The email signature is the bumper sticker of the 21st century - everyone feels the need to make a statement. The email sign off, whether it’s an automatic addition customized in an email program or just a habitual autograph, says a lot about the writer: are they flaky, geeky, dependable? Before we add the latest creative gem to our correspondence, we should figure out just what our email signatures say about us.

The Business Entrepreneur

To the Business Entrepreneur, email is all about contacts and connections. Never one to miss out on a business deal, the B.E. must be available anytime, anywhere. Including online, offline and mobile contact information at the bottom of every email is just the status quo, and they’ve got the business cards to match.

Example:

The Artist

In the early days of email, someone got the bright idea to add a little quote below the customary “Sincerely, John.” Web sites such as www.coolsig.com and www.quotedb.com popped up to help us find proverbs, music lyrics and even the words of Homer Simpson to grace our email footers. To an Artist, an email is an opportunity to express oneself to a captive audience, so why waste it?

Example:

The Minimalist

The Minimalist cuts to the quick, using only their initials, never their entire name. Generally more private and reserved, the Minimalist’s teensy letters tell the reader they don’t have time for spiritual or political quotes, let alone spewing them upon their readers.

Example:

The Techie

While gifted at running an online gaming tournament, the Techie places little value in the creation of email. To make their emails as simple as possible, the Techie composes without the use of punctuation or capitalization. The email recipient can be challenged to figure out what the Techie means, especially since you can’t tell where sentences begin or end. Fortunately, the end of the email is evident when the writer’s name suddenly appears in lowercase letters.

Example:

The Freeloader

The Freeloader uses free Web mail, making the reader suffer from the ads automatically inserted at the bottom of each email. Too cheap to cough up a few bucks for email at their own Web address, they force their friends to endure the advertisements on every Hotmail or Yahoo! email they send. Beware of a night on the town with the Freeloader!

Example:

The Phantom

The Phantom doesn’t believe the rules of traditional letter writing apply to the world of email, and furthermore, the “From” name and email address tell you who the sender is, so why bother signing email at all? Phantoms can leave the reader hanging, “Was that all?” the reader might ask. “Did they accidentally hit send before they were finished?” we wonder. With the Phantom, you never know for sure.

Example:

Dash, Squiggle or Slash

Dash, Double Dash, Squiggle or Slash users are cut from the same cloth, but with minor differences. Dash or Double Dash play it safe, sticking with their first name at the end of every email, signifying the conclusion of correspondence with one quick character. On the other hand, Squiggle, usually a woman, wants to play it safe with a flair of creativity. A squiggle can also say I’m serious, but soft and approachable. Slash, not related to the member of Guns N’ Roses, is on the cutting edge. Toeing the line between geek and chic, the slash user is in control and feels confident defying the standard dash, without turning flowery. The Dash, Squiggle or Slash are people you can count on.

Example:

Choose Your Signature Wisely

Just as a bumper sticker says something about the driver, an email signature expresses something about the sender. While there may be no need to change an email signoff, it’s wise to consider who the recipient is and whether or not the chosen signature style fits with the impression you want to make. Most email programs, such as Outlook, Mac Mail and even Hotmail and Yahoo, allow you to create several email signatures. Creating one for each type of email is a wise choice, including a Business Entrepreneur, Squiggle and maybe even an Artist signature. Just be sure to select the right one for the right person each time.

Westi Haughey works for an independent Internet company on the cusp of Silicon Valley, Calfornia. She enjoys exploring the Internet from the outside in and helping non-geeks enjoy the world of the Web. You can find her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .