| Email Signatures for the Occasion |
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| Monday, 23 January 2006 | |
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Email signatures are a great tool if used properly. Some people prefer to have their favorite quote while others provide a legal dissertation about company policy. There is another type of signature that you might consider. I call it a guidance email signature. This signature helps define actions for the person reading your email.
Most email applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, allow you to have multiple email signatures. One that I've been using more is for friends and colleagues when I'm simply passing info along. As example, while browsing the web, I might find an article that I think a colleague might enjoy. I would copy the URL and provide a brief note. Usually, I would get back an email that said "thanks". It's not that I don't like people sending thanks emails, but I can't tell the content until I open their email. Yes, some email applications have a preview function that allows this. My point is I don't need people to reply with a thanks. Besides, I now have to stifle that urge to send a "You're welcome" email in return. My quick solution was to amend a clarifying email signature mentioned by Ross Mayfield. His original signature showed: this email is: [ ] blogable [ x ] ask first [ ] private I replaced "ask first" and added "does not require a reply". this email : [ ] is bloggable [ ] is private [ ] does not require a reply In both examples, the signature provides guidance to the reader. I'm sure if you review your email you can find examples where you could use a similar signature. The concept is simple and you can easily substitute in text that is applicable to your situation. I can't say how the people you communicate with will react. Everyone I've talked to likes the footer idea. They don't feel obliged to send a "thanks" email and both parties have a little more time for more productive items. Related Email Articles: |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 December 2007 ) |
