Email Signatures       

Adding an automatic signature to your email messages is the perfect way to provide basic contact information to your recipient, without having to type in your phone numbers and web addresses every time you send a message. Plus with a little added creativity, you can also add graphics, links, even html web elements to your emails, making every email an opportunity for dynamic internet marketing!
Unfortunately, there are countless email programs and utilities available, and each one has slightly different options and user interfaces. Below we have attempted to show signature possibilities for a variety of programs.

 

Simple Email Signatures
       

For many of you, the email of choice is a web-based one such as "Gmail," "Yahoo! Mail," "Windows Live Hotmail," or "AOL." Most people access these email programs from a website, and therefore have a streamlined user interface that encourages text based messages rather than graphic heavy ones, and attachments instead of embedded files. Also, because the email programs are often chosen by private parties and end users, the addresses they generate tend to be rather cryptic, like: shooter@hotmail.com, or bob1234@gmail.com. Maybe the people who receive your emails already know your real name, phone number and the web link to your online portfolio, but don't count on it.

Creating a simple signature in most web-based email accounts is very easy. most of the web-based email programs behave this way and are designed to easily create simple text-based signatures in very few steps.

1. Login to your Gmail account.
2. Select 'Settings' link in the top right.
3. Scroll down to 'Signatures.'
4. Select the radio button beside the empty text box.
5. Type the information you wish to have in your signature in the empty text box.
6. Scroll further down the page and click the 'Save Changes' button.
Gmail goes back to your inbox and the next time you compose an email, your new signature should be displayed at the bottom of the message.

 

 

 

1. Login to your Yahoo! Mail account.
2. Click the Options link in the top right of the screen. Screen will change to Mail Options screen.
3. Scroll down and click on the link named 'Signature' under the Management section. Screen changes to Signature Screen.
4. In the empty text box type the information you wish to have in your email signature.
5. Click the checkbox beside 'Add signature to all outgoing mail' under the text box where you just typed your email signature.
6. Scroll down and click the 'Save' button on left.

 

 

 

 

1. Login to your Hotmail account.
2. Select 'Options' on the far right.
3. Select 'More Options' at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
4. Click on 'Personal Email Signature' under the heading Customize Your Mail.
5. Use the text box to type your signature and add small graphics.
6. Click 'Save.'

 

 

 

1. Login to your AOL Mail account.
2. Select 'Mail.'
3. Select 'Set Mail Signatures' from the menu.
4. Click 'Create.'
5. Under 'Signature Name' give the signature a meaningful name that will differentiate it from other signatures you may create, ie:"personal signature," or "work signature."
6. Type the desired text in the field provided.
7. Click 'OK.'
8. Close the signatures window.

 

Advanced Email Signatures
       

For many businesses or even individuals who might handle multiple email accounts or require a higher degree of organization or customization, programs such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail are common utilities. Often times these programs are used by companies that may place restrictions on the kind of signatures employees are allowed to display, so be sure to check with your email administrator before adding information that could be considered too personal or misrepresent the company you are working for.

 

Add graphics or vCard files with Outlook:

1. Open your Outlook account.
2. Select 'Tools.'
3. Select 'Options' from the menu.
4. Go to the 'Mail Format' tab.
5. Under 'Signatures' click 'Signatures.'
6. Go to 'Email Signature' tab
7. Click 'New.'
8. Type the title for the new signature.
9. Click 'OK.'
10. Type the desired text of your signature under 'Edit Signature.'
11. Place your curser where you would like to insert a graphic or business card.
12. Use the formatting toolbar to insert an image or vCard business card file to the signature.
13. Locate the desired file and highlight.
14. Click 'OK.'
15. Click 'OK' or 'Finish' until back to the start page. If this was your first signature, Outlook has now set it as your default signature.

 

 

 

Apple Mail Signatures, from Simple to Super!

Creating a simple text-only or text and graphic signature is very simple with Apple Mail:
1. Open your mail.
2. Click on 'Mail' from the top navigation bar, then 'Preferences' from the drop down menu.
3. The Preferences window pops up, select 'Signatures.'
4. Select 'All Signatures' on the left side of the window.
5. Click the '+' in the middle of the window, which adds a new blank signature.
6. Name the signature.
7. Type the text of your signature in the box on the right.
8. To add a graphic, find your desired .gif or .jpg file on your hard drive, and select it.
9. Press control+c to copy the file.
11. Click back on the signatures editing window, place your cursor where you want to add the graphic, and press 'control+v'. You should now see the graphic appear.
12. Now drag the title of the signature you just created into the email accounts you wish to have access to it on the left. (you may only have one account).
When you compose your next email this signature should now be available in the 'Signature' drop down menu on the right.