{"id":3971,"date":"2013-04-02T09:20:33","date_gmt":"2013-04-02T13:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=3971"},"modified":"2025-04-24T06:33:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T10:33:13","slug":"your-email-signature-another-personal-branding-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/your-email-signature-another-personal-branding-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Email Signature: Another Personal Branding Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

I estimate that more than half of the emails I receive from executive job seekers have only one line in their email signatures . . . their name.<\/p>\n

Sometimes their signature is the default they use in doing business through their employers, which may not be appropriate to use in their job search.<\/p>\n

When communicating with potential employers via email,\u00a0your email cover letters<\/a> need to include a potent, branded email signature.<\/p>\n

When creating your email signature, assume that the email recipient will know nothing about you, but will want to know about you and be directed to more information about your brand story.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve started a series of email communications with someone, back and forth, don’t bog down the flow by including your email signature in each response, beyond the first one.<\/p>\n

Your email signature is another opportunity to position yourself as a good-fit candidate. It should include a brief description of what you do and who you do it for (that is, your target employers).<\/p>\n

Below your name, include your professional title (and\/or areas of expertise relevant to your target), such as<\/p>\n

COO \u2013 Global Business Operations Leader \u2013 Biotechnology
\nor
\nCIO \u2013 Turnaround Management Executive \u2013 Healthcare<\/p>\n

You can also include a tagline to succinctly differentiate your ROI value and generate chemistry.<\/p>\n

An easy solution for the professional title is to use the branded professional headline from your LinkedIn profile, if you\u2019ve already created one.<\/p>\n

If you’re not on LinkedIn (you really should be!) or haven’t created a keyword-rich headline, check out my post, How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Professional Headline SEO-Friendly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To give you an idea, here’s what appears directly below my name in my email signature:<\/p>\n

C-level Executive Personal Branding & Job Search Strategist \u2014 Executive Resume, Biography, LinkedIn Profile, Google+ Profile, Online Presence, Career Brand Communications<\/p>\n

Your unique ROI value proposition … differentiated, strategically positioned, helping you Land Your Next Great Gig™.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Below that I note a few credentials, then list my social\u00a0media links \u2014 blogsite, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter \u2014 and close with my contact info.<\/p>\n

Configure your email account with an automatic signature for outgoing messages, using the suggestions below. You can always delete the signature before sending an email, if need be.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips on optimizing your email signature:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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

Give them the best phone number to reach you anytime. Don\u2019t confuse them 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

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 doing job search research<\/a> or 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 and Google+ Profile. Either of these can stand in as your executive brand hub, if you don\u2019t have a website.<\/p>\n

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

Consider including\u00a0the following, especially if you don\u2019t have some of the above essentials:<\/p>\n