The 15 Biggest Blunders for Bad Email Signatures

The Dalai Lama once said: “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them with bad email signatures.”

Just kidding, he never said that. But if he had, he wouldn’t have been wrong.

Email signatures, like those who create them, come in many shapes and sizes. Some are sharp and professional – bordering on brusque. Others are quirky, bringing in fuchsia-colored fonts and motivational prosaicisms. And still too many are overdone, an explosion of links, websites, social profiles, images and, callously, fax numbers. These bad email signatures hurt more than the eyes of your recipients. They can have some seriously negative impact on your brand, too.

More than 205 billion emails were sent and received per day in 2015, according to a study by The Radicati Group. That number is only expected to grow – with experts predicting it’ll reach more than 246 billion in the next two years. And the average worker receives more than 50 emails each day, while a quarter of us have more than 100 hit our inbox in a day, according to a 2012 study by Varonis Systems.

Many first impressions are made via email. And your email signature is your chance to shape that impression. A professional email signature is both visually appealing while it conveys your skills, experiences and contact details, while bad email signatures leave your recipients wondering what’s wrong with you.

Like any form of art (and yes, crafting email signatures is an art form) there’s a level of subjectivity involved. There’s also a bit of technical skill. Fortunately, when it comes to style and implementation, there’s a fairly short list of what’s acceptable – and no need to push the envelope too far to present a refined and professional email signature.

Here’s a list of the 15 worst blunders that make bad email signatures:

1. Comic Sans

Comic Sans was originally made for the little comic book-style help speech bubbles in Microsoft programs designed primarily for youngsters. Using it in your email signatures could damage your credibility as a serious professional.

2. Inspirational Quotes

Inspirational quotes belong on Pinterest and Tumbler, not in your email signature.

3. +10 Social Media Icons

People aren’t going to click every single media icon you have. So if this is you:

Stop. The more options you offer, the less likely any of them will be clicked – it’s a phenomenon called the Paradox of Choice. Instead, try focusing on the few accounts that matter the most to growing your business or building your personal brand. And limit your signature to include no more than three.

4. Fax Numbers

Most people don’t fax anymore. The technology is dated and has been widely removed from the office. Instead, people can simply scan a document and pop it into their reply.

5. “Sent from my iPhone”

Please read as: “So sorry for not proofreading. I’m completely capable of grammar and spell check, but I’m on my iPhone, so that means rules don’t apply to me.

“Oh and if I call you jerk instead of Jack, yeah, that’s totally autocorrect. Totally.”

6. Blank Signature

The only thing worse than including everything in your email signature is including nothing. You want to be professional and helpful in your email, so include the relevant information – like your name, your phone number and a call-to-action. Oh, and if you work with international clients, don’t forget the prefix for your country’s code on your phone number!

7. Too Many Font Colors

Okay this one’s a little more subjective. But the issue with adding in an abundance of color is that there are many more opportunities to get it wrong – using clashing colors, visual imbalance, over-complication and crowding your information. If you’re in a more creative field, feel free to use a few colors to add style and personality to your professional sign-off, but use the general rules of design.

8. Awkward Avatar Photos

People tend to remember visuals better than text. And according to a study from MIT neuroscientists, images that contain people are the most memorable. So leave a good impression with a quality avatar photo – one that shows your strengths, not your lazy eye.

9. Lengthy Disclaimers

Disclaimers like, “This email was intended for the recipients only,” or “Our company accepts no liability for this email’s content,” aren’t just annoying – they probably hold no legal weight either. Not to mention, they’re usually at the end of an email – after you’ve already read what you “weren’t supposed to read.” And often they take up way too much room in your company’s bad email signatures.

If you really must have a non-disclosure or legal disclaimer, it’s better to send that information via secure channels in an encrypted format.

10. Outdated CTA

Make your contacts happier, have better support, create meaningful conversations – whatever it is you’re trying to do in your company, there’s a piece of content that can help you do it better. So, including a CTA to the content is highly recommended (we can help). But make sure your content is relevant and current. Sending someone to a page that hasn’t been updated in months could send the message you’re not serious

11. Alma Mater

Oh wow! You’re a Mountain Goat class of ’12? By adding your alma mater and graduation year, you’re essentially telling your contacts that you’re just not to be taken seriously. Keep this information to your LinkedIn profile, not your bad email signatures.

12. Including Your Email Address

Imagine introducing yourself at a party, then reintroducing yourself when the conversation is over. Awkward, right?

13. Times New Roman

The seemingly innocuous (and often default) Times New Roman is a serious and formal font. It’s also insanely boring. Using it in your email signature is like emailing and saying that you didn’t put any thought into what you just sent –  it’s like wearing sweatpants to the office. (Unless you’re in a home office, alone, in which case, I fully support sweatpants. Still have qualms with Times New Roman, though.)

14. Too Many Titles

Too many titles, or even titles you’ve just simply made up are maddening. Adding in every professional title looks cluttered and can come across a bit arrogant if it’s irrelevant to your current position.

Do you have a specialized degree or certification that’s relevant to your current position? Feel free to add it in – just don’t go overboard.

15. Excessive Awards

The information in your email signature should be relevant to your title, company, skills and contact details – you’re not sending out your resume via your bad email signatures. Excess text and logos are distracting and unnecessary.