Unfortunately, the art of the email signoff doesn’t get the attention it once did. This is actually something marketers should consider since professional email signoffs can say a lot about an individual or organization.
Read on to learn more about email signoffs and what makes a good one.
What is an email signoff?
An email signoff is simply the text that you use to end your email prior to signing your name. Common examples include:
- Best
- Best Wishes
- Sincerely
- Thanks
- Yours Truly
- Regards
- Kind regards
- Cheers
While all of these are acceptable examples of email signoffs, they don’t really give readers an idea of who you are as a person or an organization. They’re so generic that you risk being labeled as generic and not important.
For instance, here are two email signoff examples, both coming from emails sent by the American Red Cross. The top email sign off reads simply, “Sincerely,” while the bottom states, “With gratitude for all you’ve already done, and what you will do for your community.”
Source: Milled (bottom) / Milled (Top)
While both are completely acceptable options, the top one is a standard signoff, fitting for any professional email. Plus, this signoff goes the extra mile by including the author’s image alongside the signoff.
As for the bottom signoff, readers truly feel as if the author is grateful. This is a thoughtful, stylized signoff, perfect for nonprofit emails. However, this wouldn’t be one to use on an ecommerce email.
If you decide to use a stylized signoff, be sure to consider the context of the email and the audience.
What makes a “good” email signoff?
Again, there aren’t really any “best practices” when it comes to drafting a good email signoff: However, you want to make sure you’re sending your message with personality, which requires avoiding the robotic tone that comes with most standard email signoffs.
You took a lot of time crafting your email message to appeal to the reader, so make sure you’re carrying that tone through your email signoff.
What makes a “bad” email signoff?
When it comes to sending proper emails in both a casual and professional setting, you want to avoid coming off as cold, passive-aggressive, or too informal.
Examples of email signoffs to avoid include:
- Love – best saved for personal communications
- Thx or Rgrds – both are poor taste and not only show a lack of professionalism, but laziness as well.
- Please advise – comes off as passive-aggressive
44 email signoffs for any occasion
If you want to give some personality to your email signoffs, then you want to make sure that your voice shines through. This, however, can be rather tough.
While researching good email signoffs, we came across quite literally thousands that could suit many people. That said, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite email signoffs for varying situations.
7 suitable but generic email signoffs
While we encourage avoiding the generic email signoff, when you’re at a loss for words, these are all appropriate examples to use when signing off on your message:
- Warmest regards
- Take care
- Best
- Wishing you all the best
- Sincerely
- Thank you
- Wishing you well
As you can see from the image below, signoffs like the ones above are professional and fit comfortably inside any marketing email.
Source: Milled
However, you may find yourself looking for other times of email signoffs: ones that intrigue the reader or make them laugh.
Funny email signoffs
Funny email signoffs are excellent when you’re trying to keep a lighthearted tone throughout your message, whether it be for your audience members, friends, family, or a casual response amongst your coworkers.
- Live long and prosper
- May the odds be ever in your favor
- Hakuna Matata
- Go [insert sports team here]!
- Typo courtesy of my iPhone
- Take it easy
- Winter is coming
- Cheers, mate!
- Chao!
- Until I re-emerge from under my rock
- Lots of love from your friends at [insert brand here]
- Namaste
- Carpe diem
Email signoffs don’t have to be bland and boring, and funny signoffs like these definitely have their time and place in both personal emails and email marketing.
However, if you’re using it in your brand’s marketing messages, make sure your signoff fits with your branding and doesn’t come off as completely out of place.
The email below shows an example of a lighthearted signoff. While we typically don’t recommend the “love” route, this one breaks the rules in a way we can get behind.
Source: Really Good Emails
Creative email signoffs
Creative email signoffs are fun because they truly speak to your personality: However, they aren’t always suited for a professional setting.
If you’re messaging your friends, loved ones, and even your email audience, you can get creative because it allows your readers to get to know the person behind the words a bit.
Here are a few examples of creative email signoffs that you can rework to suit your personality:
- Thank you for the chance to talk to a fellow [insert niche/topic/genre here]
- Thanks for your help!
- Always a pleasure catching up with a fellow [insert niche/topic/genre here]
- Thanks again for joining!
- Stay tuned
- Sending good vibes your way
- Go get ‘em tiger
- Congratulation again on the [topic]
- I hope you enjoy the [event/occasion]!
- Feel free to drop me a line if you need more clarification on [topic]
- Keep your head held high
- Peace and love
These types of email signoffs are great for the more conversational email and do a fantastic job of making your reader feel as if you’re genuinely interested in them and their needs.
You can see an example of a more creative (but still fitting) email signoff in the image below.
Source: Really Good Emails
Professional email signoffs
Professional email signoffs can come in many forms. While many professionals use the standard email signoffs we mentioned earlier, you can also be creative.
Here a several professional email signoffs that deviate from the standard set:
- We can’t wait to see you on [insert date]
- To your continued success
- Thanks for the consideration
- Hope this helps
- With gratitude
- Great working with you
- Keep up the great work
- Thank you for taking the time to [insert activity]
- Thank you for your unwavering support
- Have a happy [insert day/week/holiday]
- Look forward to [speaking/talking/seeing] soon
Remember, professional doesn’t have to mean stiff and boring. It does, however, have to suit the situation and keep things light. Notice the creative yet professional signoff in this email from Cottonworks:
Source: Really Good Emails
Steps to crafting a good email signoff
While having these examples of good email signoffs is wonderful, sometimes we need to know what goes into creating an appropriate email signoff.
We’ve already talked about how you want your signoff to speak to your personality. However, it’s vital to know who it is you’re talking to. This is why we split up our list of good email signoffs into multiple categories.
If you’re emailing a friend, then some of the sillier signoffs are perfect. The same goes for brands that are considered highly laid back and friendly. If your audience already expects witty puns from you, then feel free to use them in your signoffs.
The next thing to consider is whether your signoff needs to show gratitude towards your readers. While it’s always nice to say, “Thanks for reading our emails,” if your message isn’t asking for something, then a signoff like this doesn’t necessarily fit the narrative.
Finally, you want to make sure you’re keeping it on brand. As much as we absolutely loved the example from Lauri Rhinehart of the American Red Cross, it might not be best for your company. Consider your brand’s tone, guidelines, and persona, and write the copy with that consideration.
Wrap up
Crafting a good email sign off takes some extra brainpower when you’re trying to avoid the standard responses. So, when you’re signing off on your next email message, consider the following points:
- Know your audience
- Keep it pleasant
- Show gratitude when it’s appropriate
- Keep it short and sweet
Need help crafting an engaging message to go along with your good email signoff? Then check out these 8 email copywriting tips for creating engaging content.