Have you noticed that email signatures are getting longer and longer? Really! Why? We have so much content to digest each day, why does your email signature need to be so detailed, that’s what your website and social media networks are for. So, please keep your email signatures simple! For starters it’s a good idea to create multiple email signatures for your routine business email conversations. Here are few tips and ideas you can use: 1.     Create a long email signature: To do this, a good rule of thumb is to try staying within 4-6 lines of text with 70-80 characters or less in each line for your fundamental default signature, which should include sufficient contact details for your recipient to view on a new email conversation. For example your long email signature should include:

• Closing sentiment, like “Sincerely” or “Best Regards”
• Your name
• Title/Department
• Company name
• Best phone number(s) – office direct line/mobile are best, not more
• Company website link, which will provide any additional details, such as business        address, etc. Make sure it is easy to find on your website!
• Optional business appropriate signature add-ons could also include your business motto, current promotable marketing and social media links to your blog, Facebook, and/or Twitter

2.     Create a short email signature: Following similar rules, try staying within 2-3 lines, which will be used as a closing signature for any of your ongoing conversations. For example your short email signature should include:

• Closing sentiment, like “Thank you”
• Your name
• Best phone number(s) – office direct line/mobile
• Company website link

3.     Create an internal email signature: Again following similar rules as the short email signature. Keeping in mind your coworkers do not need any of your contact information. To sign your internal company conversations try using:

• Closing sentiment, like “Take care”
• Your name
• If you work for a large company, you may want to consider using your title/department / direct extention

Other general rules to follow when creating an email signature is to maintain the same font, bolding the font is acceptable, but changing the size and color is widely found to be obnoxious. No fancy creative formatting, please! When using social media buttons keep the pixel size to approximately 50×50, not larger. Also, when typing your website address you will need to include the “http://” to make sure the URL is recognized as a clickable link regardless of the recipients software or platform. The key is to make your signature simple, drive the recipient to your website where all the marketing and additional information can be found. After all, you want your website to do the selling and bragging, not your email signature. Cheers!