So I found this brilliant offer over at AppSumo–wait.
Did I tell y’all about AppSumo? I feel like I meant to and then forgot. Anyway, here’s a quick bit from their About page: AppSumo is a medley burrito of the greatest, geekiest products for entrepreneurs. We work tirelessly to find the most innovative, creative, and practical stuff out there and aim to bring them to you, directly and affordably.
So, yeah, it’s pretty awesomesauce. You never know what kind of deal you’re going to find–a deal which may or may not be terrific for a writer–and the deals are usually offered for a limited-time only. So you should probably just sign up so you don’t miss out.
Anyway, back to the deal I found (thanks to writer friend Stacy Jensen pointing me in their direction) re: WiseStamp where you can get a fancy-schmancy or even just a basic email signature.
I’ve used the free email signature with WiseStamp but now I’ve got ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS! Which is causing me distress as I can’t decide what I like and/or don’t like re: email signatures. Part of me likes splatting everything amazing about Cathy C. Hall out there for the world to see. But the other part of me wonders if people even read past the name on an email sig. I mean, I don’t want to annoy those who receive my emails but I also want to get the best bang for my such-a-deal! bucks.
I have to use the Wisestamp offer before the end of the month or I’ll lose it. So I thought I’d ask you, dear readers, for your input re: email signatures. Sort of a Survey Says roundup…What do you like? What do you hate? What’s absolutely necessary? What’s too much? Picture? No picture? I’d appreciate any and all feedback as I seem to be stuck in a morass of indecision. (Which is the polite way of explaining Cathy-on-a-Stick in a cow patty.)
Cathy C. Hall Writes 
Uh oh. My name and distress in the same blog post! I’m not sure of all the options you have, but I think it’s all in the organization. Sometimes, I see a long list of links and that’s just a lot of space. I like the idea of being able to check your social media sites straight from the email. Buttons are always nice. Goodness… I’m no help.
Hahahaa! Oh, but you were helpful, Stacy. Your comment re: the long list validated what I was thinking, too. And buttons–definitely buttons! (Thanks!)
Cathy–Since I am a social media nincompoop (not unlike the pile that poor COAS is stuck by), I am the wrong person to survey. However, it seems like the more eye-catching (a photo would be alluring, I assume) it is and the easier it is (buttons), the more effective it’d be.
Eye-catching is good, yes, but I wonder about age re: an author who writes for kids? Would a reader think, “Oh, I love this!” and then change one’s mind when they see a pic of a menopausal momma?? Or maybe I could just put a cow in there…cows say, “I’m ageless! I’m fun! I don’t have a decent pic of myself!” 🙂
Thanks, Sioux–I value your opinion, nincompoop or not! (Which you are NOT.)
I heard about WiseStamp at my first RWA conference and used it for a while, but at the time (I guess that was 2 years ago) it caused trouble with some of the emails I sent out—put them in people’s spam folders. Not everyone, but enough that I ditched the WiseStamp signature block. I’m wondering if those problems have been fixed now, though, since it’s 2 years later?
I liked the look of the signature, and I loved that I could put in the social media buttons, which everyone recognizes. I didn’t put my pic in because it is everywhere else—all over social media, so if anyone wants to see the mug associated with the signature it’s easy to find. I might give WiseStamp a try again since you’ve reminded me how cool it was. And since you asked, my opinion is no pics, just the social media buttons. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! I didn’t have trouble with emails winding up in spam folders, but I didn’t use WiseStamp (the free version) for more than 6 months…something to check into, for sure. And yes, I’m leaning toward no pic.