How to Create an HTML Email Signature

Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail each let you add a customized signature with formatted text, images, and links to every email you send. This article explains how to do it. The instructions specifically apply to Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook, but should generally work with most other email services that accept rich text signatures.

How to Add a Signature with Mail-Signatures.com

Many people find it easier to use an email HTML signature generator service. For example, Mail-Signatures.com and WiseStamp let you select the mail provider you use and type custom content into fields. Here's how to use Mail-Signatures.com's service.

1. Open a web browser on your computer and go to https://www.mail-signatures.com/signature-generator/.

2. In the upper-left corner, select your email platform. Choose from Outlook, Outlook 365, Thunderbird, Gmail, Exchange Server, or Exchange Online.

   If you use Yahoo Mail, choose the Gmail option. The HTML code generated for Gmail should also work within Yahoo Mail.

3. Select a signature template. Mail-Signatures.com offers dozens of template options. Use the arrows to browse the available options. Click a template to select it. When you select a template, the signature details options displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen change. For example, some templates include Disclaimer Text areas, while other templates omit this section.

4. Customize your email signature details. Select each of the sections displayed in the lower-left corner of the screen and enter your email signature data. If you don't wish to include a field, delete the sample data in the field. Repeat the process for Personal Data, Company Data, Disclaimer Text, Style, and Social Media Links.

   You can include additional contact methods in your email signature, including one or more phone numbers or links to social media networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can also include a street address or website link. Usually, you can omit your email address because anyone who received your email has this information. You can likely omit your fax number unless you work in a field that relies on faxes.

5. To include a custom photo or logo, select the Graphics option. You'll need a public link (URL) if you want to include a custom image in your signature.

   To get a public link, upload the image to Google Drive or Flickr, for example, and make the file available to anyone.

6. When you're finished filling in and customizing fields, choose Apply your signature.

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7. Review and follow any preliminary instructions on the screen, and then select Copy signature to the clipboard.

   If you want to review or customize your HTML signature code, paste the code you just copied into an HTML editor. For example, open a browser tab, go to https://html5-editor.net/, and paste the code into the display box on the right side of the screen. The source HTML code for your signature displays on the left side of the screen. You may make additional edits either in the code or in the display box.

8. Continue the instructions for your email provider below to locate the signature field and paste (Ctrl+V) your new HTML signature into the web version of your mail service.

How to Add an HTML Signature in Gmail

If you use Gmail, you can add an HTML signature from a browser on your computer.

1. Select the gear icon in the upper-right corner of Gmail, then choose See all settings.

2. Select the General tab, then scroll down to the Signature area.

3. If you don't have a Gmail signature set up, choose Create new, and then name the signature. Then, paste your HTML email signature into the Signature field, and edit as desired.

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and select Save Changes.

How to Add an HTML Signature in Yahoo Mail

If you use Yahoo Mail, add an HTML signature from a browser on your computer.

1. Select the Settings icon just below the icon and word Home, in the upper-right corner of Yahoo Mail.

2. Select More Settings near the bottom of the options that display.

3. Choose Writing email from the menu that displays on the left side of the screen.

4. Enable the Signature slider.

5. Paste your HTML email signature into the Signature field, and edit as desired.

How to Add an HTML Signature in Outlook

If you use Outlook on the web, you can add an HTML signature from a browser on your computer.

1. Select the gear icon in the upper-right corner of Outlook Mail.

2. Select View all Outlook settings at the bottom of the options that display.

3. Choose Compose and reply.

4. Paste your HTML email signature into the Email signature field, and edit as desired.

5. Select the Automatically include my signature on new messages that I compose check box and the Automatically include my signature on messages I forward or reply to check box to add your signature to messages.

6. Select Save.