AutomatedMSP
    Cold Email

    Email Sign-Offs Ranked by Response Rate

    Data from 350,000 email threads reveals which sign-offs get the most replies. 'Thanks in advance' leads at 65.7% — here's the complete ranking and why gratitude wins.

    5 min read
    •
    Brian KellyBy Brian KellyConnect

    Your email sign-off is the last thing prospects read before deciding whether to reply. Most people treat it as an afterthought — defaulting to "Best" or "Regards" without considering the impact.

    Research from Boomerang analyzed 350,000 email threads to determine which sign-offs actually drive responses. The results reveal a clear winner — and it's probably not what you're using.

    This guide ranks every major sign-off by response rate and explains the psychology behind why gratitude-based closings dominate professional email.

    1. The Complete Sign-Off Rankings

    65.7%

    response rate with 'Thanks in advance'

    Source: Boomerang: 350,000 email threads

    Boomerang's study tested eight common sign-offs across 350,000 email conversations. The results show a 14.5 percentage point spread between the best and worst performers.

    "'Thanks in advance' achieves a 65.7% response rate — the highest of all sign-offs tested."

    Boomerang• Email Sign-Off Analysis• 350,000 threads• 2024

    Complete Rankings:

    Thanks in advance65.7%
    Thanks63.0%
    Thank you57.9%
    Cheers54.4%
    Kind regards53.9%
    Regards53.5%
    Best regards52.9%
    Best51.2%

    Warning

    "Best" is the worst: Despite being the most commonly used sign-off in professional email, "Best" achieves the lowest response rate at 51.2%. If you're using it by default, you're leaving responses on the table.

    2. The Gratitude Effect: +36% More Responses

    +36%

    more responses with gratitude-based sign-offs

    Source: Boomerang: Gratitude Expression Study

    Looking at the rankings, a clear pattern emerges: every gratitude-expressing sign-off outperforms every neutral one.

    "Emails with gratitude-based sign-offs receive 36% more responses than those without."

    Boomerang• Gratitude Expression Study• 350,000 threads• 2024

    ✓ Gratitude-Based

    • Thanks in advance — 65.7%
    • Thanks — 63.0%
    • Thank you — 57.9%

    Average: 62.2%

    ✗ Neutral

    • Kind regards — 53.9%
    • Regards — 53.5%
    • Best regards — 52.9%
    • Best — 51.2%

    Average: 52.9%

    This represents a 9.3 percentage point gap between gratitude-based and neutral closings. Over thousands of emails, that translates to hundreds of additional conversations.

    3. Why This Works: The Psychology of Anticipatory Gratitude

    "Thanks in advance" outperforms even "Thank you" by 7.8 percentage points. Why?

    Three Psychological Mechanisms:

    1. Commitment & Consistency

    By thanking them for a response they haven't given yet, you create a subtle expectation. Not responding now feels like letting someone down.

    2. Reciprocity

    Expressing gratitude — even preemptively — triggers the human instinct to reciprocate. They received something (appreciation); now they want to give something back (a reply).

    3. Assumed Compliance

    "Thanks in advance" assumes they'll respond. This confidence is subtly persuasive — it frames replying as the expected behavior, not a favor.

    Pro Tip

    For MSPs: This is especially powerful in cold outreach where you're asking busy IT leaders to consider a change. "Thanks in advance" acknowledges their time is valuable while gently encouraging action.

    4. Beyond the Sign-Off: Signature Best Practices

    Your sign-off is part of a larger closing impression. Here's how to optimize the entire signature block:

    Email Signature Best Practices

    Do This
    • Keep it to 3-5 lines: Name, title, company, phone
    • Use plain text — avoid images that don't load
    • Include one direct contact method
    • Match font styling to your email body
    • Test how it renders on mobile
    Avoid This
    • Add inspirational quotes or slogans
    • Include every social media link
    • Use large logo images (increase spam risk)
    • Add legal disclaimers in cold outreach
    • List all certifications and awards

    Clean MSP Signature Example:

    Thanks in advance,

    Brian Kelly

    Founder, AutomatedMSP

    Direct: 555-123-4567

    Note

    PS lines can boost responses: A brief PS after your signature can reinforce your value prop or add urgency. "PS: Happy to share how we helped [similar company] cut tickets by 40%." — but use sparingly in cold outreach.

    5. MSP Sign-Off Examples in Context

    Here's how to pair high-performing sign-offs with effective CTAs for MSP outreach:

    For Cold Outreach:

    Worth a 10-minute conversation, or not a priority this quarter?

    Thanks in advance,

    [Name]

    For Follow-Ups:

    Just wanted to see if this landed at a good time — interested in exploring further?

    Thanks,

    [Name]

    For Resource Sharing:

    Here's that HIPAA checklist I mentioned — let me know if you'd like to walk through it together.

    Thank you,

    [Name]

    Key Takeaways

    • 1."Thanks in advance" wins at 65.7% — use it as your default cold email sign-off.
    • 2.Gratitude beats neutral by 36% — any thanks-based closing outperforms regards-based alternatives.
    • 3."Best" is actually worst — at 51.2%, the most common sign-off is the least effective.
    • 4.Keep signatures minimal — 3-5 lines, plain text, one contact method.
    • 5.Anticipatory gratitude creates obligation — thanking them in advance psychologically encourages response.

    Continue Learning:

    Your sign-off closes the email. Make sure the rest is equally optimized — readInterest CTAs That Book 2x More Calls or get the complete playbook inThe MSP Cold Email Playbook.

    Research Methodology

    This article is based on Boomerang's analysis of 350,000 email threads examining sign-off effectiveness. Response rates reflect aggregate data across industries and may vary based on context, audience, and email content.

    Continue Learning

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