The ongoing management of an email signature program will probably be much easier when you may have satisfied users. Conversely, unsatisfied users can drive you crazy and even worse, go rouge. Preventing “needy” users isn’t hard, it just takes some forethought and…
Anyone who’s managed an email signature program on an ongoing basis has likely encountered “needy” users – those requesting special permutations to their signatures that either leave you saying “no” or else going back to the design/programming drafting board.
Rather than either of those unpleasant outcomes, there’s a 3rd, middle-way, based on anticipation and preparation.
Satisfying Personal User Requirements
To some users, there’s a crucial personal element to their email signature. It’s clever to just accept this, understanding that email signatures straddle a line between brand and individual.
The most practical solution resides in creating an email signature program with considerable flexibility. When done properly, user requests will largely disappear, as they discover that the email signature, as designed, already satisfies their needs. It’s not overly complicated, there are generally just 5 or 6 optional items required to satisfy most user requests.
Let’s take a look at these, one-by-one.
Appearance of Their Name
Rather than mandating the use of the name as stored in an energetic directory (AD), allow users to input their very own names. Elizabeth should want to be called Liz and Thomas may go by his nickname, Buck. It’s fair that they need their names to look on their signature as they do in real life.
Personal Linkedin Profile
LinkedIn is each skilled and private at the same time and truly belongs in an email signature (if the user wants it there). Allow users to incorporate a link to their LinkedIn profile in the event that they wish.
Preferred Pronouns
Allow, but don’t force, users to incorporate their preferred pronouns. A drop-down selector makes it easy and might keep it from getting out of hand.
Professional Credentials/Certifications
Users work hard to earn skilled credentials and certifications – it’s right for them to want to incorporate them of their signature.
Mobile Number
Some users will want their mobile number listed of their signature, others won’t. You should all the time give them the option.
Offer a Line or Two of Free Form Text
Lastly, in some cases, making a free-form text field where users can add something of importance to them could be useful. For example, a user should want to list, “Author of two books: Finding Success Daily and You are More than Your Accomplishments.”
Result
Users, who would likely otherwise be pestering you down the road, find that they’re able to satisfy their needs entirely via the flexibility provided by a well thought-out and executed signature platform.
For you, satisfied users equate to simplified ongoing program management.
Email signature users rightly expect a level of personalization inside their signature. If you resist, they’re prone to be hounding you for changes or go “off-brand” and do their very own thing. Conversely, if you happen to anticipate their needs during the design phase of your email signature program, you’ll end up with more satisfied users and fewer support headaches.
If you’re unsure the best way to construct this sort of flexibility into your program, using an email signature service like Dynasend is a straightforward solution to be certain that the platform you’re providing is well imagined and user-centric.
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