If you’re using a web-based email client like Gmail or Yahoo, you probably already know that neither of these services support HTML signatures. In Gmail and Yahoo, you can create rich text signatures with images, etc., but you can’t start typing HTML code right into the signature box.
For most people, the default signature settings are enough, but for truly unique and professional signatures, HTML is the way to go. Using HTML, you can create fancy layouts, add icons for social media profiles, and more. If you think you need to know HTML to create an HTML signature, you are wrong.
There are many websites out there, some of which I will mention in this article allow you to create your own HTML signature or download one from hundreds of templates for free or for a small fee.
You’ll also notice that I didn’t mention Outlook.com, and that’s because it’s the only web client that allows you to generate HTML signatures natively. All you have to do is copy your HTML code and paste it right into their signature box, which I’ll explain below. Let’s start with Gmail.
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Gmail’s HTML Signature
In Gmail, there are two ways to add an HTML signature to your emails. Firstly, if you want it to be added to every email you send, the best option is to use the signature box below Setting – Shared.
At the top right of the Gmail screen, click the gear icon, then click Setting.
You will automatically be taken to Shared tab where you have to scroll down quite a bit before you see the signature box.
Although you cannot enter the HTML code in this box, you can copy and paste it! This little simple workaround works fine. Our Scroll Down Find or create an HTML signature to get the HTML signature you like. If there are any images in the HTML signature, you need to make sure they are hosted online and you must first change the link URL in the HTML code before copying and pasting it into Gmail, otherwise you will see corrupted images.
Go ahead and open the HTML signature in your web browser, select the whole thing and copy it. You don’t want to select the HTML code itself, but the actual output displayed in your browser.
Go back to your Gmail window and paste the content into the signature box. Note that my image shows up corrupted and that’s because the image is stored locally on my computer.
That was the first way to include HTML in a Gmail signature. If you don’t want to include one signature for every email, or if you need more than one signature for a Gmail account, another option is to use Canned reaction. This is a Gmail labs feature that you can enable and use to add content blocks to emails.
First, enable it. Go Setting and then click Laboratory. Scroll down Canned reaction and then click Allow box. Make sure you scroll to the bottom and click Save changes before leaving the lab screen.
Now compose a new email and then click the little down arrow at the bottom right of the compose window. Click Canned reaction and then click New canned answer Under Save Top.
Give your canned answer a name like Email signature or whatever you like and click OK. Now you will just see a blank compose window. In the content area, continue to copy and paste the HTML signature.
Now we need to save it. Click the arrow, then Canned reaction and then click on the name of the canned answer below Save Top. You’ll get a prompt asking if you want to overwrite your canned response, which you’ll click OK. Your canned reply has been saved. Now open a new compose window and click the down arrow followed by Canned reaction again.
You should now see a few new titles. To insert a previously saved canned reply, click on the answer’s name below Insert Top. The HTML boilerplate response will be inserted wherever your cursor is located.
That’s pretty much for Gmail. Both methods work well and for different purposes, so feel free to use the one that works for you.
Yahoo’s HTML Signature
The process for Yahoo Mail is very similar to the first method I wrote in Gmail. The first step is to open the settings screen. Sign in to Yahoo Mail and click the gear icon in the top right, then click Setting.
Now click Account on the left and then click on the email account listed on the right.
Scroll down a bit and check Add a signature to the emails you send box. Now just copy and paste your HTML signature into the box.
It will retain all HTML formatting and look exactly like it is displayed in a web browser, except for the image problem I mentioned above. Yahoo doesn’t have any canned replies, so you must add a signature to all your emails after enabling it.
Outlook HTML Signature
Outlook is cool in that it allows you to add HTML code to your email signature directly. You can do this by clicking the gear icon in the top right and then clicking Option.
Under Write email title, click Formatting, fonts and signatures.
Under Personal signature header, you’ll see the signature box is set to Rich text by default.
Just click on the drop-down box and select Editing in HTML to enter your HTML signature. Note that here you want to copy and paste the actual HTML code this time instead of the web browser version.
Find or create an HTML signature
In the end, you don’t need to worry about coding your own HTML signature because thankfully there are plenty of programmers and designers that have done all the hard work for us. You can download pre-made HTML signatures, or you can use some online tools to create your own from scratch. I will cover both below.
Generate HTML signature
To create your own website, you can use some of the websites mentioned below, some free and some paid. Depending on how professional and unique you want that signature, your cost will range from $5 to $7 free.
htmlsig is a popular site and allows you to create free email signatures that expire in 30 days. They do have some paid subscription options, but I only recommend these guys if you have to create a bunch of email signatures for a business, etc. If you just need to create a unique personal signature, it’s great. expensive.
NewWorldStamp there’s a free online HTML signature generator that lets you choose from a few beautiful designs.
Email signature template
If you just want to download a template and enter your information, there are many websites that you can download templates from. Here are a few:
http://emailsignaturerescue.com/email-signature-templates
http://www.mail-signatures.com/articles/signature-templates/
https://www.template.net/business/email/free-email-signature-templates/
Hopefully you can now create an awesome email signature that will amaze your friends, family, and customers when they see it. If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment. Interesting!
