How to add social media icons to your email signature

Step 1: Choose Your Icons

The first step in creating an email signature with social media icons is deciding which platforms you want to link to. Common social media channels include:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
Pinterest
TikTok
Snapchat

Make sure that the icons you choose represent your actual social media presence and are aligned with your professional or personal brand.

Where to Get the Icons:

Email Signature Rescue Users:

Email Signature Rescue: includes lots of different email signature icons in 20+ colors, sizes and styles.
Use Our Free Tool - Email Icon Generator: Create your own custom social media icons

Other Users:

Official Social Media Icons: Many social platforms offer official icons that are optimized for branding. These icons maintain the correct aspect ratio and are instantly recognizable.
Icon Libraries: Websites like Flaticon, FontAwesome, and IconFinder provide free and premium social media icons in different styles and sizes. Make sure to choose simple, clean icons that fit well with your signature’s overall design.
Custom Icons: If you want a unique touch, you can create custom social media icons to match your brand's color scheme and style.‍

Step 2: Upload the Icons to Your Email Signature

Once you’ve selected your icons, the next step is to upload them to your email signature. Depending on your email client, this step will differ slightly.

Email Signature Rescue Users

Our Icons: It's as simple as going to your Dashboard, editing the signature, clicking the Links tab, choosing the style, size and color, clicking on the icon itself to add to your icons list, then adding your URL link.
Your Icons: If you have your own icons, you can upload them on the Links tab under Add Your Own Icons. The icon will appear once it's uploaded and click on it to add it to your list, then give it a URL link.

Email Signature Rescue Software - Social Media Links Tab

Other Users:

For Gmail:

Go to Gmail and click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner.
Click See all settings.
Scroll down to the Signature section.
Create a new signature or edit an existing one.
To add an icon, click the Insert Image icon (it looks like a picture), then upload your social media icons.
After the icon is inserted, highlight it, then click the Link icon (it looks like a chain) to link the icon to your corresponding social media page.
Save changes and exit.

For Outlook (Web):

Go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply.
Create or edit a signature.
Insert your icons by clicking the Image button, then uploading the icons from your computer.
Highlight each icon and add the corresponding URL via the Link button.
Click Save to apply changes.

For Outlook (Desktop):

Open Outlook.
Click File > Options > Mail > Signatures.
Insert your social media icons by clicking the Insert Image button.
Add links by highlighting the icon and selecting the Link button, then entering the URL for your social media page.
Save the signature and exit.

For Apple Mail (Mac):

Open Mail and go to Preferences > Signatures.
Drag and drop your icons directly into the signature field.
Link the icons by right-clicking the image, selecting Add Link, and entering the URL of your social media page.
Save the signature.

Step 3: Resize and Adjust the Icons

Social media icons in your email signature should be uniform in size and appropriate for the layout. If your icons are too large or too small, they can appear unprofessional and disrupt the signature’s flow.

Email Signature Rescue Users

We take care of the layout and sizing of the social media icons for you.

Other Users

Icon Size: Aim for a size around 10px to 30px. This ensures they’re visible without overpowering the text of your signature.
Uniformity: Keep the sizes consistent. A cluster of icons with varying sizes looks disorganized and can confuse the recipient.
Spacing: Make sure there is enough space between each icon. You don’t want them to appear too cramped, but also avoid excessive empty space.

Many email clients allow you to resize the images directly in the signature editor. However, if you want precise control over the icon dimensions, you can resize them before uploading using an image editor like Photoshop or a free tool like Canva.

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Step 4: Test Your Signature

After adding your social media icons and links, make sure to test your email signature template across different devices and email clients. This will ensure your social media icons look good on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop screens.

Email Signature Rescue Users:

If you're using one our our email signature templates, all the testing has been done for you. Sit back and relax.

Other Users:

Send test emails to yourself and open them on different devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops).
Check the links to ensure they redirect correctly to your social media pages.
Ensure compatibility across different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, etc.).

Step 5: Use a Professional Template (Optional)

If you want a more polished, branded look for your email signature, consider using a professional email signature template. Services like Email Signature Rescue offer pre-designed templates that integrate social media icons seamlessly. Our tools also provide analytics to track how many clicks your social media icons are receiving, which can be valuable for marketing and engagement purposes.

Best Practices for Adding Social Media Icons to Your Email Signature

To ensure your social media icons enhance your email signature rather than detract from it, here are some best practices to follow:

Consistency: Make sure your social media icons are in the same style and size. Consistency across all elements of your signature (colors, fonts, icons) contributes to a cohesive look.
Minimalism: Keep it simple. Don’t overcrowd your signature with too many social icons. Choose the platforms that are most relevant to your brand or industry.
Clickable Links: Ensure that each icon is linked to the correct page and that the links open in a new tab (this can be done in the HTML code of the signature).
Test on Mobile: Many people check emails on mobile devices. Ensure your icons are properly sized and easy to click on mobile screens.
Use Colors Wisely: While the social media icons themselves are recognizable in their default colors, ensure they match the overall aesthetic of your email signature. If necessary, consider using monochrome icons that align with your brand colors.

Adding social media icons to your email signature is a simple yet impactful way to make your emails more engaging and help others easily connect with you online. Whether you're building a personal brand or promoting your business, an email signature with social media icons is an essential tool in your communication strategy. By following these steps and best practices, you can create a professional, effective signature that encourages social interaction and strengthens your digital presence.

100's professionally designed and tested templates