How to End Professional Emails: 80+ Email Closings for Each Email

While many of us are guilty of using “Best”, this actually garners the lowest response rate of any email closer, according to Boomerang. The “best” closing line with the highest response rate is “thanks in advance”.

Yes, it’s more than just a formality. In fact, those closing words could have a huge impact on your response rates.

Naturally, your goal is to leave a good impression and that means being thoughtful about your subject line, intro, body, and conclusion of your message. What can be challenging for people is finding a professional yet concise way to end their email.

No one has time to read an email that goes on and on.

To help you secure this positive impression, you’ll need to take into account your audience, the context, and the end result you’re looking for.

If you want to skip ahead to the list, go ahead:

We’ve covered everything from “kind regards” to “have a blessed day” and, of course, the tried-and-true “hugs” (for your nearest and dearest contacts only).

Why Business Email Closings Matter

Your email closing—those last few lines at the end of your email—are the last things your audience will read before they take action. If they are left unmotivated or unclear on what response is needed from them, they might not respond at all.

For example, we naturally do this during verbal conversations such as in-person, over a video meeting, or on the phone.

Here are some email closing phrases we like:

All of these examples signal you’re ending the conversation and leave the person with a clear takeaway. By applying the same strategy to your email closings, you’re more likely to get a positive response.

How to Create a Professional Email Closing

Exactly how you conclude your email can feel impossible with the overwhelming options. Here are a few rules to help you narrow down your choices and feel confident as you hit send.

Try Not to Let Your Phone be the Sign-Off

We’re all busy and emailing on the go is pretty common, however, it doesn’t look great to have your closing just be sent from my iPhone.

The best case is to wait till you’re back at your computer but if you have to send while on the go, include a professional sign-off and your full name.

Defer to Professional Sign-Offs

The tone of your email sign-off matters. K, thanks. isn’t going to look great in most formal emails, but it might work when you’re emailing with your best friend. When in doubt, keep the tone professional and friend. Popular sign-offs include Best Sincerely and Thank you.

Feel free to skip ahead to see our favorites:

Include Your Full Name

This is especially helpful if it’s the first time you’re emailing someone. Include your first name and your last name.

Even if you have a templated email signature that’s included in all your emails, writing out your full name can help jog the recipient’s memory of who you are. After a few exchanges, feel free to drop to just your first name.

Take the Time to Look for Yypos (Typos)

When you’re attaching your own “kind regards”, make sure your spelling and grammar are on point. This will avoid any confusion when it comes to email your manager—and not your manger!

What to Include In Your Email Closing

Here’s a quick checklist of things to include in your email closing.

1. End the Conversation + Include a Call-to-Action

This is the time when you can express your gratitude for the person reading your email and then also make your ask. What do you want the person to do? How should they respond? What you write should be motivating, friendly, and professional.

If they can’t figure out what response you need, they will probably ignore your email.

Here’s an example:

Thank you for taking the time to review our proposal. We’ll need you to submit a PO to our accounting department by Friday, October 13th as a next step. I’ve also attached instructions but please let me know if you have any questions.

2. An appropriate sign-off

Some good options are Best regards, Sincerely, Thank you, and Warmly. You’ll want to avoid anything too casual like Cheers, Xoxo, or Later!

3. Your full name

4. Professional title + company

5. Contact information

We recommend your email address, phone number, website and/or LinkedIn profile if you have them and they’re appropriate to share with the recipient.

7 Ways to End Your Emails + Examples

Here are seven ways to end an email based on what type of email you’re sending and why.

How to End a Friendly Professional Email

These are the most common types of emails you’ll send, so it’s important to get your professional email ending right!

You know the person through work and you’ve probably exchanged emails multiple times, but that doesn’t mean you want to get sloppy or too casual.

Remember that every email you send is a representation of your professional brand. Striking the balance between friendly and professional doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. Show appreciation and a concise call-to-action.

Here’s an example:

How to End an Email to a Professor

Whether you’re asking for a recommendation or help in a class, a professor is the boss of the classroom.

You’ll want to be respectful and professional in your tone. And remember that professors often have hundreds of students so you’ll want to include an introduction to yourself as well.

Here’s an example of an entire email you might send:

How to End an Email Asking for Something

Asking for a favor can feel so yucky that some people will just avoid it. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or asking for a favor—and with a few tips, we can help you remove the yuck factor.

Here are a few specific examples for how to end an email with an ask!

… I’d really appreciate any feedback you could provide. And please let me know how I can return the favor. I really value your time and hope to hear from you soon.

…Would you be able to help me with this request? I’m very grateful for any insight you can provide.

How to End an Email Asking for an Informational Interview

One of the most popular emails we send is asking for an informational interview. Your goal should be to make it fast and easy for them to say yes yes to you and you can do that with a direct request. Here’s an example:

This works because you’re not leaving the request too open-ended or asking too much time from the person. Also, when you’re asking them for a favor, be sure to give them lots of availability that’s easy to understand. It shouldn’t be a puzzle to find a time that works for you both.

How to End an Email Asking for a Reference

Found your dream job but need your friend’s cousin’s roommate to make an intro? No problem. Be sure to give them some background on who you are if they don’t know you very well, why you’re interested in the role and how your experience relates, and then conclude with a simple call-to-action.

Here’s an example

How to End an Email Asking for a Character Reference

Asking for a job or character reference means needing to ask a previous coworker or boss most of the time. This makes most of us nervous because what if we left on bad terms? For starters, be mindful whenever you’re exiting something that you might need to call upon them again. Next, make it easy for your contact to say yes and be eager to help.

Here’s an example:

How to End an Email Asking for Feedback

According to Therese Huston, an expert on feedback, a good strategy is to instead ask for advice. It’s a bit easier for both the giver and receiver to feel comfortable with the request.

Here’s how you might end an email asking for feedback:

How to End an Apology Email

Here’s how you might end that email:

How to End an Introductory Email

Once you’ve established some common ground, end your email in a friendly tone and any next steps you’d like to take.

Here’s an example:

How to End a Rejection Email

As your career evolves and new opportunities arise, you may find yourself in a situation where you’re emailing that person again or working together. Let them remember you for being mature and professional—not overly emotional.

Here’s how you might end this tough email:

80+ Email Sign-offs to Use in Every Type of Email

And as long as you keep the advice from above in mind, you’ll know when, where, and how to use this list in a variety of situations.

The “Best” Email Closings

Okay, let’s start with all the bests.

Many people rely on the word best (or variations of it) to sign off on all of their correspondence. I don’t mean to drag best at all. I expect that at least 50 percent of the emails I get are signed, Best.

It communicates goodwill and professionalism. It’s a great all-purpose ending to virtually any email.

There are also quite a few variations of the best sign-off. Here are just a few.

• Best
• My best
• All best
• All the very best
• Best wishes
• Wishing you the best
• My best to you
• Best regards

Email Closings That Are Better Than “The Best”

Below is another group of commonly-used heavy hitter email sign-offs. These sign-offs are all fairly innocuous, professionally-toned, and polite alternatives to best. Our first example is “warmly”.

There are also a few variations on the same theme here. For instance, there’s a pretty substantial difference between “stay tuned” with or without ellipses afterward… Regards can come in a variety of heats (regular, warm, and warmest.)

As for hyphenated and initialed sign-offs like “-CK”, you better commit to it. Ending every email with a hyphen followed by your initials can set an expectation.

However, if you normally sign with a “warmly” and diverge by using a hyphen, the recipient might feel that you are being cold or that you are annoyed.

• Warmly
• Regards
• Warm regards
• Warmest regards
• Rgds (Shortened version of regards)
• Stay tuned
• Stay tuned…
• Cordially
• Enthusiastically
• Sincerely
• Yours
• Take care
• Best wishes
• Respectfully
• -[initials]
• x[initial]
• Signed
• Sent from my iPhone
• Sent from my iPhone (Pardon my Brevity!)

Email Sign-Offs That Show Gratitude

Any good parent likely taught you about please and thank you as soon as you started warbling mismatched sentences as a toddler.

There are also a few instances in which you could say “I owe you.” I think this could be fun in the right context. However, you might want to consider the message you’re conveying by saying you owe someone for a business transaction.

Would a simple thank you suffice better? Here are a few expressions of gratitude to consider.

• Thank you
• Thanks
• Many thanks
• Thx
• All my thanks
• Thank you for everything
• Thank you for your consideration
• You’re a lifesaver
• Thanks for everything
• Much appreciation
• In appreciation
• With gratitude
• Thanks a million
• Thanks for reading
• Thanks for your help
• I owe you
• I owe you [a beer, an ice cream, a limb]

GVO: Email Sign-Offs With Good Vibes

Have you ever seen a sign-off that made you smile?

However, if you feel this kind of sign-off encapsulates your personality, then go for it. Live your brand!

We also have to address the emoji.

If you want to try an emoticon or emoji email ending, there are literally hundreds of emoticons you could use to end your messages.

• Enjoy your [day]
• Here’s to a great [weekday]
• Happy [day]
• Cheerfully
• Hope this helps
• Make it a great day
• Smiles
• 🙂 + emojis
• you soon
• Talk soon
• Chat soon
• Talk later
• Sending good vibes
• Sending good vibrations
• Until next time
• You’re the best
• Peace and love

Email Sign-Offs for Friendly or Silly Emails

I think how you end an email can serve as a fun reflection of who you are. As we noted earlier, you should always consider who you are emailing. Is this a prospective client who is going to be discouraged by a more casual, fun tone?

While I was putting this piece together, we received an email signed, “Digitally yours,”—I think it’s a fun email ending. Many of our business relationships stay securely in digital mode, so I think this is a fun tongue-in-cheek way of acknowledging that.

Hakuna Matata, it’s a wonderful phrase…but is it a good ending to your emails?

Maybe it is if you work for Disney. The same goes for TTFN, aka ta ta for now, aka what Tigger used to say to Pooh before he bounced away on his tail.

• Digitally Yours
• That’s all folks
• Live long and prosper
• It’s almost Friday
• Later gator
• Later Ally-gator (Your friend Allison will love this one…)
• Toodles!
• Peace Out
• The end
• Hakuna Matata
• TTFN
• Your favorite [Accountant]
• To infinity (and beyond!)
• May the odds ever be in your favor

The Most Worldly Email Closings

I have to say, these are all tempting options. Everybody wants to feel sophisticated and cultured.

However, it is likely unwise to use a word like ciao unless you boast an Italian heritage. I would also steer clear of namaste unless you practice Hinduism or run a yoga studio (even here, I might still avoid it.)

I personally think cheers is fun, but I have heard more than a few people say it’s slightly off-putting.

Article source: https://www.careercontessa.com/advice/how-to-end-an-email/