How to Add or Insert a Signature in Google Sheets and Google Docs

Are you ready to make your mark and learn how to insert your signature in Google Sheets? Well, this article will show you how to add a signature to both Google Sheets and Google Docs in a few simple steps. Both of these tools are used by thousands of people every day. They are super easy to use and perfect for collaboration, especially once you know how to insert a signature in Google Sheets and Docs.

At first, Google Sheets and Docs were created to help you work with different types of documents online, rather than offline mode like with Microsoft Word or Excel. But today, thanks to Google’s marketplace, you can do so much more with these tools.

Key Points

• Google Sheets and Google Docs are both text-editing programs.
• While Sheets is more optimized for data entry and grouping, Docs is better suited for word document editing.
• Utilize PandaDoc, a Google add-on, to insert a signature in Google Sheets and Docs.
• Use two-factor authentication and password protection to secure your files on Google Docs and Google Sheets.
• Quickly send signed Google Sheets and Google Docs files to Gmail contacts with the Google PandaDoc add-on.

What are Google Add-ons?

A Google add-on is a way to add new features to Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, Forms, Gmail, and many more. Most add-ons are developed by third parties and go through a rigorous selection and approval process by Google. All add-ons run within your Google tool and appear as additional menus, sidebars, and integrated pop-ups. Add-ons allow you to extend the value of your investment in Google Docs by enabling you to do more without having to open a new window. You can choose from different Google add-ons to format text, customize styles, set page sizes, add formatted code, etc. Fortunately, there is also the option to easily sign documents in Google Sheets.

Electronic Signatures and Digital Signatures

To get started, let’s define what electronic signatures are and how they can be useful in your Google account. So, what are electronic signatures? A signature is often used to prove one’s identity. Typically, signatures are captured by writing them by hand with a pen and paper. Now, thanks to technology, we have moved from ancient times to an era where collecting an electronic signature on a document is more common, takes only a few seconds, and is a pleasant experience.

To simplify, an electronic signature helps you sign documents online. Electronic signatures can also be called digital signatures. While they are essentially the same thing, there are a few slight differences between the two. A digital signature is a verified signature on a document that contains an encrypted algorithm with invisible digital codes. Encryption is the key when it comes to the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature. You can find more information on how a digital signature works here.

Are Electronic Signatures Legally Binding?

Electronic signatures are legal in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries. However, please note that electronic signatures are not yet legal worldwide.

How to Add an Electronic Signature in Google Docs

PandaDoc is one of the tools that can help you add electronic signatures to Google documents. The best part is that you won’t need to open new windows, tabs, or applications to do so. PandaDoc seamlessly integrates with Google Docs, making adding a Google Doc signature quick and easy.

So, let’s move on to how to electronically sign a Google document:

1. Start with an existing Google Doc. You can upload a document from your hard drive or Dropbox, or create a new one.
2. Next, click on “Add-ons” > “Get add-ons”.
3. Search for “PandaDoc” or scroll and find the bright green “Sign documents” button. Click on it and select “free”.
4. Go back to your Google document, then select “Add-ons” > “PandaDoc” > “Send via PandaDoc”.
5. Now, the PandaDoc add-on panel will appear on the right side of the screen. Select “Connect to PandaDoc”.
6. Then, click on “Authorize app” in the window that appears.
7. Now, you will find the PandaDoc add-on directly in your Google Docs whenever you open the application.
8. Simply go to “Add-ons” > “PandaDoc” > “Send via PandaDoc” whenever you’re ready to send a Google Doc for an electronic signature and tracking!

How to Send Your Google Doc via PandaDoc

This step-by-step process seamlessly combines collaborative editing in Google Docs with the advanced features of PandaDoc for efficient document management and tracking.

1. Integration setup: Make sure you have installed the PandaDoc add-on for Google Docs and authenticated your Google and PandaDoc accounts.
2. Open the Google Doc that you want to send via PandaDoc.
3. Access the PandaDoc add-on: Click on “Add-ons” in the Google Docs menu. Choose “PandaDoc” and select “Create document.”
4. Select a template or create a new PandaDoc document.
5. Edit the document in PandaDoc: The document will open in PandaDoc for further editing. Customize fields, add signatures, and make necessary changes.
6. Send via PandaDoc: Once ready, click on “Send with PandaDoc” in the PandaDoc interface.
7. Recipient details: Enter recipient details including email addresses.
8. Document tracking setup: Choose whether you want to enable document tracking to get insights.
9. Send the document: Click on “Send” to deliver the document to recipients via PandaDoc.
10. Document status tracking: Track the status of the document and receive notifications when recipients interact with the document.

Adding Signatures to Your Google Sheets

Thanks to the PandaDoc integration powered by Zapier, you can add electronic signatures to your Google Sheets and much more! Connect as many documents as you want in PandaDoc and Google Sheets without any programming. Once your document is approved, PandaDoc automatically adds electronic signature fields and relevant recipient information to your document based on data from your spreadsheet. You can create rules to automatically populate quotes, invoices, proposals, etc. as you create them. When the status of your document changes in PandaDoc, for example, when it is viewed, paid, or signed, your Google spreadsheet updates automatically. You can even select the exact row and column where the changes appear! Additionally, when you onboard a new client, their details are automatically saved to your chosen Google spreadsheet. Then, when the client enters data into fields in your PandaDoc document, the data seamlessly syncs with your Google spreadsheet to update corresponding cells. You can also create PandaDoc documents from data from multiple spreadsheets. Create the appropriate rules and merge data from multiple sources, whether it’s is your email contact list, social media statistics, Google Forms, etc. Test your rules to optimize your experience with PandaDoc and Google Sheets, and start signing your Google Sheets with ease. Let’s be honest, when you first thought about adding digital signatures to Google Sheets, you didn’t think it would be this easy, did you?

Best Practices for Adding Signatures and Securely Managing Your Google Sheets and Docs

Adding a signature to a Google Sheets or Docs file means that its content is important. The following measures can ensure the security and confidentiality of important HR documents.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your Google account. Once you’ve enabled 2FA, you need to provide secure codes from your phone, Gmail, or any other pre-specified channel in addition to your password when logging in. To enable 2FA:
  • Go to your Google account settings.
  • Click on the “Security” tab.
  • Find the “Two-step verification” label and click “Get started”.

Due to this additional layer of protection, 2FA makes it difficult for someone to access your Google Drive, which contains Docs and Sheets projects, even if someone has your password.

• Control sharing permissions: Sharing your Google sheet or document with collaborators gives them access to your data or content. Therefore, you should carefully review the emails before granting them access permissions. Remember that anyone you share your file with can also share it with others, either intentionally or accidentally. If they are careless, they can disclose classified data in Sheets or Docs to the public. You can avoid this by emphasizing the importance of privacy before granting access to your documents. An excellent approach is to strictly regulate document accessibility. As much as possible, limit access only to necessary collaborators and trusted individuals. Also, use options like “View,” “Comment,” and “Edit” to control access levels.

• Use password protection and other security features: Google Sheets and Docs have security features that provide advanced protection for documents. For example, you can assign a password to protect your Sheets or Docs files. You can also track who has accessed a Google sheet or document. These security features will help you prevent unauthorized access to the document.

• Keep your Google software up to date: You should keep the software you use to access your Google Docs and Sheets up to date. This includes your web browser, desktop, and mobile applications. Google regularly releases security updates for its programs to make them safer. Therefore, outdated software is likely to have more vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit for attacks.

• Practice due diligence before installing add-ons: Add-ons extend the features of Google Docs and Sheets to get more out of them. Developers regularly release various add-ons for these two programs. But you should know that not all of these add-ons are safe to use. Some add-ons may contain malware or other security risks that can create a vulnerability that attackers can exploit to access your document. You should only install add-ons from trusted developers. Preferably, limit yourself to add-ons and extensions available on the official Google Store. Otherwise, practice due diligence. The best way to find out if add-ons are trustworthy is to check user reviews and ratings. Carefully review reviews on any external program before adding them to Google Sheets and Docs.

Integrate Gmail before Sending Google Documents via PandaDoc

Do you use Gmail? If so, save even more time by logging into your PandaDoc account and setting up contact synchronization between PandaDoc and your Gmail account. Go to “Settings” > “Integrations” then click “Connect Gmail”. The next popup will ask you to accept the integration. Finally, the green progress bar displays the synchronization progress of your contacts from Gmail to PandaDoc. When the synchronization is complete, all your contacts will be in PandaDoc. This means that you can send your signed documents (which you can create using PandaDoc templates) to your Gmail contacts via the Google PandaDoc add-on.

PandaDoc Integrations for Google Sheets and Docs

Thanks to PandaDoc integrations, you can easily add your signature to Google Sheets and Google Docs. You can also electronically sign Google Forms using PandaDoc. Follow, manage, and edit your PandaDoc documents within your favorite Google apps and take another step towards a paperless and more organized process. With PandaDoc and Google, you can run your business and close deals anywhere, whether it’s on your laptop, iPhone, or Android device.