How Freelancers Can Make Their Email Signatures Client Magnets

Hey everyone, let's dive into email signatures – They seem as elusive as the boogeyman, but we know for sure it's there somewhere. You send countless emails, don't you? Client pitches, project updates, follow-ups—it's all part of the game. And people for sure scroll to the bottom to see your email signatures to ascertain your relevance.

The good news? If done correctly, email signatures can help you win clients. The bad news? Most freelancers don't know how to create a signature that works in their favor. Let's fix that!

✨ Keep It Clean Yet Impactful

Your email signature is your digital introduction. If it's messy or unprofessional, it's like handing off a coffee-stained business card.

Campaign Monitor conducted a survey and found email signatures with cluttered designs had an impressively disengaging nature. Instead of frustratingly hunting for information through clutter, you can make their lives easier by presenting them with simple, professional information.

🔍 The Basics (No More, No Less):

• While typing your name use "|" to separate it from your designation, for example, "Jane Doe | SEO Consultant."
• Update your work portfolio or website so that you can provide a direct link with it.
• Up to two social media accounts may be added. A LinkedIn profile is required. You may provide a relevant Twitter or Instagram account as well.
• Implement a CTA (call to action) such as "Let's Chat, Book a 15-Min Call" or "Check Out My Latest Projects."
• Add a professional logo or headshot (optional, but it is encouraged for credibility reasons).

I once had a client who had five different phone numbers listed in their email signature. I was curious to know which one I should use, and I was told "any of them." You don't want to be that guy.

📊 Some Interesting Stats About Email Signatures:

• There is a shocking 88.6% of email signatures that do not include a link to a website. That is a missed chance for traffic.
• Legal disclaimers? Those are for lawyers and consultants. If you do not fall in that category, feel free to leave it blank.

Sources: Campaign Monitor, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

🚀 Make it Work for your Business

An email signature shouldn't just sit and look pretty, but it should add value to your business. Consider it as a marketing tool working on auto-pilot.

💼 Transforming it into More than Just a Sign-Off:

• Increase conversions – Embed a link to your scheduling page (Calendly, TidyCal, etc.)
• Establish credibility – Link to your case study, feature in a publication, or outstanding testimonial.
• Boost interaction – Send people to your latest blog post, newsletter, or other magnet offers.
• Make it easy to reach you – Provide one simple method of contact (email or phone, not both unless required).

I have a freelancer friend who added a "Book a Call" link to her email signature, and a month later her inbound leads increased by 30%. No additional work. Just a smart change.

🔄 Using It for Work Purposes Vs. Personal Use

There is a difference between personal and work emails. If you have been using the same email for both personal and work, you may want to consider adjusting your signatures for different recipients.

📋 The Breakdown:

Think of a signature like your style, it should not be generic. When sending out an email to a potential client, you want them to understand at the very first glance what you do, and how they can get in touch with you.

🎨 The Impact of Color

Do you remember those cringe MySpace emails? Do not do that.

🖌️ Best Practices for Color Use:

• Colors should be branded – If you have brand colors, use them.
• Stay within web colors – Email providers are limited to certain colors. Using too many can break the email.
• Avoid light text on a dark background – Neon green text on a black background is too extreme (Unless you are a hacker).
• Use Two Colors Max – Having one or two look professional.

Still not sure? Use black, white and soft brand colors.

📱 Optimise for Mobile: (81% Of Emails Are Opened on Phones)

If your email signature is not optimised for mobile, you are probably missing out on a lot.

📲 Here Is How You Can Make It Phone Ready:

• Single column layout – Breaking multi-column designs are a must for small screens.
• Image compression – Images should load faster, which means they need to be under 100kb.
• Proper image hosting – Logos that aren't hosted on dropbox or linkedIn appear broken.
• Test it – Send yourself an email and see how it looks on both desktop and mobile.

No one wants to pinch and zoom just to read a phone number.

⚠️ Avoid These Mistakes If You Do Not Want To Look Amateurish:

• Sabotaged signatures – Scan friendly is the only way to go.
• Job titled buzzwords – Nobody cares about "Global Brand Synergy Specialist."
• Certain bizarre fonts and color schemes – You might think it's okay to use Comic Sans, but it's not.
• Social media overexposure – Everyone doesn't need to see your Pinterest board as you stick to 1-2 social media pages.
• Links that are dysfunctional – You come off as lazy if you have outdated hyperlinks. Keep the links updated.

🏁 Final Thoughts: Your Signature Equals Your Brand

Treat your email signature as more than just a sign off; it can serve as a branding tool as well. Even if you only spend ten minutes on it, there is a guarantee the signature will make it far easier for prospective clients to reach out, book, and most importantly, hire you.

Struggling with your signature? Check out 'Send Like a Pro!' an advanced email signature generator to create professional, polished, and highly converting signatures.