Does the "Sent from my iPad" email signature make you seem unprofessional?

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 06:56 AM

After reading the article via the iMore blog, I became slightly annoyed. I disagree that the default "Sent from my iPad" signature is unprofessional and the points that Kevin was trying to make had little merit, in my opinion. Since when does the signature become more important than the body of the email? If a sender wanted a response, who cares if the response came via iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac or Windows computer? I would argue that *some* people who claim to dislike the default signature dislikes it because of envy. Besides, how many people have complained about signatures that are more than 4 lines or have contained large artwork? A lot, especially in forums and yet a 4-word signature is somehow unprofessional? Whatever!

**Irish Rose** · 08-17-2012, 07:27 AM

Absolutely not! If it were, the Doctors at the Hospital I work in wouldn't use it. I just think the whole thing is laughable as "most" of the time I don't even look at a persons signature since I know who it was from by the email address. I use whatever signature that I want and couldn't be bothered by what people think of it....

Sent from my iPad.

**Massie** · 08-17-2012, 07:56 AM

Not sure if it's unprofessional, but I do find it needless and a bit tacky. Why not use that signature space for something more useful? And while the iPad version isn't terrible, there are some truly awful carrier versions: " Sent on my Doohickey Formula 44 Smartphone, Powered by Verizon's Blazing 4G Network." Now THOSE look ridiculous and unprofessional—like giving someone one of those business cards that are "free" to you but have an advertisement for the printer on the back.

The worst, though, are the addresses themselves. Nothing says unprofessional like kittylovr3826@hotmail. Those boggle my mind.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Massie

Not sure if it's unprofessional, but I do find it needless and a but tacky. Why not use that signature space for something more useful?

Isn't that space reserved for however the owner wishes to use it? Who's to say that having the signature, "Sent from my iPad", isn't useful to the sender?

And while the iPad version isn't terrible, there are some truly awful carrier versions: " Sent on my Doohickey Formula 44 Smartphone, Powered by Verizon's Blazing 4G Network." Now THOSE look ridiculous and unprofessional—like giving someone one of those business cards that are "free" to you but have an advertisement for the printer on the back.

I hear you, but again, people are smart enough to assume that the sender is simply using the default signature that came with their device and unless it is something that's way out there, many readers will not give the signature a second look, in my opinion.

The worst, though, are the addresses themselves. Nothing says unprofessional like kittylovr3826@hotmail. Those boggle my mind.

Now here, I'm in full agreement and I'm my own worst enemy. My signature -Just Me, D- is known by everyone who knows me personally and if my recipients do not see that signature, they will doubt that the message is from me. Having said that, there have been occasions where I've sent business related emails to non-personal entities in which I had forgotten to delete my trademark signature for a more "appropriate" one and felt like an ***** afterwards. Hahaha. It doesn't happen that often, however.

Anyway, thank you for responding and have a pleasant day.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by kch50428

I saw Rene tweeted about the subject... then the article popped up on the iMore Blog... there's one comment on the blog that struck me as being too close to the truth: Does the "Sent from my iPad" email signature make you seem unprofessional? | iMore.com -- that about covers it for me.

Which comment, Keith?

**kch50428** · 08-17-2012, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by JustMe'D

Which comment, Keith?

4th from the top.... The one about bigotry/arrogance. And yeah, I deleted the post after seeing the link didn't go where I wanted it to...

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by kch50428

4th from the top.... The one about bigotry/arrogance. And yeah, I deleted the post after seeing the link didn't go where I wanted it to...

The person who wrote the reply is onto something and his or her examples are spot-on, in my opinion. Those that have are always pushed to appease those that have not whereas the have-nots seem to always despise the haves for having and try to make it shameful for them to have. I definitely see a slight correlation between my analogy and Kevin's remarks.

**kch50428** · 08-17-2012, 08:53 AM

I think Crackberry Kevin is having some issues with RIM's fall from grace as a tech powerhouse and it manifested itself in this drivel. Maybe Georgia can do a psych analysis of that and make a blog post on it.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by kch50428

I think Crackberry Kevin is having some issues with RIM's fall from grace as a tech powerhouse and it manifested itself in this drivel. Maybe Georgia can do a psych analysis of that and make a blog post on it.

(laughing)...You may be onto something there, my friend

**Massie** · 08-17-2012, 09:04 AM

Interesting, I would never think that way--to me it has nothing to do with what I think of the iPad. The issue would be the same if it were "Sent from my Retina MBP." For me it's just a question of letter writing standards—I feel the same way about any signature that isn't some form of name/contact info. The rest, to me, is just clutter I'm forcing on the person receiving my mail. (Long quotes from Buddha, a paragraph about privacy and intended recipients, please save trees and do not print this email, etc.)

I'm curious about the idea that it would be useful to the sender, though; can you expand on that idea?

**cardfan** · 08-17-2012, 09:14 AM

I just don't think it matters where an email is sent from which is why I leave that part blank. I also don't agree with his premise that "sent from mobile" can excuse typos or bad writing for business purposes. Sure, "sent from mobile" can indicate you're responsive even on the go, but it should never be meant to excuse/expect mistakes.

The bottom line is what the client sees in that email is you talking to them. It represents you and your company. Be specific and only include what is needed. And proofread quickly before tapping send.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Massie

...(snipped)...

I'm curious about the idea that it would be useful to the sender, though; can you expand on that idea?

What is considered useful is subjective, but, for the sake of argument, what if the sender wanted his or her recipients to know that he or she had an iPad? Wouldn't his or her "Sent from my iPad" signature be useful for that particular purpose? I have no doubt that some people have that intention. Just because some people may find it distasteful or useless doesn't mean that everyone will.

**tack** · 08-17-2012, 09:23 AM

It is a completely useless signature and it seems like you are trying to brag about having an iPad, much like it was intended with the original iPhone. I think it makes people seem a little lazy or not tech savvy.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Tack

It is a completely useless signature

Why is it useless?

and it seems like you are trying to brag about having an iPad, much like it was intended with the original iPhone.

What is wrong with being excited about having a new iPhone or iPad and letting your recipients know that you got one or both via an email signature?

I think it makes people seem a little lazy or not tech savvy.

How so?

**Garz** · 08-17-2012, 12:22 PM

I couldn't disagree more with Kevin's post. I send many long emails from my iPad and I do value my time. It would take my longer to fire up my Mac just to type out that email. Signatures shouldn't matter. Mine still says "Sent from my iPad".

**cardfan** · 08-17-2012, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Garz

I couldn't disagree more with Kevin's post. I send many long emails from my iPad and I do value my time. It would take my longer to fire up my Mac just to type out that email. Signatures shouldn't matter. Mine still says "Sent from my iPad".

I don't agree about that either. That a person isn't valuing his (or your time billed) time if he uses an ipad to send an email. But then again, I know better as that's how I bill my clients, by the hour. But here's a hint, it's never that accurate. I've seen people in my firm wait til the last of the month to fill in all their hours. It's not fun. It's a hassle. And it's definitely not accurate.

Anyway, you total up the hours and bill the client. If it sounds like too much, you adjust them. It's common sense basically. That's your "realized" billable hours.

Still, I don't include things the client doesn't need to know in the sig. The less a client knows and all... As Kevin said, why risk it?

**Garz** · 08-17-2012, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by cardfan

I don't agree about that either. That a person isn't valuing his (or your time billed) time if he uses an ipad to send an email. But then again, I know better as that's how I bill my clients, by the hour. But here's a hint, it's never that accurate. I've seen people in my firm wait til the last of the month to fill in all their hours. It's not fun. It's a hassle. And it's definitely not accurate.

Anyway, you total up the hours and bill the client. If it sounds like too much, you adjust them. It's common sense basically. That's your "realized" billable hours.

Still, I don't include things the client doesn't need to know in the sig. The less a client knows and all... As Kevin said, why risk it?

I see the point but people should never assume. Maybe the guy was typing on a Bluetooth keyboard case or something. We are in a tablet world now. They are used for business in many situations. I don't think there are many people who think down on somebody who sends a email on any tablet.

**kch50428** · 08-17-2012, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Garz

II don't think there are many people who think down on somebody who sends a email on any tablet.

It appears Crackberry Kevin does, at least a little.

**JustMe'D** · 08-17-2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Garz

I see the point but people should never assume. Maybe the guy was typing on a Bluetooth keyboard case or something. We are in a tablet world now. They are used for business in many situations. I don't think there are many people who think down on somebody who sends a email on any tablet.

This is spot-on, in my opinion.

**Heisenberg** · 08-17-2012, 04:26 PM

I like CB Kevin. He's a cool cat. But saying that your email signature showing you're sending from a tablet isn't professional is funny coming from him. When CB linked a review for the iPad 3 on the CB homepage, the people there kept pressuring Kevin into doing something about it. So the next day after Adam Zeis originally posted that review link, Kevin did the same thing. Only with a headline pic of himself holding a Playbook and him squatting pretending to take a caca while there was an iPad underneath him. I'm all for immature fun and games. Just don't say an email signature from a tablet is unprofessional.

**LVMHgirl** · 08-18-2012, 06:38 AM

The iPad is a perfectly acceptable and universal work device, so any correspondence "Sent from my iPad" should be just as official and professional as any other email.

I use my iPhone/iPad for work emails as well as personal ones. On my BlackBerry, I was able to have my business signature (name, title, company, address, phone, fax, website, etc.) on my business email account and my personal email signatures were empty.

With the iPhone/iPad all signatures currently are the same across all emails so I have signatures empty on my iPhone and keep my work signature on the notepad and copy-paste it whenever I write a business email. My iPad default signature is my business signature and when I do write a personal email on the iPad, I just have to remember to delete the business sig.

I can't wait until the signatures are customizable for each email account!

**dwayne.williams** · 08-18-2012, 07:23 AM

I don't agree with the article. I don't think that a lot of people really put a lot of stock in the email signature. If most people are like me, they were just too lazy to change the signature. I definitely don't look at it as a status symbol or some means to get attention.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

**robertk328** · 08-18-2012, 07:29 AM

I'm an apple junkie so it's not about arrogance or envy for me. I just think it looks dumb. Pet peeve of mine I guess.

**dwayne.williams** · 08-18-2012, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by robertk328

I'm an apple junkie so it's not about arrogance or envy for me. I just think it looks dumb. Pet peeve of mine I guess.

Why do you think it looks dumb?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

**robertk328** · 08-18-2012, 09:50 AM

It's just not necessary and has information that just isn't relevant IMO. I also commented on the front page post about emails where the signature is longer than the email itself. Your post does the same ;-)

Edit: a signature is for something like your name, useful contact info, etc. "Sent from my....<whatever>" just doesn't (to me) seem necessary, useful, helpful, etc.