This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here.

Freelancers need to create a great first impression — and that extends to their email signatures. An interesting signature differentiates you from your competition, highlights your qualifications and experience, and can even swing the odds of getting the job. Here are some things to bear in mind.

You’re promoting a brand

By creating a signature, you’re complementing the branding concept behind your services. Approaching it in a creative way (maybe by spicing things up with a bit of humor) will make your brand memorable and increase your chances of landing the project.

You can always opt for interesting quotes that are representative of your approach. Here are a few examples:

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
"If you can dream it, you can do it.”
"The harder you work, the luckier you get."

Photos inspire trust

You may have noticed that many websites that promote services, portfolios, and online marketplaces use faces in their backgrounds and interfaces. Associating services with real people makes those websites more trustworthy, so do the same! Consider adding a photo to your signature to give prospective hirers a sense of the person behind the email.

Showcase your work

We send out thousands over thousands of email per year, so why not use signatures as ad space? Let’s say you’re a writer: your signature is a great place to place a link to the work you feel most proud of, or a book you’ve published.

Online recruiters often have to go through hundreds of resumes every week. So linking to a high-quality article or a recognisable publication will make them stop and pay attention.

Don’t go overboard

Of course, our intention is always to extract maximum value from what we have and what we do, but edit wisely. Include only vital information, and no more than four lines of text. Too much information doesn't work on mobile and provides too much information to be truly impactful.

Include the essentials

It’s vital to include alternative means of contacting you, like social media. A host of social media accounts shows that your brand is present and relevant on a broad spectrum of platforms. Also, potential customers may have a preferred platform for communication, other than Facebook or email.

Graphics get attention

Obviously, the simplest way to go is by using a picture of yourself. Gaze straight ahead, with a relaxed and welcoming smile. And don't forget to add your company’s logo to your signature too.

Mind your grammar

Poor grammar will impair your credibility, which is a huge problem if you're trying to convince anyone that you pay attention to details.

In conclusion

We dedicate large amounts of time to improving our skills and qualifications, but sometimes the devil is in the small details. Invest in your email signature and stand out from the pack.

Elisa Abbott's passion is creative writing, but she also has a degree in Computer Science, and assesses translation services for PickWriters.