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When I was in training to be a real estate broker, instructors told me to pass out my business cards.  To everyone. Of course, to my family and friends.  But also to the person behind me in the supermarket line, after I commiserated about the long wait.  To my dry cleaner as I handed over the laundry.  To the guy whose tie I admired in the elevator. As they told me, “you never know if the person you give that card to knows someone who is buying or selling a house.”

But I’ve got an EVEN EASIER WAY for you to promote your business all the time and everywhere.  Add a signature line to your email. 

Peg's Email Signature Line

Here’s mine. Every single person that gets an email from me is reminded about SCORE Chicago, its services and our outreach in blogs and social media.

Steps To Add A Signature in Outlook

1.  Open Wordpad or Notepad and type your signature details as you wish them to appear.  You have to type URLs to your website and blogs, but you don’t have to insert hyperlinks.  The email software will do that.

2.  Open Outlook, click Tools, and then Options.

3.  Click the Mail Format tab and then click the Signature button below. 

4.  Select New, browse for your signature document in Wordpad or Notepad, and click to attach it.  Now open a blank email and you should see your detailed, promotional signature.

Steps in Mozilla’s Thunderbird

1.  Open Wordpad or Notepad and type your signature details as you wish them to appear. You have to type URLs to your website and blogs, but you don’t have to insert hyperlinks. The email software will do that.

2.  Open Thunderbird and go to Tools, Account Settings, and highlight an email account. Check box “Attach this signature.” 

3.  Click Choose to browse to locate and attach your Wordpad or Notepad document. Now open a blank email and you should see your detailed, promotional signature.

If you are willing to upload a new signature document occasionally, you can even add and change special promotions. 

Isn’t that the easiest way in the world to have everyone in your company actively promote your business? Shouldn’t all your employees have promotional signature lines? Please share your thoughts and experiences in a comment.

Peg Corwin, SCORE Chicago
More posts by Peg

Only ONE thing — what ever it is that separates you from your competition. What about that aqua box tied with a white ribbon – one of my favorite brands! How do you separate your business from the competition -or what do you do that is unique? I knew a woman who sold jewelry of leaves and flowers covered in gold. Every time she walked into a room with large gold maple leaves hanging from her ears, we immediately recognized her and her product. How do you define your brand or what separates you for the competition? Hope you are not ordinary and unrecognizable.

-Betty Otte