“Forget what you’ve heard about first impressions; it’s the last impressions that count. Last impressions — whether they’re with customer service, an online shopping experience, or a blind date — are the ones we remember. They’re the ones that keep us coming back. But there’s one kind of final impression that people seem to forget. The closing line of email — that line that you write before you type your name — has been all but forgotten. Go take a look at your inbox: you might be astonished at how little attention people pay to the closing lines when writing email. This underrated rhetorical device is so frequently disregarded that many people have the gall to use an automatic closing line attached to their email signature file…If a closing line can be so meaningful, so important, why are emailers squandering the opportunity, putting no thought in the closing? Time, perhaps, iPhone-finger exhaustion, multi-tasking – they’re all possible excuses. And many times, acceptable ones. We can’t be expected to neatly tie up every email every time. But once in a while, it would be delightful if people applied the same sincerity to the last impressions that we do to first ones.”
As mass producer of emails, this email & chart left its mark…
Source: Bobulate via explore-blog
David, where is “be encouraged”?…hahaha!
Be encouraged!
There is a HUGE flaw in this study Stephen. How they could have neglected “be encouraged” is beyond imagination and fully invalidates the entire study… 🙂
My thoughts exactly…I mean, what in the world were they thinking!? It’s a strange world isn’t it? Glad you and I are so well adjusted…lol.
Be encouraged!
FUNNY!
Very interesting, David. I tend to be (hyper) sensitive to this type of thing, so I’m always Mindful of how I’m coming across to others… Interesting to see it “mapped out.”
Curious Lori. How do you close out your emails?
Depends on the person at the receiving end, but typically it’s “warmly” or “best.”. I never just sign my name–it feels neglectful to me….
Very Good. I have work to do. I usually hit it with “regards” or DK in professionally setting. My antennae are up on this one. 🙂
Oh crap. Another habit to re-think. Can’t imagine how many times I’ve just said “thanks” when I could have been much more articulate and imaginative and expressive. And what’s with nothing supposedly being the best way to close a natural, familiar email? Really? One more thing to pay attention to…
I had same reaction LaDona…yet “another” thing to get right. 🙂
Dear David.
Wow, this one has made me go all self conscious. My usual ‘Warmest wishes” isn’t even on there!
What about the email opening. I seem to get more and more which start off “Dear Michael”, which to me is how you start a letter. And some don’t bother with the salutation, so it goes straight to “Michael”. That to me is a bit like shouting at me, calling me to attention. It’s hiw my wife addresses me when I’ve done something wrong.
Oh the sensitivities of all this are so complex when you start to analyse.
I have a fun exercise I use when training in communications, to show how bad email is as a communication tool. Ask yourself how many different interpretations are available here, (Just read it out loud, emphasising a different word each time):
I DID NOT SAY MY BOSS WAS A FOOL.
Cheers (or should that be “felicitations”, “Ever yours”, “Fondest wishes”????????
Michael
Mike, interestingly “with warm regards” which is closest to your preferred “warmest wishes” is firmly in the self conscious quadrant but, like most 4 quad models I fear this also has as many holes as values. For example how come “sincerely” is in 3 of the 4?
Live long and prosper
Spen
Spencer, I hadn’t noticed that “sincerely” was in 3 or 4 categories. Now you’ve made me wonder if the entire study is flawed. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
Always appreciative.
Dave
Michael: Laughing. I am particularly attuned to the opening. I too find it cold and impersonal to jump right into an email without using the recipient’s name. However, my closes are generally terse and cliff-like. This post stopped me in my tracks. I won’t forget this one…
Have a good day my friend…
Dave
Not sure about the position of “with warmest regards” but I’ve never used that one anyway! So it seems “thanks” is the safe but boring option. Everyone gets “best regards” from me!
Caroline, I too have seen “with warmest regards” but it through me off-balance. I use “regards” often in email and that doesn’t even show up on this 4-box. I don’t know what that means. And I’m not sure I’ll ever use it again as a result. Amazing what a post will do to modify one’s behavior.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Dave
Cheerio & toodeloo!!
🙂
[too familiar huh?!]
Dear Marina, now these closings are pure artist. Why am I not surprised?
Always grateful and yours,
Dave
…a tad more silly than artistic, I think!
I find “always grateful & yours” much nicer really!
…and so am I!
🙂
Laughing!
I’ve run across “Blessings” a few times at work… gotta say it was a bit surprising, to say the least!
Amber, I haven’t come across “Blessings” and certainly not at work. 🙂 It would certainly pop some eyebrows.
Have a good day.
Dave
Hmmm…I don’t like ‘thx’ – can’t someone take the extra second to type it out in full? I end a lot of my emails with ‘wishing you a lovely day’..At work, it was always ‘Thanks as always, m..’ And none of them really feel right, for in retrospect many sign offs are as personal as the individual to whom it is addressed. I can sign off to Lori, ‘love, m’; I would feel presumptuous writing that to you (though in my own cyberworld way I do love you like an avatar brother – the kind who knows you so well that it just makes you either want to hang out with him and his friends, or give him noogies all over his head). I’m overthinking this (again)..more coffee..Have a great day my friend, me
Ugh. I use “Thx”. No more. What a wonderful “comment.” You win comment of the day. Have a good one Mimi. Dave
Yay! I’ve never won a contest before. Do I get a tiara? A sash maybe? Twelve cases of undying admiration? Sigh…I didn’t think so.
You win the vast admiration of the blogoshere. One search away from billions of eyeballs. Well done!
Laughing..I’ll just take a kewpie doll thanks..billions of eyeballs reminds me of an out-take from a Hitchcock movie.
I do! I pay attention to every little detail from the start i.e. subject line, greeting line and of course the closure because for me that reflects part of me and I have to be careful.
Ms Meticulous. Of course you would.
🙂
Dave, just reading this all again (it got me thinking). I bet there’s a link from the way you sign off to your personality type. Must be some money to be made there by someone.
I bet Feelers like me use ‘warmest wishes” more often than Thinkers would. I’m wondering how you do in fact sign off. You have already revealed that you USED to use “thx”. i wonder,hope you don;t mind me asking; do you ever use “Over and Out”? I can see Thinkers liking that one – very final, clear, crisp.
Go on, tell us more 🙂
OK, Michael, you baited me. “Warmest Wishes” – hmmmm – no, not for me. On email, I have used the following in order of frequency: (1) Regards, (2) Thx, (3) DK, (4) Take care (for friends). Nothing else. Since this post, I have have done an about face and have moved to “Thanks” or “Thank you”. And no, have never used “Over and Out. Yet on opening, I use first name 75% of the time. This one has been non-negotiable – no matter how much in a hurry I am.
The last time a publisher called for my full manuscript was after I’d written an extremely business-like email, in which I’d addressed him as Mr Lee and signed the letter with Yours Sincerely.
Now there you go. It does work!
Maybe because I sell for a living…maybe because I’m conscious of everything I write..maybe because I imagine that person standing in front of me as I open with my first line and close with my last…
But it’s the opening and the closing that are most important…no matter what you’re writing, saying, creating, singing, painting, or simply taking that final shot at the ball.
What else can I say?
Onward! 🙂
– J.
Master craftsman. Good for you Jeff. And like “Onward!”
This issue has plagued me for some time, and I have switched in and out of closings my entire professional career. Excellent chart to have lying around!
I am a standard “Thanks!” girl for most things, but when I am intimidated by the person I am sending an email to it’s “Best Regards” all the way. Everyone once in awhile the devilish side of me wants to write “xoxo” just to see the reaction…
Funny. For some reason, I have landed on “Regards” for years. I have done a sharp about face since this post…Thanks! Dave
I tend to use “Best regards”.
Far left!