Picture this: you politely knock on your neighbor’s door, and they gladly let you in. You have a cordial conversation, and then as you leave, you bang the door violently. The chances are good that the neighbor will quickly forget about your chat and might not invite you to the house again. 

Email marketing works in a similar way. Your catchy subject line, precise copy, and conspicuous call to action must be accompanied by a befitting sign-off. If the sign-off isn’t great, the recipient might not remember you or may fail to show interest in your message in the future.

Why You Should Create A Strong Sign-Off

An email sign-off dictates how the recipient perceives your email. An excellent sign-off creates a good final impression. It elicits a receptive attitude from the recipient and encourages them to take some action, such as contacting you to learn more about your business. In addition, a perfect sign-off:

• Clarifies your intentions
• Opens up upselling and cross-selling opportunities
• Leaves the door open for the conversation to continue

How to Sign-Off Business Emails

An email sign-off is essentially a way to say “goodbye for now, but let’s keep this conversation moving.” Here are some tactics to use when signing off: 

1. Ask a Question

Signing off with a question works for several different scenarios. You can use it when scheduling a meeting with a client, soliciting the recipient’s feedback, or clarifying next steps. Examples of polite sign-offs are:

• Are you happy with your current SaaS provider?
• How does Monday or Tuesday sound for a meeting?
• Will Wednesday work for you to set up an appointment?
• Is Friday the right time to reconnect?
• Can I follow up with you in a week?

2. Request Further Interaction

This works when you send an email to initiate further engagement with a new customer, prospect, or business partner. It’s a great sign-off when requesting a meeting, following up on a meeting, or asking someone you met at a recent event to connect on social media. 

For example, when you send an email to a decision-maker who is currently considering your product or service, the best sign-off is to request a meeting with them. Consider the following:

I appreciate you taking the time to evaluate our product. My team is eager to work around your schedule to move forward. 

Here is a link to my calendar. Can we set up some time to catch up next week?

All the best,

[Your name], [Your position] at [Company name]

 

4. Reaffirm the Call to Action

The sign-off is also your last opportunity to reiterate the call to action. But be careful not to bother recipients with multiple CTAs or come across as pushy. Remember that emails with a single CTA increase clicks by 371% and sales by 1617%. 

5. Anticipate an Action

This works when you want to show the recipient that you’re keenly looking forward to the meeting or deal. It’s a polite way to tell them, “Please, this matters to me — I can’t afford to miss it.” Using the following phrases adds enthusiasm, and it benefits conversion greatly: 

• Looking forward to the meeting
• Can’t wait to elaborate further
• Eager to collaborate
• Looking forward to working together

Closing Salutations in Business Email

When signing off, the choice of salutation is important. There are many ways to end an email, depending on your relationship with the recipient or the purpose of the email.

1. Humble Gratitude

If the purpose of your email was to express gratitude (for example, thanking a customer for a purchase, booking a demo, or signing up for a webinar), then sign off with humble gratitude. Statistics show that signing off with gratitude increases the email response rate by 36%.

 

2. Professional Salutation

When responding to emails from business associates, partners, or decision-makers, it’s advisable to use professional salutations. Some phrases to consider:

• Kind regards
• Cordially
• Sincerely

3. Casual Greetings

Depending on your relationship with the recipient, you may use semi-professional or casual salutations such as: 

• See you soon
• Have a good day
• Cheers
• Warm regards
• All the best 

Sign-Off Like a Pro

There’s no universal formula for picking the best salutation and email sign-off. What works for you depends chiefly on the recipient and your relationship with them. In other words, you’re the best person to determine what will strike the right note. 

When crafting your sign-off, ask yourself what you want the recipient to do next and whether that is clear to them. By carefully choosing the right sign-off, with a suitable tone and plenty of clarity, you’ll help your email messaging to land better.