Make Your Signature Count

By Beth Ann Erickson

Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing :)

Many writers fail to recognize the importance of an effective e-mail signature. An effective sig can help you grow your e-mail list, it can help sell your latest product, it can help sell your writing services.

From here on in, never send an e-mail message without including a short e-mail message advertising your business. You can easily set up your e-mail program to insert these at the end of every e-mail you send. Just dig through the “help” section of your e-mail program and you’ll very likely find step-by-step instructions to insert your benefit-oriented signature into every e-mail.

So… how do you go about writing a signature?

Here are a few basic rules to follow:

1. Generally speaking, keep it short. No more than seven lines is the industry standard. Make your signature longer, and you’ll likely raise the ire of those e-mail recipients who are forced to slog through an over-long sales pitch.
2. Make your signature benefit oriented. Don’t talk about yourself, write about what you can do for your reader.
3. Keep it simple. Don’t try to advertise more than one item. I opt to promote my e-zine, Writing Etc.

That’s basically it! Just for your reference, here’s my standard e-mail signature that we’ve used (with great success) for over five years:

Make Your Writing Sparkle.  Write Killer Queries.  Get Published. Subscribe to Writing Etc., the FREE e-mag for writers.  Receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you subscribe.  http://FilbertPublishing.com  

Notice how the signature focuses on the reader, not on the zine. Also note the short sentences and the freebie thrown in for good measure. Also, see how it’s easy to read, it’s focused on one item, and best of all… it’s short.

Model your signature after this one and your sales will spike. Guaranteed.

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Beth Ann Erickson is Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing and the only writing ezine that'll make your writing sparkle, help you write killer queries, and get you on the road to publication fast. Better yet, you'll receive the e-booklet "Power Queries" when you sign up for your free subscription. Subscribe today at http://FilbertPublishing.com

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