Should I have a Signature File on Personal Emails?

Absolutely — and you should. Here’s why…

What many don’t think about is that your signature file can include your informal personal sign-offs, which include the info you probably wouldn’t include in a formal business email.

One great example is if you are someone who rarely signs their name because they may be too lazy or think it unimportant to do so. No sign-off or name does increase the risk of misrepresenting the tone of your email. No sign-off or name can be viewed as terse, or you are being too blunt or upset.

Let your signature file set the tone of your email. While not the be-all and end-all, your signature file is like the bow on a package—the final touch that brings everything together.

Remember, you are not limited to just one signature file — you can have as many as you need or want. You could have a sig file you use with romantic partners:

Sample Personal Signature Sign-offs

For your better half:

XXOO,
Janey-Poo

One for new social friends:

See you online!
Jane
Twitter: @
Facebook: URL here

And another for friends:

Talk to you soon,
Jane

And another for family:

All my love,
Jane

You get the idea. This way, you consistently sign off with your name and the appropriate tone and prevent your emails from sounding surly or abrupt by not including a courtesy ending. (Yes, we should try to be courteous even with those we know best and communicate with most.)

I use a collection of sig files purely for personal communications. I select which I will append based on who I am communicating with, which side of the family, and the tone and intent I want to relay based on the conversation. The possibilities are endless.

Signatures a Click Away

And if you use a program that allows multiple signature files, you can have as many sig files as moods with one click. If your software doesn’t offer the ability to have multiple signature files, know you are probably missing out on other tools and functionality that are not available to you that can make your life a lot easier, like templates, filters, color coding, and so much more.

Always sign off on your emails and take advantage of the opportunity to end your communications in a way that leaves no room for interpretation or misunderstanding.