{"id":2321,"date":"2011-02-22T08:28:52","date_gmt":"2011-02-22T12:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=2321"},"modified":"2024-02-05T05:14:25","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T10:14:25","slug":"get-your-executive-brand-into-your-email-signature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/get-your-executive-brand-into-your-email-signature\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Your Executive Brand Into Your Email Signature"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> If you\u2019re a busy executive, you do a lot of emailing. In job search, you\u2019re emailing even more than usual.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re working on (or should be) connecting with your network to uncover job leads and the hiring decision makers at your target companies with whom you need to connect. You\u2019ll be sending them your career marketing documents \u2013 resume, biography, etc.<\/p>\n

More than likely, you\u2019ll communicate through email, not snail mail, and attach digital versions of your documents.<\/p>\n

How do you sign your email messages \u2013 with just your name and phone number?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Email signatures are one piece in your brand communications plan \u2013 a golden opportunity to reinforce your executive brand and further market your unique ROI value to target employers.<\/p>\n

Take the time to put together an email signature that will leave a lasting impression and also lead people to all the on-brand information they\u2019ll need to know about you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fairly easy to configure your email account with an automatic signature for outgoing messages. Once you\u2019ve created one, you can easily insert your signature or not, or adjust it, depending upon the recipient.<\/p>\n

WiseStamp<\/a> is a terrific new tool to create and give visual appeal to your email signature. According to the site:<\/p>\n

Email Apps enable you to easily customize your email signatures with your personal social profiles and allows you to add to each outgoing email dynamic content such as your latest eBay item, recent blog post, your latest tweet or a cause to promote. The recipients of your email will see the updated content of the Email App and will be able to also interact with it directly from the email (e.g. retweet or follow in the Twitter App or buy in the eBay App).<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WiseStamp integrates with these Webmail services: Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL, and currently supports Firefox, Chrome, Thunderbird, Flock and Safari.<\/p>\n

When creating your signature, assume that the email recipient will know nothing about you, but will want to know about you. Keep it brand-evident and on-point \u2013 don\u2019t bog them down with clutter and an overlong laundry list.<\/p>\n

Definitely do the following to brand your email signature:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Use your full name, not a nickname. Even if you know the recipient well, your email may be forwarded to someone else who will have no idea who “Bobby” is.<\/p>\n

Include your current title and employer. If you\u2019re not employed, include your professional title, such as “Global Business Operations Leader” or “Senior Turnaround Management Executive”.<\/p>\n

Give them the best phone number to reach you anytime. Don\u2019t confuse with several numbers. Your cell phone is probably best to avoid having someone at work, or someone you\u2019d rather not, intercept the call.<\/p>\n

Send a clear value message with an abbreviated version (1-2 lines) of your executive brand positioning statement. I\u2019m assuming that, if you\u2019re sending out resumes to people, you\u2019ve already worked on your brand, and can create a short brand tagline that showcases your strengths while differentiating the value you offer over your competition in the job market. Make your tagline, and therefore you, memorable.<\/p>\n

Use your personal email address, not your work email. For that matter, don\u2019t use your work computer either, for job search or any personal business. If you\u2019re emailing using the company network \u2013 even if you use your personal Gmail account \u2013 your employer can track your activity.<\/p>\n

Include a link to your personal blog or website “About” page, if you have one, leading your email recipient to your whole brand picture.<\/p>\n

Include a link to your LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n

Include a link to your Google Profile, VisualCV or About.me profile. Any of these can stand in as your brand hub, if you don\u2019t have a website.<\/p>\n

Include links to your Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you\u2019re active there.<\/p>\n

You may also want to include the following in your email signature, especially if you don\u2019t have some of the above essentials:<\/em><\/p>\n