You are a grown-up now: Send a signature with business emails, automatically!

Two things really irritate me in day-to-day business.

1. Inadequate contact info on email communications
2. Inadequate contact info on voicemail communication*

Solving the email issue is very easy if you simply set up an automatic signature in your email client. Every email should contain basic information such as your full name, phone number(s), and physical business address. Setting up an automatic email signature is simple to do. In fact, if you cannot do it yourself, spend a few bucks and hire a teenager to do it (or maybe a pre-teen).

Simply do an internet search on Google, Bing, or any internet search engine using the search term "email signature." Scroll down past the ads and start reading the articles until you find one that looks easy enough for your purposes. You can also cut to the chase more quickly if you narrow your search by adding the name of your email client such as "email signature Outlook" or "email signature gmail." In fact, I have even done some searches for you:

• Instructions for almost every type of email client from About.com
• Instructions from eHow
• Add on for Thunderbird can be found at WiseStamp

I receive emails every single day from other REALTORS®, from lenders, and from other professionals in the real estate realm such as appraisers and inspectors that have no professional contact info at all. Of course, I can "REPLY," but what if I actually want to follow up with a phone call? What if I need to know at what company you work? What if I am filling out a form that requires the physical address and phone numbers? What if I want to refer you to a client of mine?

Every business email should contain the same information that your business card contains.

Your business emails are not casual documents. They are professional documents, so make them look professional and make them functional.

*Voicemail communication--well, I'll save that for another day! And I will admit, here and now, that there are probably WAY more than two things that really irritate me in day-to-day business.