Email Signature Ideas to Inspire You
While the world’s first email was sent in 1971, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it became the ubiquitous form of communication that we know today. Different online communication options have come and gone. Yet, through it all, email has remained.
One reason for this is that email retains some of the formality of traditional mail. Whether emailing a coworker or a relative, most of us start with a more formal greeting than we would in a text message. While you might use abbreviations when sending a message to your work friend on Slack, you’re more likely to use complete sentences and paragraphs in an email.
Another feature that sets an email apart is your signature. Keep reading as we dive into what email signatures are, why they’re important and how to create your own unique signature.
What is an Email Signature?
An email signature is a block of text containing information such as your name, title and contact information. This block appears at the end of every email that you send.
You can use the settings in your chosen email provider to create your own unique email signature. While many email signatures contain the same type of information, you are free to customize it as you’d like. This includes getting creative with the style, font or colors, adding a unique message or even using decorative elements.
Email Signature vs. Electronic Signature
While they might sound similar, an email signature and an electronic signature are different. An email signature is a digital sign-off that appears at the end of each email that you send. While it could include just your name, it could also include a variety of other information, such as a closing greeting, your position within a company or your phone number. Your email signature can also include an electronic signature.
An electronic signature is a digital version of your written signature. Like an email signature, this can come in a variety of forms. One of the easiest options is to simply type your name. However, this lacks the personal touch that a more creative electronic signature can provide.
Creating Your Own Electronic Signature
If you want to create a more personal electronic signature, you can draw your electronic signature as you would a regular signature with paper and pen. Or, you can use a font and style that mimics the look of a hand-written signature. You won’t have the option to create either of these using the settings that your email provider offers, but you can create an electronic signature using a different service and then insert that into your email signature.
jSign makes it easy to create your own customized electronic signature. You can use the online platform’s tools to draw a signature, using your finger on a touch screen, your mouse or trackpad or a stylus such as an Apple Pencil. jSign also offers a variety of fonts designed to look like a natural signature. This is a fast and simple way to create a customized signature without having to draw it. If you’ve ever tried searching “signature ideas for my name” and struggled to figure out how to improve your regular signature, using an existing font is a great alternative to trying to sign your name yourself. Your final option is to draw your signature on paper and then snap a picture to create an electronic signature.
Once you’ve created your electronic signature, you can save it and add it to your email signature or use it to sign documents digitally for work or for personal reasons.
What Should Your Email Signature Look Like?
While email signatures can be unique, there are a few basic elements that many will include.
The most important element is your name. If you’re using the basic settings that your email provider offers, that’ll likely be your name in your choice of a few fonts.
Adding your name to your email signature is convenient — each time you type an email, you won’t have to also type your name at the end. But if you’re using your email for professional purposes, it’s common to also include your title and some basic contact information, such as your phone number. This information will go below your name. You can offset it with a different font or font size, or use design elements like lines, boxes and spaces to separate your name and information.
Another element that you can include in your email signature is a closing greeting. This can range from a formal greeting to a casual one. Some popular options include:
- Sincerely
- Thanks or Thank you
- Best Wishes or Best
- Regards or Warm regards
- Take care
- Great working with you
Adding this to your email signature will save you from having to type it at the end of each email. It’s also a simple way to customize your greeting.
5 Inspiring Signature Ideas
The above elements make up the basics of what most email signatures include, but there are many other elements that you can add, too.
For instance, you might include a link to your personal website, portfolio or your company’s website. Business owners and employees can also choose to add their company’s logo to their email signatures. You could even add an inspirational note or your favorite quote to your email signature.
Let’s take a look at a few unique email signature ideas to help inspire you to create your own.
Add Social Icons
One simple, yet effective idea is to add social media buttons to your signature. By adding social media icons and linking them to your personal or professional accounts, anyone that you email will be able to visit your accounts and connect with you instantly. If you’re a business owner or otherwise looking to leverage your emails to expand your connections, signature ideas like this one are a great choice.
Include a Photo
Creating a custom electronic signature is one of the best email signature ideas for personalizing your emails. Another great option is to add a photo.
Adding a small photo of yourself to your email helps your recipients put a face to a name. If you frequently work with or communicate with people that you don’t get to meet face to face, this is a great way to make a more personal connection. A professional headshot is a great choice. If your job doesn’t require you to have a professional email signature, you could also create a cartoon avatar for a fun alternative.
Highlight an Achievement
Adding a banner to the bottom of your email signature can help you highlight a big achievement or announcement from your company. One creative way to use this banner is to showcase an award or recognition that your team has received. This is a subtle way to mention this accomplishment when reaching out to new business connections, and might just help you land a sale.
Ask for Feedback
If you frequently email people to answer their questions or to help them with problems, this is another of the best signature ideas you can put to use.
At the bottom of your email signature, after your name and personal information, you can create customized buttons that let your recipients provide feedback. For instance, you could include three or four cartoon faces, each with different expressions ranging from a very happy face to a bored or disinterested face to a safe face. Your email recipients can click a face to let you know whether your response answered their question or whether they found you helpful. This can be a good tool to help you improve your answers in the future, and let you know whether your customers are happy with your work.
Make Your Signature the Focal Point
If you’ve taken the time to create an incredible electronic signature, consider making this the focal point of your email signature. This can take your emails to the next level, making them look more like classic letters.
After creating your signature, size it to make it stand out in your email signature. Then, add the other elements you’re including, like your contact details, in a smaller font or in a different color to allow your signature to shine.
Customizing Your Email Signature with an Electronic Signature
An email signature is a great way to personalize your emails and make them more professional. Much like a traditional signature or electronic signature, your email signature can be as unique as you’d like. You might opt for a standard email signature that’s professional and simple. Or, you can get a little more personal by adding a unique final greeting or by using one of the above email signature ideas.One of the best ways to customize your email signature is by creating your own unique electronic signature. This adds a personalized, professional touch to every digital message that you send. jSign can help you create your own custom online signature in just minutes, and add it to your email signature or use it to sign digital documents of all kinds.
