Create custom email signature
Understanding that failure will occur along these lines is key to the next step in effective email signature design, the compromise. The following chart shows some of the most common situations: Depending upon the combination of the above listed factors, the email signature may survive intact or may degrade (fail) in various ways. The whole message includes the original email signature. In so doing, the settings and capabilities of whatever email program / device they are using apply to the whole message, not just to the new content they’ve added. may convert all received email into plain text.may have image blocking turned on (and if so, may or may not choose to display the images).may receive email in Outlook, Gmail, iOS, Android, Yahoo, BlackBerry or something else.may be using a computer or may be using a phone.The next step though, is that it’s received by someone who: The formatting of an email message, and signature, almost always starts out perfect. It begins simply enough, the user composing a message using their email program (Outlook, iPhone, Gmail, etc.). However, its “life” is frequently much more complicated than that of a webpage.
#Create custom email signature code
Displaying the webpage is the browser’s primary job, so it facilitates this simple transaction between author and reader almost perfectly.Įmail is technically identical to a webpage - that is, it’s simply some HTML code that gets translated (by an email “client” program, not a browser) into something a person can read. Webpages display reliably because the only thing between the point of origin (the HTML code) and the destination (the webpage) is a browser. Jumping to the (erroneous) conclusion that what they see is what everyone sees, this “perfect” email signature then sets the standard for the one they want for themselves. The second reason it’s necessary to begin by recalibrating expectations is that virtually everyone has received a beautifully designed email signature - an email signature that worked perfectly. So an email signature, which is usually no more than contact information, a logo, and a few links, should pose no problem at all. Webpages can look beautiful and work flawlessly, even while incorporating complicated and diverse content. Why is this necessary?įirst of all, it just seems intuitive that creating a great email signature would be simple. We’ve already made an important first step in the email signature design process - we’ve recalibrated expectations. functions as well as is possible and fails gracefully.achieves a happy medium in terms of content & hyperlinks.visually appealing and reinforces branding.With that out of the way, let’s start over. Note that I said “would” and not “does.” Having dedicated myself to designing and developing email signatures for the past 14 years, I can state with authority that the above is not possible. contain a wealth of pertinent information & hyperlinks without being overwhelming.have visual pizzazz or classic styling.Part 1 - Business Email Signature Design, Layout and Content Considerations Begin by Recalibrating Expectations Email Signature Installation Approaches.Design, Layout and Content Considerations.What was once a brilliant idea may be transformed into a fatal flaw by a single decision by Microsoft, Google, or Apple. Things change, often without you knowing it. Access to a server that you can post to.įinally, before diving in, it is important to note that this is a moving target.Decent understanding of HTML programming.Within each, I’ll share the most important considerations as well as obscure tips and tricks that can easily solve vexing problems. This article is organized around these four topics. Educating end-users regarding the performance of the email signature.Installation of the signature and the configuration of your email program.The use of graphics and the HTML coding.There are four aspects to deploying an email signature program, all of which are of considerable importance - these are: Having worked at this full-time for 16 years, I’ve got a good sense of the limitations, problems and solutions pertaining to HTML email signatures. If you’re looking for a full-featured email signature, it’s only the third approach that’s likely to yield a robust, standardized, and understandable result. Create it from scratch using HTML coding.Create it directly in your email program’s signature editor.Create it in Microsoft Word, and then copy it from there.There are three approaches typically taken to creating an email signature: Companion Article: Deriving Maximum Branding Benefit from an Email Signature Program.