How do I create a custom email signature?

When sending emails via Gmail, Outlook or other email clients, there's usually one thing on the subject line that stands above all others -- a customized signature. A well-crafted signature can help you stand out, be memorable and build your brand identity. It also makes it easy for readers to remember who sent them what when they're scanning hundreds of messages every day. Here are five ways to craft your own customizable signatures easily.

How do I create a pretty signature in Gmail?

You may already know how to add a signature if you use Gmail as part of Google Apps accounts (if not, check out our guide). If so, we'll assume you've done this already. But even if you haven't, adding a signature is relatively simple using Gmail. Just follow these steps:

In any message window, click "More" next to your name field. This will open up additional options like HTML formatting, which allows you to insert images into your signature. Clicking "HTML code" opens up yet another menu, where you can customize your signature by typing in CSS commands. For example, you could use this feature to make your text bold. You can also include hyperlinks from here if you want to direct someone back to specific web pages. To get started, go ahead and select "Signature."

Now you have a blank box below your contact information that includes your company info, website URL(s) and social media profiles. The default profile comes preloaded, but you can change it by clicking on the dropdown arrow to the right of the existing entries. Hit save after making changes. Afterward, simply hit return on your keyboard to send your email.

If you don't see the option to edit your current signature under More next to your name field, try restarting your computer because most users' browsers cache old data. Also, sometimes new features require upgrading to premium version of Gmail.

How do I create a cute email signature?

Creating fun and creative email signatures isn't just about being cool. People love reading unique designs and seeing their faces pop up everywhere. That said, creating something original takes time and effort. Luckily, you can find plenty of readymade templates online that can give you inspiration without having to worry about copyright issues. There are tons of free ones available, including those offered by MailChimp, Constant Contact and HelloSign.com.  If none of these suit your needs, however, you can always take advantage of Photoshop and Illustrator skills to design your own.

Here are two sites that offer great ideas for adorable email signatures:

Bodie Plant [No Longer Available]

This site has several different categories of email signoffs, including animals, celebrities, cartoon characters, sports figures, fictional characters, food items and logos. Each category offers dozens of possible designs, which you can download individually or access collectively through a zip file. When designing your own signature, keep in mind that the recipient might view it on a mobile phone screen. So unless you plan to send your emails primarily on computers, stick to basic colors and fonts rather than fancy graphics.

HelloSign Signature Templates

The good folks over at HelloSign.com created a bunch of high quality email signatures designed specifically for small businesses. All of them come complete with color schemes and background patterns, and many of them let you upload your own photos and videos instead of relying solely on stock art.

To generate a template, begin by selecting Browse Signatures in the left sidebar. Then pick a style. Once you choose a style, you can browse within that section until you locate a template that suits your business best. Finally, once you land on a template page, you can modify it by changing its name, description, photo, color scheme and uploading your own content.

Each signature costs $19 per month, plus applicable taxes. However, the price drops significantly if you pay yearly ($4/month), monthly ($10/month) or quarterly ($25/quarterly). Businesses can also purchase packages starting at $199 and going all the way up to $999 depending on their size. As a side note, HelloSign does charge extra for things like multiple signatures and bulk downloads.

For nonbusiness owners, you can still search for templates on this site. Many of them are designed especially for individuals, though some of the larger companies have thrown their weight behind the concept as well.

How do I create a cursive signature in Gmail?

Gmail was recently updated to allow users to type their names in cursive font. While this means anyone can now write their first and last names in calligraphy letters, it doesn't mean everyone knows how to read them. Thankfully, there are tools that translate handwritten words into digital form. One popular tool is DocuSign Cursive Font Generator, which converts handwriting directly onto your document. Another alternative is Handwriting SMS, which lets you handwrite your texts in a stylized font and then convert them to numbers.

Another handy trick involves setting your cursor to blinking mode before writing anything else. By doing so, your cursive signature looks less messy and much cleaner.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are powerful programs that can help you draw amazing pictures and letterforms. They aren't necessarily suited for everyday usage, but if you have the ability to produce clean lines and legible texts, why not put them to work?

How do I create a custom signature?

As previously discussed, you needn’t spend hours trying to figure out how to create a perfect email signature anymore. Nowadays, there are countless services that can turn a boring signature into a personalized masterpiece. These services range from professional graphic designers to websites offering premade templates. But, if you’re looking to really set yourself apart, consider taking matters into your own hands.

One way to achieve this goal is by learning how to use Photoshop and Illustrator. Both software suites provide ample resources to help aspiring artists learn the basics of drawing, sketching and painting. Since both apps focus heavily on vector objects, you won’t have to deal with pixelated results. Plus, since vector images scale infinitely, regardless of your monitor resolution, everything should look crisp no matter how large or small you decide to print your final product.

Other Resources

If you're interested in getting serious about your artistic pursuits, grab a few books off the shelf and dig deeper. Drawing From Life provides step-by-step lessons covering topics such as perspective, anatomy, shading and composition. In addition to teaching you how to improve your drawings, the book contains detailed explanations of various techniques used by famous illustrators throughout history.

Adobe Certified Expert in Digital Media Design Training is aimed towards helping budding animators become better at building animated scenes and illustrations. The training course covers essential concepts related to 2D animation, video editing, typography, compositing, lighting effects, character rigging, and motion tracking.

While neither of these guides contain tutorials on how to actually create a signature, they do teach students important elements needed to succeed in the industry. Learning how to draw properly is only half the battle, though. Knowing how to combine different shapes, textures, styles, etc., can also prove invaluable. Fortunately, you can pick up valuable tips from experts by searching YouTube. Some top channels worth checking out include:

Illustr8or

Layers Academy

Pixastic

Veejay Art School

Of course, while browsing YouTube, you should also familiarize yourself with common terms associated with different types of signatures and email etiquette. We recommend bookmarking the following helpful articles:

What Is Your Email Signature & Why Should Anyone Care?

5 Tips On How To Create An Elegant And Memorable Email Signature

7 Things You Need To Know Before Creating Custom Emails With Microsoft Word

6 Ways To Make Your Own Email Signature Easily

Email Etiquette Guide - What Not to Do!

Customizable Email Signatures Can Help Build Brand Identity

There are lots of reasons why you'd want to craft an awesome signature. Beyond impressing potential employers, a well-designed signature gives you control over your overall appearance across the internet. No one wants to feel overwhelmed or intimidated by your branding efforts. Crafting a signature that reflects your personality, values and goals goes far toward achieving that end.

Email signatures are powerful tools that help you set yourself apart from other business owners and give your company's branding its own voice. A good one can also increase click-through rates by up to 80 percent. Email is most often used as part of a marketing campaign so having a consistent look and feel across all messages makes sense. But how do you go about creating a signature?

There are many ways to design one, but if you're looking to make sure everyone within your organization has something similar, an easy way to get started may be adding an HTML signature. This will allow you to use images, colors, fonts and graphics to customize what comes after your name. You'll want to consider this option when designing any type of electronic communication because it gives you flexibility and allows multiple different types of media -- including text -- to be displayed on every message sent. And while an HTML signature might not always work depending on the recipient's software, there are plenty of options available. In fact, nearly every popular webmail service offers customizable signatures.

So whether you need to send emails to colleagues who only read them in Microsoft Word (or Google Docs), have clients using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) or simply wish to keep things simple, we've got tips here for getting started with either method. We'll also offer a few tricks for making sure you don't end up sending duplicate copies of your email signature via spam filters!

Let's take a closer look at how to add an HTML signature to an email first before moving onto other methods.

How do I add an HTML signature to an email?

Adding an HTML signature starts off pretty much like typing anything else into an e-mail client window. The first step is usually to select Insert " Object & Text Box, then choose Signature box from the dropdown menu under Create new object. When prompted, just enter whatever details you'd prefer such as your full legal name, title and phone number. Once everything looks correct, hit OK to complete the process.

You should now see a small icon appear next to the text input field showing which program you created the signature in. If you chose Web Form instead, you'll see the same box pop up without the additional information. Next, double-click anywhere inside the box to edit it. Then, right-click and select Format Field... followed by Font. Under Type, pick RichText and ensure Content includes Links is checked. Finally, scroll down until you find Link URL(s). Clicking on this area opens up another popup where you can paste URLs for websites, blog posts, etc., that you would like included in your signature. Hit Done once you’re satisfied.

If you selected Image File, browse through your computer's hard drive to locate the file and drag it over to the appropriate spot in the blank space above the box. Afterward, you must change the Source property in order to display an actual picture rather than just placeholder text. To do this, right-click on the thumbnail you added and select Properties. Go to the Advanced tab and check Use PNG graphic files. Now, whenever someone sends you an email containing a link to an online document, photo album, video clip or website, they won't see generic text bubbles anymore -- they'll see a preview of whatever item you include.

Once you’ve finished tweaking, head back to the main screen and save your changes. That's all there is to it.

How do I insert an HTML signature in Outlook?

If you use Microsoft Office products, inserting an HTML signature isn't difficult if you follow these steps:

1. Start writing a new email message in Word or Excel and press Ctrl + K to open the format bar. Select Internet Options, and then Copy HTML code from the list of choices. Press Enter, and the formatting will automatically populate itself based on what you entered earlier.

2. Highlight the desired portion of the text and cut it using Edit"Cut command. Make certain to highlight everything except for the three lines directly below the inserted code. Do this by pressing Shift+Delete to remove the original content.

3. Right-click somewhere in the empty space above the inserted code and select Paste special.... From the dropdown menu, choose Unformatted text and then OK. Your edited section should be replaced with your newly formatted signature.

4. Save your edits and close the application.

That's all there is to it. However, if you're using Outlook 2007 or later, you can actually embed an HTML signature right alongside the rest of your outgoing mail. Just head to Tools"Options, navigate to Mail Setup"Signature Settings, and then place a checkmark beside Embed Signatures. This feature works exactly the same as the previous method. Simply write a new email in Outlook and copy/paste the signature wherever needed.

Can you add HTML to Gmail signature?

For those who don't use Microsoft programs, setting up an HTML version is fairly straightforward thanks to many third party applications. One example worth considering is Hivert [No Longer Available], which lets users add customized signatures to their incoming Gmail accounts. Upon opening the app, signup is required along with permission to access your account and personal data. After logging in, you can begin editing your existing signature or uploading a new one. At present, Hivert supports YouTube videos and GIFs, as well as various emoticons, hyperlinks, and even password fields. It's free to download and use, though donations are appreciated.

In addition to Hivert, several other solutions exist for non-Microsoft platforms. For instance, Sigsafe [Broken URL Removed] is excellent for Mac OS X users. Using a browser extension called Sigsafe Plus, you can seamlessly integrate your entire collection of signatures into Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers. There are no limits regarding size, color scheme, font style, background transparency, etc., so you're bound to find something unique among the hundreds of templates already offered.

To use the tool, install the extension and log in to your Gmail account. Choose Preferences from the settings pane, click Extensions, and check Show my tabs toolbar. Head to the Dashboard page where you'll find dozens of attractive designs to choose from. Each template features a large preview underneath the selection button and can easily be modified to suit your needs.

SigSafe Premium ($19 per month) adds unlimited storage and removes ads.

Finally, if you're running Linux, you can try installing Siggen. As the name implies, this utility creates signatures that utilize standard Gnome widgets. These include boxes, buttons, tables, stars, frames, etc., to provide greater control over appearance. All you need to do is launch Siggen, accept the license agreement and select the necessary widget from the sidebar. Drag and drop it onto the page, adjust the properties, and then view the final product. While compatible with Thunderbird, Evolution, Claws Mail, Pine, Postbox, and Roundcube, Siggen doesn't support Hotmail due to limitations involving Java plug-ins.

The best approach is trying out whichever solution works best for you. Some, like Hivert, require registration, others aren't very expensive, and still others let you upload your own photos. Take your time, explore lots of possibilities, play around with different styles, and eventually you'll probably come away happy.

Now that we know how to create an HTML signature, let's discuss why doing so could prove problematic.

How do I add an HTML signature in Windows 10 Mail?

Unfortunately, although Microsoft does offer basic customization capabilities to Windows 10 Mail, you cannot currently put together a personalized signature. Instead, you can opt for a pre-made signature. Here's how to proceed:

Open the Windows 10 Mail inbox, hover over More " Settings " Manage Accounts, and then click Add Account. Pick Other, fill in your credentials, and then verify your domain. Note that you can skip this step if you plan on signing up for a free @outlook.com address.

Next, head to Personalization " My Templates " Default Signature. By default, it shows a plain white rectangle with a green accent. Double-click the relevant entry to modify it further. You can replace the contents with your own pictures, logos, icons, and other items. Also, unlike Gmail, you can swap between bold, italic and monospace fonts.

Select Apply and OK when ready. Unfortunately, however, Windows 10 Mail lacks the ability to tweak individual elements in the default signature. So unless you really enjoy playing around with backgrounds, try sticking to simpler versions.

An email address is one of the most important ways we communicate online today. Email signatures are used by companies and organizations as well as individuals to let others know who they're dealing with -- whether that's via a company-wide email newsletter, business card or direct mail piece. A customized email signature can help make sure that every message gets its own unique stamp. It also gives users another way to identify and remember you over time.

Gmail makes adding a signature incredibly easy. You don't even have to use code, just drag and drop elements into place. Here are four different options you can choose from when creating a custom email signature.

How do I create an email signature design?

When designing any kind of marketing campaign, there are several factors to consider first. Before sending anything off, think about what type of audience will open your emails. Will they be young professionals looking for career advice? Are seniors interested in keeping up with their financial news? Or maybe you want to appeal to both groups simultaneously -- maybe you've got something exciting planned for this year's Mother's Day! In all cases, you'll need to decide on which colors and images work best for your particular demographic. This means choosing graphics and photos that resonate with them.

The same goes for text and fonts. Do you prefer bolder, larger print like Helvetica Neue? Or would you rather keep things clean and simple using Verdana? If you're trying to capture attention, you may opt to go with sans serif font instead of "power" script or fantasy fonts. The point here isn't necessarily to grab everyone's attention immediately (although that might not hurt), but to get their eyes moving across your page so they read everything before clicking away.

One other thing to take note of: if possible, try to include only relevant information in your signature, such as contact details and website URLs. Don't overload readers with unnecessary info unless they ask specifically for it.

Once you've settled on a design, save it somewhere accessible, then come back later and click File & Print Preview. Look through your choices until you find exactly what you were aiming for, then hit Save As Template. Now select Docs, Google Sheets or Slides, depending on which program you use to send documents via email. Once saved, you should see your new template appear under Templates in your respective settings menu.

How do I add HTML to Gmail signature?

Next, you'll want to customize your signature further. To change how much space certain items occupy, simply right-click on them and select Properties. From there, adjust formatting specifics such as font size, color scheme and background color. Click OK when done.

If you wish to insert additional scripts or CSS, or link to specific sites, you can easily do so within Gmail itself. Just highlight the element(s) you'd like to edit and press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on Mac). Go to Tools & Script editor... and paste your desired code where instructed. For example, if you wanted to embed a YouTube video, check the box next to Content Settings and set Embed Options to Yes. Then copy/paste the URL of the video file. When finished editing, hit Done. Your changes should now show up automatically once someone sends you an email.

Now that you've gotten the basics down, let's move onto making a truly personalized signature.

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How do I create a custom HTML email signature in Gmail?

First, head to Mail " Preferences. Select the Accounts tab along the top. Under Account Actions, look for Signature. Hit Edit and fill in your name, title and short bio. Choose between including a photo of yourself or leaving it blank. Finally, enter any links you wish to include. Make sure to leave room for a small line break above your last item so that it doesn't overlap with your username.

Finally, scroll down the screen a bit farther and select Show my picture and profile link. Next, hit Save Changes and exit. By doing this, you're essentially telling Gmail to display your default Gravatar account whenever anyone views your signature. However, you can replace these accounts with ones of your very own. Simply browse to Gravatar and download whatever avatar you desire. Upload it to Dropbox or wherever else suits you. Name it appropriately and upload it to your server. Now, all you need to worry about is pasting the proper HTML code snippet below your uploaded image.

Can HTML be in email signature?

Yes, absolutely! If you feel comfortable coding with HTML, you can embed pretty much anything you wish within your email signature. While you could technically put your entire site within the body of your signature, this approach usually won't yield good results. Plus, it takes forever to update your pages manually. Instead, stick to the aforementioned method and pull in external sources.

What sort of elements should you embed? Anything goes really. Links to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles are always popular choices, as are embedded maps and videos. Even better, why not host your landing page directly on your email signature? Create a static webpage, give it a catchy domain name and voila -- visitors to your site can quickly bookmark the page themselves. Be sure to add instructions for browsers to access your webpages so that non-Firefox users can still benefit.

Using services like Wix allows you to focus entirely on building your signature while letting your platform handle hosting duties. Not only does this allow you to skip having to pay monthly fees, but it keeps your files hosted securely on a third party's servers.

Whether you elect to go with a professional email signature provider or DIY, you're bound to enjoy the benefits of a customizable signature that showcases your personality and professionalism. Whether it contains a single graphic or multiple pictures, a few lines of text or hundreds of words, a custom email signature is an integral part of modern communication. Take advantage of this feature to improve your credibility and promote your online presence.