Signatures sell

You'll send e-mail messages and participate in discussion groups for a variety of business and personal reasons, but attaching an effective signature to every message helps carry on your marketing attack in every situation. In discussion groups, a signature that describes your business is always an acceptable way to market yourself, regardless of the group's policies on advertising.

An effective signature includes your name, your company name, your online and offline addresses, phone and fax numbers, and a slogan that sums up your business mission in a few words. A signature should be no more than six lines high.

Use a signature on every e-mail message you send, and on every discussion group notice you post. Modify your signature to suit different marketing needs, such as promoting your web site, promoting a contest, offering a free electronic brochure, or promoting a specific product or service. Notice the signatures other people use, and think about how you can use signatures to your own best advantage.

A good signature may be your best chance to attract new customers, so make the most of this powerful marketing weapon.