| You've heard the term, but what exactly is a | | | | Proposition) can be the most difficult part for |
| signature file and why do you need one?A | | | | some people. Your USP is meant to reach out to |
| signature file is how you sign your online | | | | your perfect customers and let them know |
| correspondence and it's the equivalent of your | | | | exactly what they will get from your product or |
| online business card. It not only identifies you, but | | | | service. It's made up of three parts:- A word |
| your business as well. It helps to build your brand | | | | ending with ing, this can be something like |
| and keep your products in the minds of your | | | | providing, supplying, teaching, offering, etc.- Your |
| prospects.Huh?Ok. To put it in plainly, think of it | | | | perfect customer, summed up in two or three |
| this way. You might interact with your contacts | | | | words.- The highest benefit of what you offer in |
| and online acquaintances regularly, but you're a | | | | four words or less. Not a feature, but the end |
| social person and it's only a small percentage of | | | | result of taking you up on your offer.example: |
| your conversations that really revolve around | | | | Teaching health conscious women how to lose |
| your business. You don't use a signature file, | | | | weight naturally.5. URL is simply the URL for your |
| you've never really thought about it...until you find | | | | web site. Be sure to spell it all out including the |
| one of your best contacts just bought the same | | | | http:// part. This increases the chances that your |
| kind of products you're selling from a competitor! | | | | link will be clickable from your prospect's |
| Not only that, she is very sorry and hopes she | | | | mailbox.All together it would look like this:To your |
| didn't hurt your feelings, but she didn't know you | | | | health!Jane Doe |
| sold what she wanted!I've seen this happen many | | | | Herbal Consultant |
| times and it could easily have been avoided with a | | | | Teaching health conscious women how to |
| simple signature file. Your signature file could have | | | | lose weight naturally. |
| served to remind her that YOU sell just what she | | | | not an ad, but it tells very clearly who Jane is |
| was looking for and, if you had been using one, | | | | and what she does. If the reader is at all unsure |
| you would have made the sale.This is what is | | | | about how they know Jane, this signature file will |
| meant by "building your brand."As a business | | | | jog their memory easily without being pushy. If |
| owner, you want your business to become | | | | they have any interest in weight loss products, |
| associated with the products you sell. Ideally you | | | | they will realize that their friend/contact offers |
| want to build that name until it is synonymous | | | | just what they are looking for. The reader may |
| with the types of products and/or services you | | | | even remember, after seeing the same signature |
| provide.It's never too early to build your brand. | | | | over and over, to tell a friend who is looking for |
| Some people think, "Oh, I am just starting out, I | | | | this kind of product that they know just where |
| don't have to worry about building my brand just | | | | to get it!Resist the urge to make your signature |
| yet," but it's not true. The truth is you build your | | | | file too long with multiple URL's.If you have |
| brand with everything you do in relation to your | | | | several offers, create signature files for each and |
| business. When you create a web site, design | | | | use them individually where appropriate. For |
| business cards, write copy, follow up with | | | | example, if you're talking about health you might |
| prospects, make a sale, or handle a difficult | | | | want to use the example above, but if you're |
| customer, you build your brand for good or ill. You | | | | talking about business, you might want to direct |
| absolutely want to put your best foot forward!So, | | | | people to a more business oriented site. Or, if |
| how do you create a winning signature | | | | your offers are related, consider creating your |
| file?Typically, a signature file is composed of five | | | | own web site that links to all of them so you can |
| parts:1. Closing | | | | promote them all with just one URL.Use a P.S. to |
| 2. Name | | | | let prospects know about special offers or |
| 3. Function | | | | promotions.I recommend using the same signature |
| 4. USP (Unique Sales Proposition) | | | | file(s) consistently. It conveys stability and success |
| 5. URL1. The closing should be something friendly | | | | with your endeavor. But there will be times when |
| that, if possible, relates to your product. Someone | | | | you want to highlight something special that's |
| who sells nutritional supplements might like "To | | | | going on with your business. These are perfect |
| your health!" as a closing.2. This is pretty self | | | | times to use a P.S.A postscript stands out to |
| explanatory. For all business correspondence, | | | | readers as important info and most will at least |
| state your full name. If it's a casual enough | | | | glance at them. Keep it short and make it |
| message that you feel comfortable using a | | | | compelling to inspire action. Like this:P.S. Free |
| nickname, then you probably don't need a | | | | Shipping on all orders during the month of |
| signature file, but even with your closest contacts, | | | | October! you have a special page that talks |
| it's a good idea to use one regularly.3. This might | | | | directly about your promotion, be sure to include |
| seem self explanatory, but some people have | | | | the URL here so prospects don't have to look for |
| difficulty with it. Of course you're not going to | | | | it on their own.)Copy and paste.Once you've |
| write "Supplement Salesman," you'll want to be | | | | created a signature file (and doubled checked it |
| more creative. Perhaps "Natural Health Educator" | | | | for accuracy) save it somewhere that gives you |
| or "Herbal Consultant." These kinds of titles help | | | | easy access. Whenever you need it, simply copy |
| to convey the benefit others will get from | | | | and paste it into your message. This saves time |
| working with you.4. Writing a USP (or Unique Sale | | | | and reduces your risk of typos. |