How To Insert A Digital Signature In Word

Microsoft Word has a handy built-in characteristic that allows users to create and add electronic signatures documents.

Despite its popularity, yet, Give-and-take is somewhat limited concerning wider functionality when it comes to electronic signatures – making Word an outdated software selection for many organizations, who could benefit from a switch to more defended eSigning platforms such as PandaDoc and DocuSign.

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature also knows as an eSignature, is simply a digitalized form of a traditional concrete signature, making it easier to sign documents. Similar a standard handwritten signature, electronic signatures are mostly at that place to serve every bit proof that the signer has canonical the certificate in question.

Besides, many people find that eSignatures make documents look more professional, which is very important when trying to projection the right paradigm in the business globe.

Why use electronic signatures?

E-signatures are a lot faster to use than traditional signatures since yous don't need to impress, physically sign, and then scan a certificate back to the sender. eSignatures just need to be created once, so can exist added apace and easily to whatever future document.

E-signatures are pregnant for anyone needing to send out signed documents oft. Teams like sales teams, contract managers and just virtually any business owner or administrator can profoundly do good from their use.

When used properly, a digital signature is also legally binding in the aforementioned way as a real signature. They can also be encrypted, so it's safe to employ them fifty-fifty in disquisitional and sensitive documents.

Why add an electronic signature with Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is the universal word processing software used by businesses and individuals across the world to create documents. Because it is so widely used, many people cull to add eSignatures to documents in Give-and-take to increment the speed of their document processes.

The main advantage of calculation electronic signatures to your Give-and-take documents is that most already use the software to create and edit their documents.

However, while this may exist the almost obvious benefit, be sure your organization can indeed back up the use-case of electronic signatures before moving forward with a solution.

Follow these necessary steps to add electronic signatures to a Microsoft Word document (these steps utilize to Microsoft Word versions 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Function 365):

one. Place the cursor where you'd like your signature line to get in your Word document.

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2. Go to the Insert tab and nether "Text" click "Signature List," followed by "Microsoft Office Signature Line".

iii. Consummate the fields most signature details in the setup box that pops up and select your preferences for the signature box.

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4. Correct click on the signature box in the certificate.

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Click "Select Prototype" to choose an image of a signature that you have already saved.
Alternatively, if you're using a bear on screen, you can hand draw your signature into the box.
Or type a printed version of your name directly into the box.

While it's entirely possible to eSign documents using Give-and-take, the signature setup can be a convoluted process. Every person who's signing the document will need to download the document, open information technology in Word, and follow step 4 to add their signature or print and hand-sign information technology.

You'll then need to save the document and sent information technology back to the sender, which merely wastes time and potentially opens up room for human fault.

Limitations of using Discussion for electronic signatures

Discussion is not designed as electronic signature software, and while information technology tin be used to add signatures digitally, in that location are some gaps in functionality that limit its potential benefits.

The biggest limitation of using Word is that it can't do what other software tin can do afterward you lot collect a signature. Documents are signed to concur to the contents of the medico and add legitimacy, which ofttimes means they need to be sent to other intended recipients.

Imagine that your company wants to send a business proposal to potential clients or prospects. You need first to create the certificate, sign information technology electronically, then send it, possibly to dozens of recipients.

These recipients so need to read it, make up one's mind if they're interested, sign information technology themselves and ship it back. Ideally, yous could ship your document rapidly to a list of targets, and and then see how each recipient interacted with the doc before they sign it. Unfortunately, this isn't possible with Discussion.

Some other big drawback of Word is that information technology is non the fastest way to add signature lines and eSign documents. This may non be a huge issue for those who rarely send documents that need to be signed but, for companies and departments that ship a loftier volume of sales documents, similar proposals and quotes, it can exist very time-consuming to use Give-and-take.

What tin other platforms offer that Word can't?

There are many other examples of software that are dedicated to creating, sending and signing business organisation documents digitally, such equally PandaDoc and DocuSign. These services offer a much broader range of useful features, generally making information technology straightforward to create signature fields and eSignatures.

PandaDoc, for example, provides users with a vast database of templates tailored to a wide range of business organisation utilise cases, such as different types of quotes and proposals, too as internal functions like human resources or legal documents, to speed up the creation of high-quality, professional documents.

Adding an eSignature is painless on these dedicated platforms, with intuitive interfaces and one-click addition oft supported. Once signed, the documents can be sent to a listing of recipients quickly and hands, direct through the software itself, and a secure signing certificate may be created.

Once sent, documents are tracked when using platforms like PandaDoc. Viewer metrics similar how long is spent on each page, the time it took to sign, and more than are gathered and presented to the sender automatically. This information dictates what works and what doesn't, allowing companies to fine-tune their sales documents and meliorate their effectiveness over time.

These powerful features and more mean that adopting a specialized eSignature and sales document platform can revolutionize the style you eSign, and streamline your entire sales process dramatically.

PandaDoc has integrated with Word making limitations a thing of the past

PandaDoc has integrated with Give-and-take making limitations of digital signatures a problem of the by.

Now without leaving Word, y'all can ship your document quickly to a list of prospects or internal squad members. Just that'due south not all! You can also run into if your recipient received your certificate with status updates letting you know if they've signed or not.

This integration makes information technology possible to sign existing Give-and-take documents, request eSignatures from multiple recipients, and check the status of your document all without leaving Word.

Even more, the integration is elementary and uploads the documents direct to your PandaDoc business relationship, making them easy to admission from anywhere. Download the integration now from Microsoft Marketplace.

How to add together an eSignature to a Discussion document using PandaDoc

PandaDoc makes information technology a breeze to add electronic signatures to any document. Just follow these steps:

Start a complimentary trial account with PandaDoc and open your document (either by choosing a saved file from PandaDoc, or uploading a file from your computer or cloud storage app).

2. Elevate and driblet a signature field into the document and add whatever extra fields or text y'all desire.

3. Choose your recipients and click send.

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4. Recipients will become an email notification linking them direct to an online version of the certificate. They need to click the signature field and choose to draw, upload or type their electronic signature.

5. The sender's re-create of the document is automatically updated equally signatures are added. Certificate activity can exist tracked conveniently, and follow-ups sent accordingly. PandaDoc even creates a digital certificate that shows sign date and the digital ID ensuring the document'due south legitimacy.

A better fashion to eSign your business organisation and sales documents

Microsoft Discussion may exist the nearly popular give-and-take processing software for both businesses and individuals, only that doesn't make it the best choice for electronic signatures.

There now exists a massive array of software that is more dedicated to creating electronic signatures and adding them to documents. Alternatives to Word like PandaDoc and DocuSign not simply brand eSigning incredibly simple, but they come with a wide range of other tools that can enhance your ability to create, send, sign and track a large number of important concern documents with ease.