Your email signature can say a lot about you and the business you run, says Ian Brodie, a marketing coach based in Manchester, England. “It can be much more than a name at the bottom of the page,” he says.

It takes only five minutes, Brodie says, to create a signature that can help you stand out.

While you likely won’t experience a tsunami of sales based solely on your email signature, he adds, creating one that generates even a small or medium impact is worth the effort.

Beyond offering the key, traditional, ways to contact you, Brodie says, the following suggestions can help you get more from your email signature:

> Keep a professional look
Splashy colours or bizarre fonts can not only make your information difficult to read, but can also bring your professionalism into question.

If you’re not sure how much creative flair to use, err on the side of caution. If you are a creative person, that creativity should come through in other, more effective ways, such as on your website or your blog.

> Aim for consistency
Email will likely be one of your first interactions with prospective clients. A good signature is a great first step in promoting your brand, particularly if you have an email marketing program.

In your email signature, include fonts, colours and other visual elements that are present in your other materials. This consistency, Brodie says, will help you to offer a “universal experience.”

> Link to other platforms
If you make consistent use of social media, include links to one or two of your most popular platforms.

For example, Brodie suggests, you might include links to your LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook profiles in your email signature.

But don’t go overboard. Include only those platforms you update and monitor consistently and that are relevant to your practice.

> Repeat your call to action
Your signature is the perfect place to repeat your call to action — such as a request for clients to call you for a meeting.

Here, you can properly declare how you can make a difference for your clients. Consider adding short, pithy endorsement, Brodie says, particularly if it demonstrates your value or lends added credibility to your practice.

For example, if you are the bestselling author of a book that’s relevant to your practice, or if you have won a “best client service” award from an industry organization, tell the world.