Update Feb 6, 2011: While these main instructions are written for Outlook 2007 a reader figured out how to do it in Outlook 2003 (Major hat tip going out to Shawna Brown in Las Vegas for figuring this out and updating me on how to do it!) If using 2003 jump to the end to read how to complete those steps for Outlook 2003.
These instructions are written using Outlook 2007 and can really be used to add any icon/picture as a clickable link in your email signature. You could use it to add a LinkedIn or YouTube icon as well.
If you are only wanting to add a Twitter icon to your email signature the best place to chose your desired picture is at http://www.twitterlogos.com/ – they literally have pages and pages of all shapes, sizes and even fun animated ones (though I have not tested any animated ones to see if the animation still shows in the signature but I would imagine it probably would).
If you are looking for other social media icons a comprehensive list is available at http://www.iconspedia.com/. Type the name of the desired icon in their left hand search bar and it will bring back available options. Once you select the icon you will be given different size choices.
In this video I used www.picnik.com to quickly resize the photo to the desired size (in this example I used 25×25 pixels).
Video Instructions for how to add a Twitter clickable icon to your email signature
Written notes on how to add clickable icon to your email signature – for Outlook 2007
- Tools
- Options
- Mail Format
- Signatures
- New (or edit)
- Click: Insert picture (on right hand side of screen) >> Insert desired picture
- Now that picture is inserted into the signature click on the chain link icon (hyperlink) >>type in desired URL
- Save
Now go test it out – when you hover over the picture you should see a box giving you the URL assigned to the photo
Notes for Outlook 2003 ~ by default it appears that you cannot add an image to a signature, but you can!
The most important steps prior to adding your social media icons to your signature is to make sure you have:
- Saved the icon/image in it’s final destination. Apparently if you move the image AFTER creating the signature it will disappear from the signature file.
- Be sure to resize the image prior to insertion (use a free tool such as picnik or download smaller icons)
After your image is the proper size and “housed” in it’s final home you can do the following to add your social media icons to your email signature in Outlook 2003
- Tools
- Options
- Mail Form
- Signatures
- New (or edit)
- In the “whitebox” of the main screen of the signature box “right click” and “insert image”
- Then chose “Advanced Edit” – this will launch Microsoft Word and will allow you to right click on the image, enter the desired hyperlink address.
- Save