Do your emails include a signature? A signature is a standard block of text you include in each of your outgoing email messages and postings to newsgroups. Most email programs (including Eudora, Outlook and others) allow you to create a signature file which will automatically appear at the end of every message you send. Look under the "Tools" menu or search the "Help" function in your email program to learn how to do this.

Use your signature to let others know what you do and how to contact you. For example, here is one signature I use:

Cathy Stucker, The Idea Lady
Attract Customers and Make Yourself Famous
Get a FREE marketing strategy every Tuesday in Bright Ideas
Subscribe at: http://www.IdeaLady.com/bright.htm
Mailto:email@site.com

Keep your signature file to no more than seven or eight lines. You can't tell your whole life story, just give the basics of who you are and how to contact you.

You may include your business or product name, URL, phone number, address or other information. I often use my signature to promote my newsletter, but you might focus on one of your products or services, a special feature of your website, or other benefit you offer.

Keep it simple. Don't use elaborate HTML in your signature. Many mail programs won't read it properly, and recipients will see a jumbled mess of codes instead of your beautifully formatted message.

Do put any URLs in your message in this format: http://www.sitename.com/ Most email programs will read the URL as a hotlink, making it easy for readers to click through to your site. You can also make your email address a hotlink by entering it as mailto:email@sitename.com.

This is a strategy you can implement today. It's easy, it's free and it really works.

Copyright Cathy Stucker. As the IdeaLady, Cathy Stucker helps authors, entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. To get creative marketing ideas subscribe to Bright Ideas at http://www.IdeaLady.com/