Before you create your email signature, it's a good idea to sit down for a minute and determine what your objective is.

- If you want to advertise your web site, it's a good idea to include a small ad and a hyperlink.

- If you are a salesperson, it may be wise to include your phone number and extension.

- Some people like to include a favorite quote.

Some cautions include:

- Do not include your pay-to-surf, moneymaking or affiliate links in your email signature. Not only is it considered tacky, but these things can trigger spam filters and get your emails automatically deleted. It's better to include these items on your website and put a link to that site in your email signature.

- Do not include profanity or harsh language.

- 900 numbers can also trigger spam filters.

Be sure to use standard formatting in signature.

- Avoid any special fonts or colors

- Do not include graphics

- Do not use HTML

- Keep width to 65 characters or less

- Do not exceed 6 lines

"Hey, we all get "caught" once in a while! No apology needed, you were only thinking in our best interests!" --Sherry

"I also did same thing once." --Marion

"And Add To The List: The Homepage Virus Is Doing The rounds again." --Michael

"Please check out any "virus warning" you receive. Most are hoaxes." --Sharon

"Thanks for information. It is better to be safe, and warn your friends and customers, than to be sorry!" --Ben

"You were trying to do right thing and that's all that matters." --Cindy

I'm not aware of any unsubscribes due to my snafu but I did get an online greeting card to cheer me up.

I learned 2 things from this incident:

1) Treat people right and they will return it tenfold. --Treat them as you would be treated.

2) Investigate any and all unknown virus claims. --It only takes a couple of minutes to check out a virus warning to see if it's real or not.

The word *propagate* is defined as: to transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another; to breed or multiply.

Check out these useful and informative sites before you unknowingly propagate a *deadly virus*:

http://www.Vmyths.com http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/ http://www.hoaxkill.com/

So, take it from a *former email viral propagator victim*, investigate that next virus warning before you send it out, and see if it's on list.

Otherwise, hoax will be on you.