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Web Site Promotion – Signature Files

What is a signature file? You've seen them for sure. At the bottom of email a somewhat banner like object usually displaying contact information or a link to a website. The importance of this should be obvious to anyone. We will look at why and how to do this in this article.

Your E-Business Card

How many emails do you send in a day?... a week?... a month? For most of us that becomes quite significant. Now just imagine if automatically, every email you send has tastful, compact, advertising or contact information regarding your business! How effective might this be in drawing traffic to your website? You can have your contact information, a link to your website, or mention of an upcoming sale. You can even include graphics in your signature file. Note however that there may be a few people who's email clients do not support graphics in email.

How It's Done

First you need to decide what information you would like in your signature file and devise a concept of what you want it to look like. If you want to keep it simple, with no graphics in order to maximize the potential number of people who will be able to view it. You may want to lay it out in Windows Notepad to get your pure text concept together and looking good.

Following are the steps for most of us in using your particular email client to design your signature file:

Microsoft Outlook Express

  1. Click "Tools" on the menu bar.
  2. Click "Options" from the drop-down box.
  3. Click the "Signatures" tab.
  4. Click the "New" button.
  5. Paste (from your notepad file) or type your signature file into the box at the bottom.
  6. Or optionally, you can select "file" at the bottom and browse for the file you created earlier.

Netscape Messenger

  1. Click "Edit" on the menu bar.
  2. Click "Preferences".
  3. Go to "New Groups Folder"
  4. Go to "Identity"
  5. Select a file to create your signature file in.

America Online

  1. Click "Mail Center".
  2. Click "Set Up Mail Signature".
  3. Click "Create" and name and create the signature file using one of the above methods.
  4. Turn default to "On" so the signature file will be added to your outgoingmail.

Other Considerations

Remember there is such a thing as bad advertising. If your signature file is done in a distastful manner you may end up driving traffic away rather than promoting your website or business. Following are some pointers to consider as you create your signature file:

  • Keep it simple, concise and short.
  • Include contact information.
  • Use a catch phrase or your business slogan.
  • You may want to use it to breifly announce a sale, something for free, a contest or special event.

If I were you and you don't have a signature file yet... GET TO IT! You may be missing out on a lot of exposure. Naturally, if you need help or assistance with this you may contact us at Service@webstudiozone.com

Reference

Sweeney, Susan 2001. 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site. Gulf Breeze, FL: Maximum Press.

 

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