How to eSign PDF with Electronic Signature Free Online

Sign PDF Online

The world is tending towards a digital one and so should you. One way to do this is to embrace online document signing processes. This is a simpler way of signing documents than fussing with outdated scanners/printers and scampering through the thronging traffic in a rush to get to the post office before it closes.

Using online signing solutions, you can sign pdf online, regardless of the number of documents, all at once, then fax them to other signatories to do the same. Choose CocoSign for access to more efficient ways of batch signing documents.

Part 1: How to Sign a PDF?

Choose A Reliable Online Signer

As simple and effective as online signing is, it can be a little frustrating to sign pdf online when the wrong online signing solution is in use. Only reliable online signers can assure you of independent signatures and unrivaled security. For best results, choose a reliable platform like the popular free electronic signature solution, CocoSign.

What's more? The electronic signatures offered by CocoSign are valid and have an audit trail protection such that one can know when the pdf was signed. In addition, the platform is easy-to-use for non-techies who do not have any expert knowledge about computers. You can sign pdfs in these simple steps.

Steps in Signing PDF Documents Online

Here's how to esign PDF using CocoSign

Step 1: Choose file

Navigate to the electronic signature page of CocoSign. Locate the PDF to be signed, then drag and drop it in the highlighted box on the platform. An alternative is clicking on the 'choose file' button to upload the pdf. You can also upload documents from Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and OneDrive.

Step 2: Add signature field

Proceed to esign the pdf. If you are the only one who needs to sign, tick the "I'm the only signer box", click next and you will be taken to the "Add fields" section. Here, you will be prompted to add a signature field and sign appropriately. 

If multiple signers are involved, you will be taken to the "add recipients" section. Here, you should enter the email and name of recipients required to sign. You may also add names of individuals who are to receive a copy of the document but not necessarily sign.

Step 3: Sign document

Click the signature field and choose any of the three options available to sign your uploaded pdf. These options include typing your name, drawing your signature using a mouse or trackpad and uploading a scanned image of your signature. After signing, click 'save' to accept changes to the document. 

Step 4: Download

Click the 'Next' button and proceed to the download page where you are required to either download the signed pdf or send it by email to others. Click on download to store it on your device's local storage.

Although most free digital signature software can allow users to sign documents in almost any format, many businesses still prefer to sign documents only in pdf format. Here are some of the reasons why:

• They can be password-protected

• Once in pdf, the document format is maintained regardless of how many times it's been shared or opened by another user.

• It takes some level of expertise to tweak the contents of the document

• They are more compact in file size than a host of other formats

• Hyperlinks can easily be added to pdf files

CocoSign Official Website: www.cocosign.com

Benefits of Using Electronic Signatures 

Signature creators have in no small measure eased the process of signing documents. Using electronic signatures is a more preferable method - over traditional paperwork - for signing documents for the following reasons:

Cost savings

Electronic signatures are more budget-friendly than the traditional pen and paper method. With online signing, you save money on buying reams of paper, postage and mailing supplies. The cost of these things may look like something that can be foregone in the short run. But in the run, the resultant loss can be grave.

Save office space

Think of all the space you'd be freeing in your office if you decided to do away with traditional paperwork and stick with digital document signing instead. 

The document management feature in top-notch electronic signature solutions like CocoSign helps you save the valuable time that would have otherwise been used in sorting out several stacks of paper.

Time efficient

Signature generators improve your document turnaround time. Using these platforms, one can batch sign hundreds of documents and save templates they can always reuse. One can also sign documents on-the-go.

This is a big advantage for time-sensitive deals or businesses.

Convenient

This is one of the biggest pros of online signing. These days, even small businesses have to collaborate with clients that are miles apart geographically. Electronic signatures make it easy to sign customer approval forms and several other kinds of forms from different locations and in a flash.

Secure

Forgery has always been a thing with traditional wet ink signatures. With electronic signatures, the numbers of incidents are almost non-existent, especially when it concerns digital signatures. Traditional signatures usually do not contain any traceable information about the signer's identity, when they signed and whether the documents have been tampered with post-signing. On the other hand, digital signature, a form of electronic signature does.

Part 2: Electronic Signature V.S. Traditional Signing

Although both electronic signatures and traditional wet ink signatures are legally binding, they are very different from each other. While traditional signing emphasizes on signing documents using an ink pen on a paper, electronic signatures leverage on the paperless office concept. It focuses on converting documents into digital formats and appending signatures to them electronically.

Traditional signing is still the go-to signing process as far as wills, codicils and power of attorney forms are concerned. However, it is time-consuming and straining when there are a lot of documents involved. It also incurs a lot of printing, scanning and faxing costs.

Part 3: eSign PDF FAQs

Can I esign pdf on mobile devices?

Since electronic signatures are designed for on-the-go transactions, it is possible to sign as many documents as you please while on the move and from the comfort of your mobile device. This is the case whether your device runs on iOS or Android and Windows platforms.

For most electronic signature applications, the signing process is closely related with how it is done via browsers.

How can I send a request to another signatory for an electronic signature?

The first step in doing this is to initiate a signature request. To do this, open the pdf and click the request for the signature button. You can then mail the recipients the signing link. Some online signature platforms even afford you the luxury of determining in what order these recipients should sign according to and whether they can sign all at once.

How many recipients can I mail to sign a pdf?

There is no limit to the number of signers you can add to your document. All you need to do is click the add signer button and add the signatories by their email addresses.

Does a signatory have to create an account before they can sign pdf?

For team members to collaborate more efficiently, bottlenecks like creating accounts and subscribing to a paid plan before getting access to the platform's features have to be removed. 

It is based on this premise that efficient platforms like CocoSign run. On this platform, other signatories to the pdf do not necessarily have to create accounts before they can sign accordingly.

They have access to the CocoSign Signature Generator whether they have an active account or not.

Are my pdf documents stored on a server?

It is understood that this is a source of concern because of the confidentiality of certain kinds of documents. It is for this reason that top online signing solutions give users the opportunity to choose whether they want to store the document on the platform's server for a while or not at all.

If the user opts not to store the document or deletes it from the server, it will be completely deleted from the server.

Conclusion

Now is the time to embrace electronic signatures. Businesses who haven't integrated online signing processes are at risk of falling behind in the pecking order of progressive businesses. With a reliable online signing solution, you can sign pdf online, close deals faster and more efficiently even if you are working on a budget.