Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -- they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every e-mail we send. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and use sig files -- even AOL. I've heard some people who don't use sig files defend their position by saying, "All my clients know my info -- I don't need to remind them with every e-mail." Stop! You're missing a perfect opportunity to promote your business, as well as do your clients and prospects a favor. When you think about how many e-mails you actually send a day, it's probably more than you realized! Some people send over 100 a day. That's a lot of mail -- and a lot of chances to slip in your own subtle marketing messages. Sig Files Put You at Their Fingertips People love it when you make information easy to find. Sure, your clients have your phone number somewhere, but they'll really appreciate it when they can grab your number right from an e-mail they're looking at. In fact, e-mail is such a part of our lives now, that if someone needs your phone number quickly, she may be more likely to grab it off your latest e-mail than to dig up your business card. (Don't underestimate this occurrence -- there are many disorganized people in the world!) Also, if people want to put your info into their contact management software (Outlook, ACT, Palm, etc.), they can simply copy and paste it right from your sig file. Good Sig Files Tell Strangers What You Do Back in 1999, when I was a full-time copywriter, I also served as co-chair of New York's Women in Communications Inc. (WICI), I booked speakers for our monthly cocktail events, conducting most of this work via e-mail. The speakers I corresponded with only knew me as a representative of WICI; they had no idea what I did for a living. But one woman, after spotting my sig file, promptly wanted to learn more about my copywriting services. She then hired me for a $5,000 project. Thank you, sig file! Sig Files Are Ready to Travel E-mails are forwarded all the time. You never know where yours may end up, and one of the recipients may be very interested in your service or product. I learned this shortly after I started my business, when I was shocked to get a call from a prospect in Israel. A colleague of hers here in the U.S. had forwarded her an interesting issue of my newsletter. She learned about my services and got my phone number from the sig file at the bottom. Sig Files Are a Great Promotional Tool Now, let's move beyond the obvious stuff. Think of your sig file as a little messenger who speaks to everyone you send an e-mail to. What do you want him to say? Do you have great news? A new product or service? A free newsletter or report? Let us know via your sig file! Your Sig File Checklist Here are several items to consider putting into your sig file. CAUTION: Do not attempt to insert them all! Choose what's most important for you and your business. *your name and title
*your company name
*your company tagline, or a short phrase that describes what your company does
*your address
*your phone, cell phone, and/or pager numbers
*your fax number
*your e-mail address (sometimes people can't get it directly or quickly from your actual e-mail)
*your Web URL (be sure to include the "http://" prefix to ensure it will translate as a hyperlink on most e-mail programs) Make sure you also include a bit of promotion, such as: *an invitation to subscribe to your free e-zine
*an offer for a free report or product you offer
*an offer for a free consultation or trial offer
*a company announcement (new client, new product, award won)
*a link to your latest press release, article, or Web site feature In the interest of space and your reader's time, keep your offer or announcement to one or two sentences only. (Tip: Always throw in the word "free" when possible. It's everyone's favorite word!) Bonus: Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and keep several signatures on file, so you can change them easily and often. This makes it a cinch to switch your messages weekly or even daily, and maintain ones for different businesses. Choose What's Important to YOU Of course, it's possible to get carried away and include too much information. We don't need random quotes that have no relation to your business, cute illustrations made up of keyboard characters, or your weekend phone number in the Hamptons. Try to keep your sig file to a maximum of eight lines. More than that will overwhelm the reader, and it will look silly if your sig files are always longer than your e-mail messages! Here's a good example: Jane Smith, President
Smith I.T. Consulting
'Take a Byte Out of Network Headaches'
ph: 800-321-0000 fax: 212-321-0001
jane@smithitconsulting.com
*Visit http://www.smithitconsulting.com and get your FREE report on the top 10 most common computer network problems and how to solve them!* Notice that "Jane" opted not to give her mailing address here, in order to use the space for her tagline and an invitation to receive her free report. It's all up to you. If your customers frequently need your mailing address, then you should include it. (I don't include it in mine, since 99% of my work is done via e-mail.) Decide what bits of info are most valuable to keep, and use the rest of the space for a unique message or promotion! One Last Thing: Make Sure We "Get" What You Do I've seen some seemingly complete sig files that still leave me wondering, "Thanks for all the info, but what do you DO?" We all know what IBM and Kodak do, but the whole world doesn't know what your business does (yet). For now, it's your job to help us all learn. Include a tagline that describes what your company does or a short phrase that helps us understand. If your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what you have to offer your prospects, it will reward you numerous times in the future! © 2000-2005 Alexandria K. Brown Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is creator of the award-winning 'Boost Business With Your Own E-zine' system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for her FREE how-to articles and FREE audio class, visit http://www.EzineQueen.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Email Marketing Kung Fu
Have you ever heard email described as, "the killer Internet Application?" Do you understand why email is the killer app for your business on the Internet, or how to make it that way if it isn't now?
Plain Jane Email Equals Flat Results
Years ago, when email was just emerging as the incredible marketing tool it is today, everything was done in plain text. Since not everyone uses the same email program, and not all of them are compatible with the others, messages often ended up looking like nothing but jumbled pieces of nonsense. Besides that, they were boring.
To Get Your Email To Stand Out From All The Junk
We know that email marketing is a cheap method to reach our customers, prospects and subscribers. However, the increasing amount of unsolicited commercial email is clogging up the inboxes of everyone.
Autoresponder Services that Boost Your Business
In the world of ecommerce, millions of sites are fiercely competing with each other to gain new clients. For any ecommerce site to succeed, it must capture the interest and the trust of its visitors. It is not enough that your site is impeccably designed or has the latest in animation or content. You should focus your efforts not only in attracting visitors but also in leading them to make a purchase. There are dozens of marketing strategies you can use to attract more buyers and pump up your sales. One of them is by establishing an excellent and professional reputation for prompt and efficient response.
Email Marketing - How Best To Manage and Distribute Your Messages
This holiday season 15 percent of consumers in the US plan to buy online, spending an average of $585. That's 9 percent more revenue for online merchants in comparison to last year's results.
How Email Etiquette Will Make You More Money through Loyal, Repeat Customers
When it comes to gaining and keeping customers, every website is interested in doing everything they possibly can to make this happen. Fortunately, something as easy as e-mail etiquette can make your customers feel appreciated and as a result become loyal and repeat customers. However, there are some tips that you will need to follow in order to implement etiquette into your e-mails and make it work for you. Read the following suggestions and implement them in your e-mail campaign immediately.
Can You Win The Battle By Using A Toothpick?
Every business needs a low cost way to reach targeted customers.
A Guide To Automated Email Marketing
You've probably heard the expression, 'the money isin the list'. It's become a bit of a cliché - but it'sthe key to successful web marketing.
Hot List-Building Tips
Here are some hot list-building tips for you to grow your list and your business.
Automatic Responder - The Secret of Super Affiliates Success
Congratulations, you just made a sale!
Email Scam Warnings
Most people online are very familiar with the Nigerian Email Letter Scams. They've victimized thousands over the years and continue to do so. I am certain you've received many in your inbox over the course of your online experience. They are easy to recognize to the experienced. But if you are new online check out the following signs. These words are usually included (IN BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS) in the subject line.
4 Steps To 1,000.. 2,000..3,000 Subscribers In Days!
Everyone who has been marketing online for sometime already
know the value of an email list. An email list, filled with
targeted subscribers who opt in, is the most valuable asset
for anyone with an online business. If you are not building
an email list, then you need to start building one right now.
10 Netiquette New Years Resolutions
Happy New Year! New attitude? New habits? How about 10 Little New Year's Netiquette Resolutions?
Dirty Secrets Of Co-Registration Email Lists
Years ago, I listened to Internet marketing "gurus" share
that they had lists in the hundreds of thousands, and I was
all ears. Up to that point, I had not managed to get my lists
above 60,000 (after many years of consistently working at it).
Why You Need Run Survey
Do you have a list of e-mail addresses of your customers or prospects? Do you have a list of e-zine subscribers? If you have their permission, send them an e-mail survey to conduct market research. See if customers are satisfied with your products or services, or see if they enjoyed their visit at your web site.
7 Autoresponder Marketing Strategies To Automate, Build and Grow Your Business
Did you know one of the most important tools in your Internet marketing arsenal? Sometimes it does sound trivial but it is one of the most powerful marketing strategies available on the Internet. Why is that? It's simply because it does everything in the background but this is how it becomes extremely profitable.
Why Do Marketers Lie in their Emails?
Coming as I do from a direct response and direct mail background, I'm familiar with the various copy lines used to encourage people to open envelopes.
The Fastest List Growing Secret
Are you running ads and marketing with tag lines that send people to your website? Then you're missing the point of internet marketing and losing out on your best money making opportunity.
5 Quick Tips to Get Your Ezine Rolling in the Right Direction
Publishing your own ezine is critical to establishing a long term and successful Internet presence for you and your business.
Email Builds Brands
Email - today's preferred business communication tool - provides you a simple, powerful, affordable way to develop, manage and maintain relationships as well as sell products and services. Let's briefly examine how permission-based email marketing positively affects:
|
