Today I received an e-mail from a someone who, I would argue, went a little crazy with their signature file — that virtual Rolodex card at the bottom of a message that holds all manner of contact information. Here’s a fictionalized version of what showed up (I’ve changed all of the details to protect the innocent, but the type of content and the line count is the same as what I got), inspired by James Bond novels and movies .
Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Leader, Number 1
SPECTRE – Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion
12 Rue des Méchants
75000 Paris, France
P: +33 1 12 34 56 78
F: +33 1 87 65 43 21
M: +33 1 22 33 44 55
E: number1@spectre.org
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ernieblo
Skype: meanguyspectre
www.spectre.org
www.spectrekids.netSPECTREfest 2011 is Feb 7-10 at the bottom of the South China Sea.
So that’s 15 lines. 15. That means this is attached to e-mails that say things like “yes” and “Let’s do it at 2:30 p.m. instead.”
And on a smartphone? That extra info takes up an entire extra screen.
Since I’m an editor, I figured I could try to cut this down to fit. Here are my notes.
Ernst Stavro Blofeld – Fair enough, I should have your full name.
Leader, Number 1 – Title isn’t always necessary, and may bespeak some insecurity (I include mine on a lot of correspondence, but then I’m insecure), but sure.
SPECTRE – Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion — I probably know what SPECTRE stands for, but maybe it’s worth explaining in some cases. What’s worse is when the added verbiage is just a slogan, like, “SPECTRE – Undermining world order since 1961.” I don’t need advertising here.
12 Rue des Méchants
75000 Paris, France — A mailing address? Aren’t we corresponding via e-mail? I’m not suggesting that regular mail will never come up, but it seems infrequent, no? And if I need that information, can’t I just ask you?
P: +33 1 12 34 56 78 — Fine.
F: +33 1 87 65 43 21 — No. See mailing address.
M: +33 1 22 33 44 55 — O.K. But your job may be the kind where you don’t need to be reached by everyone all the time. If that’s the case, give out your mobile selectively.
E: number1@spectre.org — Isn’t your e-mail address at the top of this… e-mail?
Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ernieblo — Couldn’t it just be “@ernieblo?” If someone doesn’t know what that is, they don’t use Twitter, so no worries.
Skype: meanguyspectre — Depends. If you work in lots of international locations or deal with lots of people in far-flung places, I can see how that would be good. But most of the time, I can request this from you when I need it.
www.spectre.org — I’d nix this. Your URL is often your e-mail domain, and most people know that.
www.spectrekids.net — If one URL is wrong, two are doubly wrong.
[Blank line here] — No, go ahead. Take up more space.
SPECTREfest 2011 is Feb 7-10 at the bottom of the South China Sea. — This, as well as inspirational and/or humorous quotes, are the bumper stickers of the Internet. Lose it.
If I put my edits into play, and add a soupçon of design, Blofeld could have something like this:
Ernst Stavro Blofeld | Leader, Number 1 | SPECTRE
+33 1 12 34 56 78 | @ernieblo | skype: meanguyspectre
That’s six pieces of information (name, title, organization, phone, Twitter and Skype) on two lines. The vertical lines do a little separating, and the bold makes it pop. Moreover, it’s a simple, efficient dose of information that doesn’t overwhelm anyone. And you still have, I would argue, one more line to use if you do need to add things like a fax number or something.
And you’re being a conservationist this way. Our precious digital resources will be preserved. Countless bits will be saved. This is one small step for a sustainable Internet.