Use Email Sign-Offs to Build Strong Biz Relationships

As you can see from previous posts, I'm pretty focused on email and text communications lately. Actually, I have no idea why, but whatever. . .

Along these lines, I've been thinking about what sign-off line I want to use in my emails and if I even need one at all. I've noticed for some time now that it's becoming quite acceptable to just sign off using your name, with no complimentary close line preceding. This seems a bit cold and impersonal to me.

Recently I came upon a post by Justin Bariso from 2014 in which he discusses just this topic: how he ends his email communications with colleagues, acquaintances, thought leaders, friends and others he’s building relationships with. This helped me get my mind around how I want to leave the people I am communicating with.

Here's a link to Justin's post Why Your Email Sign-Off Is More Important Than You Think, which originally appeared on Inc.com in December 2014. Although it's almost 3 years old, I believe that it's still relevant.

As for me, I'm sticking with my original gut feeling that using a complimentary close is important and I’ll continue to choose the one I feel most appropriate for each individual email I write, whether it be regards, best regards, sincerely, thank you or something more personal. It only takes a few extra seconds and well worth the effort as I'm setting the tone for the next phase of the relationship. Also, as I pointed out in a previous post (Are Your Emails Misunderstood? Use More Emojis) digital communication lacks body language, so every extra, carefully chosen word or phrase I include helps me ensure that my meaning is conveyed accurately.

On second thought, I think I do know why I’m focused on digital communications lately: because I do so much of it during my work-from-home day and have learned firsthand how vital it is to building strong, lasting business relationships.

With best regards,

Kippy Flur Builder of websites that deliver