We have been asked a number of times to create images for email signatures to promote a product, app, or website, or even to stylishly display basic contact information.
This sounds like a fun project with boundless creative possibilities – and one that would generate revenue.
But each time we have demurred and explained why with these reasons:
- When an email is replied to, images are often not included. It might end up looking something like this:
Jamie Wells
Chief Marketing Officer
TechCorp
<image002.png>
If that image has any important information, it has a short lifespan. You lose the effectiveness of that image as it travels – what is image002.png?
- When you add an image to your signature, the email indicates there is an attachment. This may confuse the recipient into thinking there is a document or image with the email, when there really is not.
- Many people do not load images automatically in email, for spam/security reasons. They might never see your signature image.
- When you send photos/images to people and they save them in bulk, they also get your signature image, which probably annoys them.
Simpler is better – Just use text
It is so much friendlier to use only text in your signature.
It will have a better chance of being seen and won’t annoy people.
If you want to get people to a web page to promote something, a simple, descriptive link will do the job:
Rob Howard
Communications Strategist
Red Pixel Studios
Browse our portfolio
So do yourself and your recipients a favor – skip the images in your email signatures.
