Your email signature is an important part of your personal branding and identity. It allows you to present a professional image and provide key contact details to everyone you email.
As a marketer, entrepreneur or business owner, you should take the time to create a customized Gmail signature. This will ensure your emails stand out and enable recipients to easily get in touch.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Gmail signatures, including:
Table of Contents
Why You Should Use a Gmail Signature
Here are some of the key reasons to use a professional email signature in Gmail:
- Promotes Your Brand – Include your company name, logo and slogan to build brand awareness.
- Provides Contact Details – Allow recipients to easily call, email or find you online.
- Looks Professional – Well-designed signatures make a good impression on readers.
- Tracks Opens – Use tracking links to see if your emails are opened.
- Generates Leads – Add call-to-action buttons to encourage clicks.
In short, a customized signature allows you to showcase your business whenever you send or reply to emails.
How to Create a Gmail Signature
Creating a signature in Gmail is quick and straightforward:
On Desktop
- Open Gmail and click Settings > See All Settings
- Scroll down and click Signature
- Enter your preferred signature in the text box
- Customize the fonts, sizes, colors and add images
- Click Save Changes at the bottom
On Mobile
- Open the Gmail app and tap the hamburger menu
- Choose Settings and select your account
- Tap Mobile Signature and enter your signature
- Click OK to save
You can create different signatures for new emails and replies. Just choose the default signature to use under Settings.
Essential Elements of an Email Signature
An effective Gmail signature should include:
- Full Name – Helps build familiarity with contacts
- Job Title – Shows your expertise and authority
- Company Name – Promotes brand awareness
- Contact Details – Phone, email, website links
- Social Media – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc.
Optionally, you can also include:
- Logo – Reinforces brand recognition
- Tagline – Communicates what you offer
- Call-to-Action – Encourages clicks to your site
Here is an example:
Email Signature Example
This shows the key details in a clean, easy to read layout.
Design Tips for Email Signatures
Follow these best practices when designing your signature:
Keep it Simple
Avoid cluttering your signature with too much text or large images. Stick to the essentials.
Use Brand Colors/Fonts
Match colors and fonts used in your brand guidelines to maintain consistency.
Include Tracking
Add tracked links to determine if recipients are engaging with your signature.
Make it Scannable
Use enough white space between elements so it’s easy to scan.
Check Mobile Rendering
View your signature on mobile to ensure it displays properly on all devices.
By keeping these design tips in mind, you can create a professional signature for Gmail.
How to Update Existing Signatures
If your contact details change, you can easily update signatures in Gmail:
On Desktop
- Go to Settings > See All Settings > Signature
- Click the edit pencil icon next to the signature name
- Make your changes to the content
- Click Save Changes
On Mobile
- Open the Gmail app and choose Settings
- Tap your account name and choose Mobile Signature
- Make your edits and click OK to save
It only takes a moment to update signatures on desktop or mobile.
Tools to Create Email Signatures
Rather than designing your own signature, you can use free tools like:
These let you choose templates, colors, add images/logos and dynamically insert contact details. Once created, you can copy/paste the HTML into Gmail.
Email Signature Ideas and Examples
To help inspire your own signature design, here are some great examples:
Simple Text Signature
Just names, titles and contact info.
Text Email Signature Example
Signature with Headshot
Add a professional photo to put a face to a name.
Signature with Headshot
Creative Design Signature
Use color, images and icons for visual interest.
Creative Email Signature
The key is finding a balance between professionalism and personality.
Conclusion
A customized email signature is an important component of your digital branding.
By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can create a signature for Gmail that reinforces your professional brand.
Include your essential contact details, match your brand style and keep the design clean. Don’t forget to update it in the future if your details change.
With a little effort, your email signature can leave a lasting positive impression on everyone you correspond with.
So take the time to craft your signature today!
