We live in an age where the largest efforts could go unnoticed and the smallest ones could make a lasting impact. From marketing billboards to a tiny signature at the end of your email, you never know which one is going to yield results for you.
However, if you consult marketing tactics, you’re likely to hear the same advice: simple and small is (usually) better. It’s human nature to gravitate towards things that are easy to understand and easy to look at… easy design = easier sell.
Complicated, intricate, and confusing marketing tactics were left behind long ago, especially in email marketing. So, what’s one easy way to incorporate straightforward marketing into your routine? An email signature design.
In this blog, we’ll explore 10 tips and tricks to leverage the often-overlooked email signature design, adding some impactful simplicity to your marketing strategy.
1. Keep it Professional and On-Target
In the age of the internet, you don’t need to try to over-convince your target audience about you or your company. Considering the transparency and easy access to information on the internet, you only have to provide adequate information to your target audience.
For instance, a realtor’s email signature wouldn’t include their profile or how many properties they have sold. Not only does it not really matter, but people can find it themselves.
A realtor would only really need to provide what their name is and how someone can get in contact with the, or perhaps even their LinkedIn profile, too.
Consider what information is appropriate to share, what information your audience can find for themselves, and what your audience simply might not care about. Remember, the purpose of an email is to push your audience in the right direction and encourage conversion clicks.
2. Incorporate your Social Media
The tip in email signature number two lies in the answer to this question: where do most mobile phone users spend their time? On one of many, many social media platforms, of course.
Now lots of people just use social media to post pictures of their beloved pets or their most recent meal, and that’s one reason we love platforms like Instagram! But some people also use it for studies, businesses, marketing, and sales.
When you consider these uses for social media… what might you want to include in your signature to drive people to where they already spend most of their time?
Whether you’re encouraging people to send you DMs, follow you, or use your preferred hashtags, plugging your social media profiles is an easy way for your audience to get involved with you.
3. Add Flair with Photo Signatures
After carefully crafting a strong email that’s going out to your audience, the last thing you want to do is throw your audience off in the email signature. You need to connect with them from the introduction to the signature to promote trust and build a relationship… but how?
Presenting yourself visually through photos is a great way to do that. Whether you’re including a professional headshot or something a little more fun with some personality, your audience will get to know you “face to face.”
No matter how strong your content is, there’s something a little different about getting to see the face behind the words.
4. Stay Straightforward and Simple
In example number one, we mentioned that you do need to provide some information in your email signature, whether that’s your name or your LinkedIn profile. However, it’s important to understand that there’s a fine line between providing adequate information and providing too much. Keep it simple and play it safe.
That’s why for tip number four, we’re circling back to the idea that simple = better. Think about receiving an email from a business you subscribed to. What signature is easier to remember: Jonathan, Sales Executive from the Company you subscribed to, or Jonathan, who studied at a specific university and always had a dream to work for this company and… and… and… you’re lost, right?
5. Include a Solid CTA
Sometimes the easiest tip is to go back to basics and remember what the purpose of your email is. Have you remembered to include what is perhaps the easiest email marketing tip? A call to action, or a CTA?
Remember: the purpose of your email is to target your audience so that they do something, like following through with your call to action. Depending on what kind of email you’re working on, the CTA will differ, but you should always have one near the end of your email.
Your signature should make it extremely clear that your audience is welcome to get in touch with you whether through an email, a form, or your social media.
6. Stand Out Visually
One of the best things you can do for yourself in email marketing is to stand out visually.
While good copywriting is obviously important for a strong email, stunning and enticing visuals will always reflect well on you and your brand. A brand that puts time and effort into its design is a brand that cares, and your customers will know and recognize that.
Incorporating design into your email signature is a great way to tie in your brand’s theme while keeping your readers engaged and impressed.
7. Use Relevant Colors
While we’re on the topic of standing out visually, color can help you achieve this in your emails, too. Whether you’re incorporating your brand’s color palette or matching a holiday theme with related colors, people love a bright and attractive email.
Don’t overlook the use of color to draw attention to your email signature.
8. Choose the Right Font
A less obvious design element that can be extremely effective is the use of different, unique fonts. If your brand guidelines include multiple fonts, your email signature is the time to break them out.
The goal here is to find (and use!) a font that becomes synonymous with your name.
Not only do fonts go a long way in establishing a memorable brand presence, but they can also be visually appealing and entice your customer to explore your brand more outside of the email you’re sending them.
9. Mention Your Role
You always want your audience to know and understand what you do, and why you’re emailing them. But, the reality is, sometimes you need to tell them who you are and what you do; as much as we want them to recognize us, they may not (not yet, anyway).
If you want your recipients to feel comfortable getting back to you, tell them exactly who you are in relation to the brand, and how it is that you can help them based on your role.
Modern, successful email signatures include adequate information about people connecting with them. Give them a reason to ask questions
10. Make it Platform Friendly
Have you ever received an email that looks wonky on your cellphone but looks perfect on your laptop? Whoever sent that email did not take the time to make sure it was platform friendly… don’t let that be you!
If you are going to design varied signatures, you need to ensure that it looks just as good on mobile as it does on a desktop computer, no matter the phone or browser.
Wrap Up
People often think that an email signature is as simple as your name and a link to your company’s website… and that can be true! However, don’t overlook the power that an email signature holds, especially when you follow these 10 tips and tricks to make the most out of your campaigns and flows.