Reasons to not use graphical email signatures

There are many reasons NOT to use graphical email signatures.

While they look pretty on your email, there are some inherent problems with using them that are annoying and counterproductive.

Images do not always work, but text always will.

Here are some quick tips . . .

We highly recommend NOT to use a graphical email signature.

What we do suggest is that you stay with text based email signature, just like mine.

There are many reasons why we recommend this.

But they can be summarised in these 2 key points:

1. An image will often not show up in an email, for a variety of reasons.
2. Information in images cannot be linked.

So here are our reasons to not use graphical email signatures

1. IMAGES

There are many reasons why an image may not show up in the footer of an email.

• The computer is offline and so the image will not display.
• Some email programs do not immediately load images.
• Some email programs and spam checkers will block images.

But text will pretty much always be there.

2. LINKS

Assuming that the image displays correctly in the email, then you will no doubt include your website url(s) in the information.

But when you click on the website link in an image, nothing happens because it is an image, and not text.

Sure, you can link the image, but what if you have 2 websites, or an email address . . . it gets confusing for your reader.  And you can have only one link.

3. CONTACTS

The recipient of your email may want to add the information that is in your email signature to their Contacts so they can reach you easily.

This is ideal if you want them as your customer!

But again, the Mail and Contact programs cannot read the information from the image so they will have to manually type in your contact details . . . which they may not bother to do.

Lost Customer Potential.

4. SPEED

Not so much a problem these days, but a huge problem in the past when already slow connection times and download speeds were exacerbated by images in emails.

If you do insist on using an image, make sure that it is a small file.

5. SMART DEVICE COMPATIBLE

Images in your email are not going to be that easy to read on a phone anyway, so why bother with it to start with?

There are probably more than just these 5 . . . so email me when you think of them or add your comment below.

The bottom line is . . . .

Text will always work in an email signature.

I have used some formatting in my text, but even the formatting does not always show up.

But again, the text always will.

So I suggest that you do what I did.

How to . . .

Create the text in a Word document and add any formatting that you want to use.

Then just copy it into your signature on the Mail program.

If you want, even take a copy of mine and change it as you need to.

Well, that is quite simple really!

Here are a couple more articles with reasons to not use graphical email signatures:

http://hotpinkwebsites.com.au/linking-makes-it-easier

http://hotpinkwebsites.com.au/1-simple-step-to-look-more-professional

http://hotpinkwebsites.com.au/top-10-ways-to-make-your-website-a-sales-hub-6

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What should you do now?

1. Check your email signature and make sure it is text only.
2. Want some help or ideas? Just contact us at Hotpink Websites now.

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Quote

Success is when your signature turns to Autograph.
~ A P J Abdul Kalam

Remember – Reasons to not use graphical email signatures

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