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How to Add an Electronic Signature in Word

The use of electronic signatures has become more popular in recent years as a way to speed up the process of completing transactions. An electronic signature is simply a signature that is affixed to an electronic document and is generally considered to be just as legally binding as a handwritten signature.

Microsoft Word includes a feature that allows you to create an electronic signature for a document. In this article, we will show you how to create an electronic signature and how to use it in a Microsoft Word document.

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is a digital representation of a handwritten signature. Electronic signatures are used to authenticate documents and transactions online. 

Electronic signatures are created by typing your name into a designated field on a document and clicking a button to confirm that you agree to the terms.

An electronic signature carries the same legal weight as a handwritten signature and is often used for contracts, agreements, and other important documents. They can be used to sign documents online or to sign and send documents electronically.

How to add an electronic signature in a word?

Signature lines are a built-in tool in MS Word. Here’s how to do add signature lines to MS Word:

1. Place your cursor where you want to sign the document.

2. Click on the “Insert” section in the menu bar above.

electronic signature in word

3. Go to Text > Signature Line > Microsoft Office Signature Line.

electronic signature in word

4. A small pop-up window will appear. Write the name, title, and e-mail address of the signer in the appropriate boxes.

electronic signature in word

 

 

Limitations of using MS Word for electronic signatures

Microsoft Word is not intended to be a tool for electronic signatures. Although it can be used to add your signature digitally there are several functional gaps that restrict its potential use.

The most noticeable limitation of using Microsoft Word is that it can not accomplish what other dedicated tools can do after sending the document for an e signature.

Imagine you want to send the proposal or contract to the list of prospective clients. With Word what you’ll do is first you’ll create a proposal, sign it electronically and then send it to multiple clients. 

After sending the proposal, the recipients will read the document and decide if they want to go ahead or not. And if they are interested they’ll sign it and send it back to you. Instead, if you use dedicated electronic signature tools like Fresh Proposals, you can not only get the documents signed electronically from potential clients but you can see how each one engaged with your proposal before signing it. However, this is not feasible with Word.

The second biggest drawback of Word is that it is not the most efficient way to eSign the documents. This may not be a big problem for those who rarely send documents to get it eSigned, but if you’re someone who sends a lot of sales documents then it can be highly time-consuming.

 

What other platforms can offer that Word can’t?

There are several additional softwares that are specialized in digitally creating, sending, and signing sales documents. Fresh Proposals, for example, offers customers a massive collection of professional-looking proposals, quote, contract templates to help them create high-quality sales documents more quickly.

On this platform, with an easy interface and just fe clicks, you can easily add an electronic signature to your document. Once signed, the documents can be sent to a list of clients directly through the tool itself. Once sent, the tool gives all insights about how each one engaged with your proposal before signing it.

Adopting, a specialized e signature tool like Fresh Proposals can not only transform the way you eSign documents but can substantially simplify your entire sales process.

Conclusion

Although Microsft Word is the most commonly used program by businesses and individuals but it’s not the ideal choice for e signatures. There is a vast range of software that is specifically dedicated to creating electronic signatures and adding them to sales documents.