Do you need to get your Google Docs electronically signed? Learn how to do it in the right way.
Yes, for the last 30+ years, we have been using Microsoft Word to draft everything from business invoices to proposals. But in the last years, that finally started to shift with Google’s web-based Google Docs platform. Today, many businesses prefer Google Docs to prepare their sales collateral.
But how do you get your Google Docs e-signed?
It might be a contract you need to sign yourself, a sales contract to be signed by a client, or an approval letter you need from your manager halfway across the world. What’s the easiest way to do that? Let's go step-by-step.
Who needs to E-sign your Google Doc?
If it’s a document that has to be e-signed only by YOU, such as a letter that you write, all you have to do is to simply draw your signature as an image. That’s it! You don’t need anything else.
But if you want to send your Google Doc (e.g. a proposal) and get it e-signed by someone else, then you will need an e-signature software such as GetAccept. By definition, an e-signature software facilitates the distribution of legally sensitive documents for the collection of electronic signatures. You can check out the G2Crowd Grid® for E-Signature to choose the solution that fits you the best.
How do you integrate with Google Docs?
Alright, you've decided on a particular e-signing software but how do you integrate that software with Google Docs, so that you can seamlessly e-sign your documents? Depending on which e-signing solution you use, you have three options:
- No Integration: If your e-signature software doesn’t have any integration with Google Docs, you can still e-sign your documents. Download your Google Doc as a PDF document, open your e-signing software in a new tab, and upload the PDF manually.
- Built-In Integration: Some e-signing solutions like GetAccept, have built-in integration with Google Docs. That is you can access your Google Docs right inside the software. So that you can easily choose the document you want to e-sign and move on.
- Add-On: Other e-signing solutions have Google Docs add-ons for integration. You first have to install this add-on. And then inside Google Doc, you can simply use the add-on to send that document for e-signature.
Is it legally binding?
Yes of course! Documents that are signed electronically have all the same legal protections as those that are signed with a ballpoint pen. Legislation such as the E-SIGN Act and UETA Act provide legal protections for electronic signatures. They are legal in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.
Can you E-sign your documents for free?
Yes, you can. E-signing solutions typically work either on a freemium or a free-trial basis. With freemium solutions, you have limitations on the number of users, the number of documents you can send per month, etc. If you need more, you have to start paying.
With free-trial solutions like GetAccept, you can try the software with full functionality for a limited time, typically for two weeks. Once the trial ends, you have to pay $10-35/mo per user.
Can you track your documents?
Once you hit the send button, you never know what the recipient does with your Google Doc! Have they opened your document? Which pages did they read? How much time did they spend on each page? Did they forward your document to another decision maker? You would love to be informed about these actions, right?
Most e-signature solutions do not provide such functionality. Some of them let you know when the recipient opens your document. That’s all. However, with more advanced solutions like GetAccept, you can easily track all the actions mentioned above. Gain valuable insights and data with GetAccept's document tracking abilities!
In conclusion, if you need to get your Google Docs e-signed by someone else, you have to start using an electronic signature software. Choose the right one, based on your needs.
