Closing an email is more than just typing "Best," "Regards," or "Sincerely." A strong closing reinforces your message, reflects your professionalism, and leaves a lasting impression. This guide provides simple yet effective tips to help you master the art of email closings, ensuring your correspondence is both impactful and memorable. Learn how to close an email looking forward to future interactions while maintaining a polished, professional tone.
Beyond the Basics: Elevating Your Email Closing
Many fall into the trap of using generic closings, losing a valuable opportunity to strengthen their message and build rapport. Let's explore how to go beyond the mundane and craft closings that leave a positive and lasting impact:
1. Reflect the Tone and Context:
The perfect closing mirrors the tone of your email. A formal email to a client requires a different approach than a casual email to a colleague. Consider these examples:
- Formal: "Sincerely," "Respectfully," "Kind regards," "Cordially"
- Informal: "Best," "Cheers," "Thanks," "Talk soon"
Stronger Closings: Instead of just "Best," try "Best regards," or "Best wishes." Adding a small word or two instantly elevates the professionalism.
2. Expressing Anticipation (Looking Forward):
Show your enthusiasm for future interactions by explicitly stating your anticipation. This technique subtly strengthens the professional relationship.
- "Looking forward to your response." - Simple, effective, and widely used for requests or queries.
- "Looking forward to our call tomorrow." - Reinforces scheduling and shows you value the upcoming conversation.
- "Looking forward to collaborating with you on this project." - Expresses excitement and sets a positive tone for collaborative work.
Remember to tailor the phrase to the specific context.
3. Adding a Personal Touch (When Appropriate):
Injecting a personal touch, when suitable for your relationship with the recipient, can significantly enhance your closing. Consider adding:
- Your Name: Always include your name. Avoid relying solely on your email signature.
- Title: If it's relevant to the context, include your professional title.
- Contact Information: While your signature usually contains this, ensure it's readily visible.
4. Proofread Meticulously:
Typos and grammatical errors in your closing can undermine the overall impression of professionalism. Always take a moment to review your email before hitting send.
5. Avoid Overused Phrases:
Overused closings can make your email appear impersonal and generic. Avoid clichés like:
- "Have a great day!" (Unless it's highly appropriate for the relationship)
- "Thank you in advance" (Use sparingly and only when genuinely appropriate)
Choose closings that are both professional and reflect your individual communication style while remaining appropriate for the recipient and context.
Crafting the Perfect "Looking Forward" Email Closing: Examples
Here are some examples of effective email closings that incorporate the "looking forward" element:
- For a sales inquiry: "Looking forward to discussing how our solution can benefit your business. Please let me know what time works best for a brief call."
- For a project update: "Looking forward to the next steps in this project. Please let me know if you have any questions."
- For a networking email: "Looking forward to connecting with you at the conference next week."
Optimize for Search Engines
To improve your search engine ranking for queries like "how to close an email," "professional email closings," and "email etiquette," remember these on-page SEO tips:
- Keyword Integration: Naturally incorporate relevant keywords throughout your content.
- Header Optimization: Use H2 and H3 tags to structure content and highlight key phrases.
- Meta Description: Craft a compelling meta description that includes relevant keywords and encourages clicks.
- Internal & External Linking: Link to relevant internal pages and authoritative external sources.
By mastering these simple yet effective tips, you'll not only improve your email closing but also enhance your overall professional communication and boost your search engine visibility for relevant searches.
