and memorable. So, don’t be afraid to experiment and find the signature that best represents you and your brand. With the right approach, your email signature can be a powerful tool for networking, branding, and showcasing your professional image. Just stay creative and everything will be fine. Good luck!