How to: Create a Custom Email Signature (+ free template)
Creating a custom email signature with a photo of your beautiful mug doesn’t have to feel like rocket science. And despite what some websites say, you don’t have to pay for a service to do it…
Let’s jump into how to create your own custom email signature, photo included, in just 5 minutes flat.
Why Create a Custom Email Signature
Okay in all seriousness, using a custom email signature has a few benefits.
It allows you to show off your face, and make things feel way more personable. These days people really want to know the you behind the brand.
Plus it’s an easy way to share with people what they need to know - office hours (ahem, boundaries), website, social media, you name it.
So, ready to get started?
Skip the DIY!
Download your free email signature template, and start sending off messages like a total pro.
How To Create Your Email Signature:
Open Google Docs
Create a new blank document
Add a table
Under Insert → Select Table → Create a 2 x 1 table
Drop in your face
Add your beautiful photo on the left by selecting Insert → Image
Add the goods
On the right side, add your name, title, and all the deets/links you want people to know (website, lead magnet, social media, etc.)
Clean it up
To change the border (or take it out) at the top right corner, you’ll see an arrow drop down when you hover, then select border color.
How To Use It
Ready to implement? We have tested this template and it copies perfectly into Gmail, Outlook, iPhone, Dubsado, and Honeybook.
Make sure to configure your Signature Defaults settings as well, so your signature will auto populate for email replies.
Here’s how to drop your fancy pants new custom email signature into Gmail:
Copy - Highlight/select the whole table, then copy
Open Gmail and select Settings in the top right.
Scroll down to signature, and paste your clipboard.
Voila! Adjust colors & preferences as needed.
Keep It Short
Remember, treat your email signature like you would your updated resume – straight forward and no fluff. As temping as it can be to include everything, the last thing we want is for it to become overwhelming for your recipient to read.
The human brain reads things as “one, two, three, too many…”
My golden rule (in life, in daily cups of caffeine, and in email signature links) - stick to 3 maximum.
And fun fact, from a design perspective, odd numbers are actually way more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
You Did It!
You should now be staring at an awesome new email signature, added into your inbox like a TOTAL PRO.
A Few Inbox Pro-Tips
The Vacation Mode (aka Auto Responder) isn’t just for vacation anymore. Turn on your email autoresponder, and let people know when they can expect a response back. Only check your email once a day? Once a week? Share this information and help enforce your office boundaries, and give people peace of mind after they reach out.
I also really like to include any upcoming out of office notices/dates in my email signature. It’s an easy way to keep communication open, and not leave people hanging after they drop into your inbox.
If your email can feel like a big source of overwhelm, check out this blog post I wrote for Life Goals Magazine to help manage a chaotic inbox.
Grab Your Free Template!
Ready to delegate the task?
Drop your email below to download my done for you file so you can customize, copy & paste and get back to being the badass CEO you are!
This includes a template to create your own email signature, instructions how to implement, and some tips + tricks around inbox boundaries.
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