Ever wondered what goes on “under the hood” of a professional Gmail signature? While it might look simple, a well-crafted signature often relies on HTML (HyperText Markup Language). Today, we’ll dissect a typical email signature’s HTML code and compare it with the HTML email signature generator. We will explore why using the HTML email signature generator (also known as email signature creator) is the smarter choice, especially for Gmail and Google Workspace users.
Table of Contents
What is the HTML email signature generator?
The HTML email signature generator is typically an app that allows you to create visually appealing and informative email signatures using HyperText Markup Language (HTML) in an accessible way with no coding knowledge (although that never hurts!). Unlike plain text signatures, HTML signatures can include logos, images, social media icons, and styled fonts, making your emails look professional and memorable. Think of it as dressing your emails in their best attire before sending them out into the world.
A professional HTML email signature generator not only ensures your message is delivered with style and clarity, it also helps you design the signature in a manner that is compatible with common email clients without extensive testing. Some of the standard features of signature generators are drag&drop editor, predefined templates, marketing implementation, and user data management. And let’s not forget dedicated support staff that will guide you and help create the best signature just for you!
Dissecting the HTML signature code
To see how HTML email signatures are structured, we’ll first explore a sample of HTML email signature code, then preview how it renders in an email client, and finally break down its key components.
A sample of the HTML signature code
<table style="padding: 0px; margin: 10px 0; border: none; max-width: 600px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; padding: 10px 7px 0px 0px; width: 118px;">
{if not empty(photo)}
<img alt="Image" data-tpl-color-5="style:border-color" height="96" src="{photo}"
style="border: 0px #003399;" width="96" />
{/if}
<a href="{web}">
<img alt="logo" src="{logo}" style="border: 0px #dddddd;" width="100" />
</a>
</td>
<td>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">
<strong>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;">
<span data-tpl-cke-widget="widget_user_placeholder_firstName">{firstName}</span> {lastName}
</span>
</strong>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;"> | </span>
</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;">{jobtitle}</span><br />
<img alt="email icon" height="10"
src="https://storage.googleapis.com/signaturesatori/customer-C04iswei5/images/ZGhzu.png"
width="11" />
<span style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="mailto:{email}" style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">{email}</a>
</span>
<img alt="mobile icon" height="11"
src="https://storage.googleapis.com/signaturesatori/customer-C04iswei5/images/JoFTR.png"
width="11" />
<span style="color: #5e509c;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="tel:{mobile}" style="text-decoration: underline; color: #5e509c;">{mobile}</a>
</span>
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">Need a hand? Visit our </span>
<span style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://help.signaturesatori.com/en/" style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
Help Center
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span style="font-size: 12px;">, or </span>
<span style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;">
<a href="https://{customField1}" style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
book a call
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"> with me.</span>
</span>
</div>
<span style="line-height: 1.4;">
<span style="font-size: 10px;">
<span style="color: #5e509c;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="https://signaturesatori.com/" style="text-decoration: underline; color: #5e509c;">
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">{company}</span>
</a>
</span>
</span>
<span style="color: #ea5b2e;">|</span>
<span style="color: #414141;">Product of </span>
<span style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="https://www.appsatori.eu/" style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
AppSatori s.r.o.
</a>
</span>
<span style="color: #414141;">, Prague, Czechia, </span>
<span style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/czech-republic/prague"
style="color: #5e509c; text-decoration: underline;">
GMT+2
</a>
</span>
</span>
</span>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br />
{marketing}
How this HTML code appears in an email client
Breaking down key HTML elements
Here are the crucial HTML tags, explained in the context of email signatures:
- <table>, <tbody>, <tr>, <td> – These tags define the table structure. Email signature templates frequently use tables because they’re widely supported, even in older email clients. This is particularly relevant for Gmail, which has its own quirks regarding rendering.
- <img> – Embeds an image (like your company logo). Crucial attributes:
- src: The image URL
- alt: Alternative text (important for accessibility)
- height: Image height
- <a> – Creates a hyperlink.
- For email addresses, use ‘mailto:’
- For phone numbers, use ‘tel:’
- <span> – A generic inline container.
- <strong> – Bold text.
- <div> – A block-level container.
- <br /> – A single line break.
- Inline CSS ( style attribute) – Applies styling directly to elements. This is common in HTML email signatures due to email client limitations.
- Common properties: padding, margin, border, vertical-align, font-family, font-size, line-height, color.
- Common properties: padding, margin, border, vertical-align, font-family, font-size, line-height, color.
- Placeholders ( {…} ) – Not standard HTML. Used by email signature generators to dynamically insert data (e.g., {firstName}).
The limitations of tables and inline CSS (and why Gmail makes it tricky)
While tables are used for broad compatibility, they create problems:
- Not responsive: Tables struggle to adapt to different screen sizes (mobile devices). This is a significant issue for Gmail signatures, as many users check email on their phones.
- Complex and verbose: Table layouts are hard to maintain.
- Inline CSS is messy: Inline CSS is repetitive and makes updates difficult. This is why email signature management software often uses more sophisticated methods behind the scenes.
For more details on design challenges, see Signature Design: General Guidelines.
Why the HTML email signature generator is essential (especially for Gmail)
Hand-coding HTML, especially for Gmail, is time-consuming and error-prone. An email signature generator is a superior solution:
- User-friendly interface (UI): Point-and-click customization. No coding is needed.
- Pre-designed templates: Email signature templates provide a professional starting point, saving you time and effort. Many generators offer specific Gmail signature templates.
- Speed and efficiency: Create a signature in minutes, not hours.
- Pre-made social media icons: Easily add links for your social media.
- Central management: This is crucial for businesses. HTML email signature generator allows you to deploy and update signatures across your organization, ensuring consistency (essential for Google Workspace email signature deployments).
- Dynamic data: Generators seamlessly handle placeholders, pulling data from user profiles.
Responsiveness: A good responsive email signature generator ensures your signature looks great on all devices, addressing the limitations of table-based layouts. Many offer dedicated solutions of HTML email signature generators for Gmail.
HTML email signature vs. Image signature
An image signature is simply a picture. Think of it like a photograph of your signature, that you can create in graphic software, such as Canva or Figma, and export as a JPG or PNG file. This image signature is a flat, unchangeable picture that lacks the dynamic and interactive qualities of an HTML signature.
Disadvantages of the image signature
- Limited interactivity: An image signature can contain only one clickable link. In contrast, an HTML email signature allows different links for different elements, such as logos, social media icons, and contact details.
- Text isn’t selectable: Contact info can’t be copied.
- Accessibility issues: Screen readers can’t interpret the text.
- Larger file size: Slower email loading.
- Often blocked by email clients: Some clients, including Gmail, sometimes block images by default.
While understanding the underlying HTML of an email signature is helpful, using an email signature generator is the most practical and efficient solution. Whether you’re looking for the HTML email signature generator for Gmail or comprehensive email signature management software, these tools simplify the process and ensure a professional, consistent, and functional result. At SignatureSatori, you can solve all potential issues outlined above in a few clicks or contact our skilled support team!
