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Email signatures and business cards...

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Email signatures and business cards...

  I have a couple pet peeves I have to get out there:

1. Phone Numbers in Email Signature.  There are two parts to this one.  The first is when you are going to the trouble of using an email signature for some lame witticism or quote, then the least you could do is also put more complete contact information.  Maybe your message has been forwarded and I don't have your email, or maybe I need to call you.
   
   The second part is to put a "1" in front of your phone number.  Why?  Because more and more people are receiving email on mobile phones.  If you are out of state/province/area code, then I'd like to just highlight the number in your signature to call you (while driving).  They're usually rendered as "hyperlinks" in the message.
   
2. Email Addresses on Business Cards.  Don't get me wrong.  My business card, and most these days have email addresses on them.  That's great.  But when you go to the trouble of putting an email address on your printed business cards, then at least commit to checking your email once or twice a week.
   
   All too often when dealing with a small merchant of some kind, like a tailor, shoe store or other small business person, I am given a business card with some wacky email address like ShoesRUsVancouver@ (insert dial-up network provider here: CompuServe, AOL, Yahoo or even GMail).  Often this is accompanied by some crazy web site address like:
   
   http://www.someDialUpCompany.com/~crazyalsshoes/backtoschoolspecial.html
   
   If online marketing (including email) is important to you, then at least follow through with it and take a little pride in how you present yourself.  Your store has a nice storefront, and you keep it very tidy... apply that to your online presence.  And if you don't know how:  Hire that smart kid next door for $5.35/hr to help you get a domain, and maybe even to monitor your email for you.

In terms of signatures I use multiple "new message" signatures depending on who the recipient is.  Above is an example of one (and yes, now you know how to get a hold of me).  I use a much more simple signature for replies/forwards (left) so that it takes up less real estate (but still provides needed information).

Just my two-bits.  Any other "best practices" for signatures?

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