Using images in email signatures

What is the best method for incorporating an image into an email signature?

[jetnovo]

My boss has requested that I insert a gif image of my company's logo into all email signatures in the office (luckily that's only 6 computers).

I've had a play and have found that I can use an HTML signature with an absolute address for the image, so that it is downloaded off our website each time. It works fine and looks great; the only problem is that obviously the signature is not visible when viewing a message offline.

Including ALT text is one way of working around this, but ultimately that just looks ugly!

A second option I've come across is to insert the image inline in an HTML message and send it with the message. While this does show up fine at the recipient's end, unfortunately it registers as an attachment to the message. I expect this could be frustrating for clients who expectantly open the attachment only to find that it contains nothing more than my company's logo (every friggin time!).

I work with people either using Outlook 2000, 2002, or Outlook Express for Windows XP. Both of the above methods work with all programmes but as mentioned have drawbacks.

Does anyone know of an alternative way to incorporate a gif image into an email signature?

If not, then which of the two above options is generally considered the best? I've been told that reverting to plain text signatures is "not an option"!

[birdbrain]

Hi there jetnovo,

There is a way to stop the inserted img appearing as an
attachment also and that is to make it a background like this

<style type="text/css">
body {
background:url(your_logo.jpg) no-repeat scroll top left #ffffff;
}
</style>

This will position your logo to the top left of the page but,
of course you can place it just about anywhere with these options...

top left
top center
top right
center left
center center
center right
bottom left
bottom center
bottom right
x-% y-%
x-pos y-pos

If you are not familiar with 'css' or backgrounds you may
find this site useful...
w3schools.com [w3schools.com]

birdbrain

[Sanenet]

Remember that inserting images into emails is not "best practice". A lot of users don't accept or read HTML emails, or have images turned off (include Outlook 2003 by default) which means your image just won't appear. Or they're using email clients that don't accept images point blank (non MS). Increased use of bandwidth and download time of the email. Etc.

You also have to remember that including an image into an email can be another point on the potential "spam" checklist of the spam filters, so if you also include dodgy words you could have your email banned.

My personal feeling is that it's ok to include images if they add something to the email (i.e. newsletters). A single image sent in an email always strikes me as somebody trying to show off, especially when it's just a company logo.