Recently I sent my online tribe an email asking them to let me know if they wanted to attend an event in Boston that I was speaking at.
I made a critical mistake.
Mistakenly I thought that replies would include the reason WHY they wanted to attend, WHAT their business is, and WHO they serve. At the least I thought I’d have an email signature file from them that would give me some basics.
WOW, gapped on that one. You only get what you ask for, I failed to ask those questions so got just “yes, send me a tix.” And in many cases, there was no email or phone signature file. This meant that replies were almost anonymous, often no full name, no business name, no website, no contact beyond hitting reply to their email.
No one knows who you are when you have no signature file and you use gmail, yahoo (which makes you one), aol (really?), hotmail (it still exists), or any other non business branded email, instead of YOURNAME@YOURWEBSITE.com.
SIDE NOTE: If you are worried about having to check multiple addresses, don’t be, your mail can be forwarded to any email address you select. So you check only one place.
Really, it’s true. YOU ARE INVISIBLE! And invisible isn’t good for business. I promise.
Every communication you send is your opportunity to wear your brand. Whether it is through email on your laptop, your phone, or some other mobile device. You can add an email signature file, or even an electronic business card, to any and all of them (yes, even in gmail.)
And if you want to be VISIBLE, you must! Every communication you send is one more chance to get your business brand in front of a prospect, a referral partner, or a gate opener to your ideal client. Don’t blow it by forgetting to set up an email signature file inside the email system you use as well as in your phone (not always one and the same.)
Your email signature file is the perfect place to inform, educate, and intrigue your recipient.
Inform in your email signature with the basics:
- Your Name
- Your Title
- Your Company Name
- Your Phone Number
- Social Networking Links are Totally Optional
Educate in your email signature with the value you bring:
- Include a Link to Your Latest Book
- Include a Link to a Video Clip You are Featured In
- Include a Link to a White Paper You Authored
- Include a Link to a Slideshare You Created
Intrigue in your email signature with the benefit the reader will get from you:
- Add a Link to an Assessment or Quiz You Offer to Qualify Clients
- Add a Link to Your Benefit Laden Opt-in
- Add a Link to a Downloadable PDF of Free Resources
Here’s your chance to SHARE YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE in the COMMENTS HERE! Go on and do it. You can change it as often as you like, don’t wait for perfect, get one done so it’s working for you, branding your business and bringing more clients your way.
Melissa…Every point is so on. I keep telling/advising people that need an email signature that goes way beyond their name. What you see from me when I do send you an email is my very general email that I use for general communication. I keep my business emails for business. And it helps me manage my email as I know what to look at first and last. this is not to imply you are not imoportant…just that email decisions have to made and that’s one of my ways.
So here is my main business email signature. My picture is in it but wouldn’t copy. I also have social media icons but they didn’t copy here either.
Feel free to use this email and you will get to see my whole signature when I reply to you.
Louise DiSclafani, Real Estate Profit Maven
973.546.3061
Join My Networks Let’s Prosper Together
Louise,
Always a treat to hear from you and you certainly have mastered your email signature file and understand the importance. I fear that this post may not reach those who need it post, but had to try!
Hugs,
Melissa
Hello Melissa,
I am new at this. My brand is now 2 months old. I have Multiple Sclerosis now for almost 9 years and about 3 years ago they deemed me disabled and that took my independence and my love of teaching away from me. So about a year ago, God inspired me to write my memoir and the publisher that I used totally flubbed it up! That was $3000 of $1168 that the government gives me a month. But family and my church members donated and we paid it off. Any hoot, I puled it off the shelf, it is in the process of being republished. I got an email about you, read this blog, loved the information and wanted to show you my email signature line because I am trying to get a following, draw traffic to my website, get clients as well as get buyers. So here’s my signature
http://www.kevawilliams.org
Pieces Of Hope
“Don’t Let Others Make Your Journey
Pick Up Your Pieces and Fly”
keva787@gmail.com
Facebook: Pieces Of Hope
Twitter: @BLKAuthor Pieces Of Hope
Google Plus: Keva Williams
LinkedIn: Keva Williams
Instagram: piecesofhope1
YouTube: Keva Williams
Pieces Of Hope with Keva Williams
“Transitioning from Hurting to Healthy”
What do you think?
As always great info Melissa.
I have always tried to brand myself in my email signature. Here’s what I have used for a while now.
James A. Holloway
Owner & Project Manager
South East Installation Solutions, LLC
Call/Text: 864-325-4637
Have a project you need help with? Give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to discuss it with you.
Want to keep up with our latest articles, project success stories, press releases, and news updates? Check out our blog. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter.
Each of the social media channels are hyperlinked to the appropriate venue, as is the company name linked to the company website.