Email Signatures

Author: Richard Lowe, Jr.
Contact Author: articles@internet-tips.net
Web Address: http://www.internet-tips.net
Autoresponder Address: article-004@internet-tips.net

Presumably when you created your web site you had something to say
(or show) to the world. You've done a lot of hard work, and you
should want the everyone to know about it! Otherwise, why bother?

Besides the usual methods, one simple thing that everyone should do
is create a signature for any and all email messages that they send.
This includes messages sent through mailing lists such as egroups and
Yahoo Clubs, as well as newsgroups. In fact, using a signature is the
only generally accepted (non-spam) method you can use to advertise
anything, including your personal home page, when posting to
newsgroups.

Most email programs allow you to specify a signature of some kind -
usually you can set it up in the preferences or options. If the email
program does not support this, then make a small text file and keep
it open - then copy and paste the small amount of text for each email
that you send.

Okay, some simple rules for signatures:

- Do not include any graphics in your signature

- Never include any executables (scripts) as these may contain
viruses (or may be mistaken for them).

- Avoid HTML - just keep your signature nice and simple.

- Include a few dashes between your signature and your text. Systems
such as Majordomo (an email list processor) use dashes as a separator.

- It's a good idea to avoid directly plugging your favorite affiliate
programs in your signature. Use the signature to get people to your
web site, then plug whatever you want there. Some anti-spam filters
will delete your message entirely if they find affiliate program
references.

- Keep your signature under 6 lines if you can

- Keep it G rated

- Remember the point is to include your signature on normal emails -
not to send out your signature. You are just trying to let people
with whom you are already communicating know that you have more to
say on your web site.

- Keep each line under 65 characters

- Make sure all URL's fit on one line (URLs that have line breaks
will not get clicked on).

Here is a sample signature (this is the one that I use most often).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Tips And Secrets, http://www.internet-tips.net
Subscribe to weekly ezine: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm
Over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet profits, enjoyment
and knowledge. Learn how to create, promote and maintain an awesome
website which not only attracts visitors but makes them want to come
back.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

It's simple, effective and short. This can be a very powerful tool to
inform people that you have something for them to see. I include this
at the bottom of each email that I send, which means that over 500
people a week see this message.

After all, the whole point of putting together a web site is for
someone to see it. My experience is that signatures are an effective
but subtle way to get people to visit my web site. Personally, I know
that I will often click on the URL in a signature just to see what
more the author has to say. His email was interesting, but clicking
on the signature URL gives me more information about him, his
products or his message.

So remember, email signatures are an accepted, non-spam way to let
people with whom you are already communicating know about your web
site, email list or other important information.

About the Author

Copyright (c) 1999-2001, Richard Lowe Jr And Claudia Arevalo-Lowe
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This
website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet
profits, enjoyment and knowledge. Learn how to create, promote and
maintain an awesome website which not only attracts visitors but
makes them want to come back. You can visit the web site at
http://www.internet-tips.net and subscribe to the weekly ezine at
http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm

Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets
and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com