List Building Tips Blog

What Gives A Signature POWER?

Elements of a powerful sig file

It's easier to analyze the structure of an email sig file if we start with an example.

Look at this sig file.

= = = = = = = SIG FILE SAMPLE = = = = = = = =

Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian...he heals hearts - your's
too !

Heart Disease Online http://www.DrMani.com

You can live longer - just get your HEART in shape!
Subscribe FREE to The Heart Beat Healthzine
http://www.drmani.com/ezine/heartbeat.shtml
mailto:thb-editor@drmani.com?subject=subscribeSig

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Notice first of all the formatting of this sig file.

As it is being sent by email, it is an absolutely compulsory rule that you should have lines no longer than 64 (preferably 60) characters. After every 60 characters, insert a hard carriage break (hit the ENTER button on your keyboard). This ensures that your sig file looks good on almost every email program.

Another aspect is to set it apart from the actual body of your email message by using 'graphic' elements. I've used a series of '= = = =' but you could use other separators as well.

The first half of my sig file is straightforward. It includes my name and qualifications, a short phrase to explain what I do, and the title and URL of one of my websites.

I can hear you asking - "So how does a sig file help get subscribers to my ezine?"

Look at the second half of the sig file for the answer.

The latter portion of your sig file can include your marketing message.

Simple, isn't it ? Just add a short blurb about your ezine to your sig file, with a brief note on how to subscribe to it.

The first line is an 'Attention Grabber'. It is similar to the headline of a classified ad - it grabs the reader's notice.

If the recipient of your email is someone who is potentially interested in the subject matter of your ezine, s/he will be drawn to this line. It should be short, punchy and focus on the topic of your ezine.

Next comes the body, which gives some more detail about your ezine.

The trick here is to be descriptive without being elaborate. A sig file that is longer than your email message looks strange! As a rule of thumb, limit your sig file to 6 (at the most 8) lines in total.

Then give sign-up details. The third line mentions the webpage URL where the reader can register for a free subscription. The last line gives an email address to which a "subscribe" request can be sent.

This option is very important, since many users who pay-per-minute of internet usage read their email offline (after they have disconnected from the internet). If you offer only a website based registration form, the reader would have to get online again, fire up their web browser, visit your site and then register.

No prizes for guessing how many of them will bother to!

That's why adding the option to register by email helps you net additional subscribers.