Everyone wants to make a good impression. For many, being memorable is a basic human need that drives behavior. It’s why people put effort into developing a firm handshake, a strong personal style, or a winning sense of humor.
But modern existence means you often interact virtually, making it more difficult to leave your mark. Email chains, messaging apps, and social media challenge your ability to create memorable human connections.
A simple way to create a positive impression online is with a unique email sign-off. The key to ensuring your message leaves a lasting memory is to tailor its closing to engage the reader, whether a professional, casual, or friendly audience.
What’s an email sign-off?
An email sign-off is the final statement of your message. The official term is “valediction,” from the Latin vale dicere, meaning to say goodbye or farewell. You’ll typically use this sign-off as a mark of respect or well-wishes for the recipient.
Here are a few common email sign-offs:
- All the best
- Warm wishes
- Cheers
- Best regards
These generic closings will serve you well in any situation. But, to stand out and craft a memorable email, you need to punctuate your communication with more personality and style.
Why are email sign-offs important?
Compared with the body of your email, the sign-off may seem insignificant, but it’s an essential part of email etiquette. Your closing impacts whether the audience takes action or not.
An office worker receives, on average, 121 emails a day. That’s a lot of competition. A good email sign-off differentiates you from the crowd and makes a lasting impression on the reader.
A 2017 Boomerang study found that signing off with a statement of gratitude significantly improves an email’s response rate. A message of thanks is an effective closing statement, especially if you’re writing an email hoping to prompt a specific result, like follow-up correspondence with a recruiter or contacting a potential client.
4 tips for signing off an email
Learning how to end an email memorably is simple. Sign-offs follow the same basic structure and conventions, whether writing a quick note to a friend, introducing yourself to new coworkers, or responding to a job rejection:
1. Structure: Ensure your sign-off is free of typos and grammatically correct. Always begin by capitalizing the first letter and finish off with a comma, regardless of whether you use a single word or a sentence fragment. And follow the sign-off with your name.
2. Tone: Make sure your sign-off matches the tone of your correspondence, is appropriate to your company culture, and reflects your relationship with the recipient. It would be awkward to end a message to your business partner with the same email closing as a note to your bestie.
3. Information: After the sign-off, include your contact information if this is your first email interaction, like your full name, job title, and phone number. Here’s an example:
Kind regards,
Lacey Brown
Director of Marketing, Digital 4 U
123-456-7890
4. Creativity: Don't be afraid to change things up. Using the same email sign-off with regular correspondents can become stale. Instead, cycle through 4–5 different sign-offs or customize the closing depending on your reason for writing.
25 unique email sign-offs
The best email sign-offs reflect the nature of your relationship with your audience and the seriousness of your correspondence. Business correspondence requires a professional email close. More informal emails can include a relaxed ending, while personal emails can have a quirky or funny sign-off.
Formal
These sign-offs create a professional and respectful tone for business emails or messages for older generations.
1. Regards
This email ending doesn’t set any expectations, making it the perfect multi-purpose sign-off. But be careful how you use it. It’s not the warmest closing and could give your reader the wrong impression.
2. Best regards
A safe choice for the first time you email someone in a professional capacity, this sign-off is friendly but not overly familiar.
3. Warm regards
This is perfect for sending formal correspondence with someone you know well, like a thank you note to your grandparents or a professional reference request to a former boss or teacher.
4. Yours sincerely
Using a classic closer is a great way to end a professional email, like a formal letter of acceptance for a job offer. But it may seem stuffy to some audiences, so consider your recipient before sending.
5. Best wishes
This formal yet friendly close is a great way to show your positivity and care for the reader.
6. Cordially
This is your best bet if you're looking for a formal email sign-off. It’s highly respectful, making it ideal the ideal closing for an introductory message.
7. Respectfully
This is a standard closing for a formal and professional email. Use it when addressing your immediate superior or senior management.
Emotional
You can use an emotional sign-off at the end of a personal or casual email to emphasize your feelings or wishes for the reader.
8. Take care
This is a friendly and conversational way to end a semi-formal email with people you have a relationship with.
9. It’s been great working with you
Saying goodbye to your coworkers can be hard, so use a sign-off that shows how much you appreciate your time together.
10. Good luck
If you’re sending a message of support or encouragement, close your email with hopes for the reader’s success.
11. I hope this helps
Use this at the end of an email that includes information or assistance.
Complimentary
Closing your email with a compliment is a great way to build your relationship with the reader.
12. Keep up the good work
Give your coworkers a pat on the back to let them know you appreciate all they do with this close.
13. Always a pleasure
If you enjoy corresponding and collaborating with someone, let them know by emphasizing it in your sign-off.
14. You’re an inspiration
Keep the good vibes flowing with some honest and sincere flattery to close out your email.
15. Congrats
If the recipient has reached a significant goal or objective, let them know you’re happy for them by sending your congratulations.
Funny
If you're familiar with your audience's sense of humor and know they'll appreciate the joke, feel free to make them laugh.
16. Congratulations on reading this entire email
Great for long emails, this ending thanks your reader for staying with you.
17. Virtually yours
If most of your communication is remote, this sign-off is a humorous nod to the time you spend together online.
18. Movie quotes
Sign off using some of the most quotable phrases from your favorite classic films, like:
- Hasta la vista, baby (Terminator 2)
- Live long and prosper (Star Trek)
- May the Force be with you (Star Wars)
- Be excellent to each other (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
- I’ll be right here (E.T., the Extraterrestrial)
- After all, tomorrow is another day (Gone With the Wind)
19. Literary quotes
If movies aren't your thing, try one of these book quotes:
- So long, and thanks for all the fish. (Douglas Adams)
- Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. (William Shakespeare)
- It is never too late to be what you might have been. (George Eliot)
- Adieu! take care of yourself; and, I entreat you, write! (Mary Shelley)
- I thank you for your attention, and I'm out of here. Peace out. (Kurt Vonnegut)
20. Inside jokes
If you’ve got a funny nickname you use for this person or a common inside joke that cracks them up, make them smile by closing your email mentioning it.
21. Emoticons
Here’s one for the millennials: add some whimsy to your sing-off by including an emoji or two. This type of closing should only be used for casual emails. Some people might find emoticons in business communications unprofessional, and emoji meanings aren’t universal, so you risk offending or confusing the reader.
22. GIFs
A favorite Gen Z email sign-off is an animated GIF that illustrates your closing instead of a text message. Again, only use this tactic for personal emails, not business or formal communications.
Requesting a follow-up
If you're sending a message hoping for a response, a good email sign-off includes a call to action that encourages the recipient to continue the conversation.
23. Let me know if you want to chat about this over coffee
Some interactions require a human touch. This sign-off lets the reader know you’re interested in an informal business meeting.
24. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions
Help the recipient feel more comfortable reaching out for more information by showing them you’re available and willing to answer questions.
25. Looking forward to hearing from you
This is a solid tactic to encourage open lines of communication. It’s chatty and enthusiastic with just the right amount of optimism.
Bring your message home
It may seem insignificant, but how you end an email matters.
Along with an illuminating subject line and a solid start to your letter, finishing your emails with flair demonstrates professionalism and regard for your audience. And using a unique email sign-off shows you cared enough to personalize your message. It's your final opportunity to showcase who you are and how you feel about the reader, so use it well.
Sincerely,
BetterUp
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