Have you ever thought about how your e-mail signature represents you?

I know I haven't! I do have a signature...using a cursive font but I never actually thought about how it represents myself.

According to Social Media Today, here are some clues into making a great e-mail signature:

1. LINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES… IF APPROPRIATE

If your organization has a thriving presence on Twitter or Facebook, why not have a button or link under your signature? We sometimes take for granted the fact that employees are a brand’s best ambassadors and that not everybody knows about your Facebook page, or Pinterest boards. If individuals use social media platforms with a professionnal scope, in most cases Linkedin at least, this makes for a great link to add with your signature. Be careful not to link with a social media profile where personal content gets shared, unless you and your organization are comfortable with this perspective.

2. SEPARATE SIGNATURE FROM COPY

It’s a simple tip, but there needs to be a visual separation to mark where the body of your message ends, and where the signature begins. The rule of thumb is to use the “–” at the end of your message, just like PR specialist use -30- to mark where the press release ends. There are many plug-ins available so that the signature is an automated one, for example Right Inbox if you use Gmail as I do. (NOT an affiliate link)

3. DON’T USE IMAGES

A common mistake is to include a corporate logo or, even worse, to have the whole signature as an image. Many, if not most, internet service providers (ISP) and email providers, such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo will block off images considered “attached” to an email message, thus your signature will not make it into the recipient’s inbox. If you are trying to establish contact or wish to follow up, it defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

4. COMPLETE CONTACT DETAILS

This is a personal pet peeve: I hate it when I receive an email from someone, then wish to follow up with them by phone… but there are no contact details in the signature!! As mentioned above, most email services offer automated signatures, if not directly within Outlook or Lotus Notes, then through a plug-in or web-mail service. Complete contact details should include:

• Name and surname, add title if relevant, i.e. MBA, CFA, etc.
• Phone number, with area code and country index, specially if you deal with international clientele.
• Email address, in particular if you have a separate one you wish to be contacted on.
• Website, whether it’s yours, your companies, or your blog’s.

WE CAN OFFICIALLY DO THIS!!!

5. ADD AWARDS OR BRAND USP

Last but not least, why not take advantage of this communication opportunity to highlight a recent award won by yourself, or your company? Is your hotel highly ranked on TripAdvisor or did your destination recently win an award or mention by a prestigious magazine? This is the place to mention it, under the email signature. Another option is to simply reiterate your brand’s vision or mission, in particular if it is distinctively unique and appealing to your audience.

Below is a fun info-graphic describing the dynamics of an e-mail signature.

This is a great resource for all individuals who communicate via e-mail, especially young professionals moving into their first career. We always need to be cautious as to how we represent ourselves professionally, socially and over the web.



To learn more, visit:
http://socialmediatoday.com/gonzogonzo/1554136/5-tips-better-email-signature-infographic

Priya R. Amin (my work signature)

To all the dads out there....

Happy Father's Day! It is so wonderful to see all of the thoughtful comments about fathers all over social media today. Not only do individuals honor their fathers today, but most organizations who have a social media presence have also made comments honoring fathers today.

For me, I would not be where I am today if it was not for my dad. He is and will always be the main man in my life. I truly cannot thank him enough for providing me with such a wonderful and supportive lifestyle.

Happy Father's Day, dad! Love you! #daddysgirl

To all the ladies, lemme hear ya!

I recently became interested in the "Lean In" community after a friend recommended that I read "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead."

For the women who may like to get involved, here is some information about the organization (taken from their Facebook page):

About

Lean In is a global community committed to offering women the encouragement and support to lean in to their ambitions. 

Mission

Our mission is to create a global community dedicated to encouraging women to lean in to their ambitions.

Description

Lean In supports women in 3 important ways:

Community

We want all women to have the confidence and know-how to achieve their goals. This starts with an active and supportive community. Each day we’ll encourage an open exchange of ideas and information. We will also share Lean In Stories—short narratives of moments in life when we choose to “lean in” or “lean back” intended to inspire, teach and connect us.

Education

We offer a growing library of free online lectures on topics including leadership and communication. Produced in partnership with the Clayman Institute for Gender Studies at Stanford University and other well-known experts, these lectures offer women practical skills they can apply in their daily lives.

Circles

Lean In Circles are small groups that meet monthly to encourage and support each other in an atmosphere of confidentiality and trust. We provide the materials and support to run a successful Circle, including online spaces that make it easy for members to stay up-to-date and connected. Circles are powered by Mightybell, the first network of private groups.


If we talk openly about the challenges women face and work together, we can change the trajectory of women and create a better world for all of us.

As a professional young woman of color, I do encounter many challenges on a daily basis, as I am sure many of you do as well. This organization provides many resources and collaboration to overcome some of the challenges women face in the workplace on a daily basis. At the end of the day, I know that whatever challenges I am facing, someone else has probably already encountered, why struggle through it alone when there is a whole community on your side?

To learn more, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/leanincommunity

Book:
Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead
Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook and Obesity?

Do you believe obesity and social media correlate with one another? Well, according to a study published in PLOS ONE, there is a significant correlation with activity related interests on Facebook and obesity prevalence. So the question to ask ourselves is, what are we going to do with this data?

It actually provides a great opportunity for healthcare marketers to target specific demographics via Facebook Ads or sponsored stories. They can utilize these methods to address obesity prevention and to reach communities who deal with obesity.

To learn more about this study and possible next steps, please visit:
http://healthworkscollective.com/stevenshie/105201/social-media-and-public-health-using-facebook-monitor-obesity-prevalence?utm_source%3Dhootsuite=&utm_medium%3Dtwitter=&utm_campaign%3Dhootsuite_twitter=