How do you follow up a sales email after no response?

I'm sure we've all been there before - receiving a message from a prospective client or customer that is so vague as to be noncommittal in nature. They may have requested something specific through their initial contact (such as "please help me,") but they haven't provided any further detail beyond this basic statement. And yet they expect us to immediately respond.

This happens more often than not, I'm afraid. A cold call comes in, asking about our services, then goes silent when we don't answer back right away. It can feel frustrating at times, especially if it's your first time dealing with such a situation. You're left wondering what kind of information this prospect needs to make a decision. How much should you provide without knowing exactly why they need it?

Here's a scenario where you might find yourself in this position: The company you work for has recently put out an ad online looking for new employees, and one of those people responded by sending an unsolicited email. He/she told you about themselves, asked for some general information, and said he'd get back to you soon via phone or email. Then nothing happened.

You could try calling the number on the website, but chances are good that whoever answered will say the same thing - that they'll let him know once he gets back in touch. So instead, you decide to write a friendly email in hopes of keeping things moving forward. But here's the problem: How do you politely follow up with a client who hasn't replied to anything you sent them?

We spoke to several experts to figure out how best to approach the issue. Here's what they had to say:

How do you politely follow up with a client?

1. Craft a catchy subject line

In order to catch his attention, you want to use a compelling title. Something along the lines of "Please reply" or "Need info" works well. If you think of other ways to phrase the title, go ahead and play around with different words until you come across something that sounds appropriate. Don't forget to include punctuation in between each word. This keeps the reader engaged.

2. Determine a goal and a context

Once you've got a catchy opening sentence, take care of business by identifying the reason behind contacting them again. Is it because you didn't receive a response within the allotted timeframe? Or did you simply miss communicating with them somehow? Either way, you want to explain what the purpose of your next communication is. For instance, if you were supposed to give feedback and never received one, you might begin your letter by saying: "Hey! I was hoping to talk to you today regarding your project."

3. Provide a clear outline of what you hope to achieve

Now that you understand the goal behind your action, it's time to lay out what you plan to accomplish. In doing so, you can set expectations based on your original conversation. Perhaps you mentioned that you'd prefer to communicate via e-mail rather than over the phone. Make sure you cover this point clearly during the actual follow-up email.

4. Set realistic deadlines

If you're planning on getting a quick response, you need to prepare accordingly. Do everything possible to ensure that you stay on track with your timeline. Remember that even though you're writing to a potential client who doesn't seem overly concerned about details, they still likely have many responsibilities going on in their lives. By making allowances for these realities, you can better guarantee that your correspondence lands in their inbox.

5. Stay calm

When you're trying to reach out to someone who isn't responding to your emails, you must remain professional. Being impatient only serves to create tension between both parties. Even if you're frustrated, remember that everyone has their own reasons for being difficult to reach. Try to avoid coming off too harsh if you're unable to connect with them right now. Instead, focus on providing helpful advice in the meantime.

6. Reassure yourself that it wasn't meant to be

As tempting as it might be to keep pressing the issue regardless, remember that every interaction you have with a stranger is unique in its own special way. Just because someone fails to respond to one of your attempts does not mean that you won't ever hear from them again. Take solace in the fact that there are plenty of opportunities for future introductions.

7. Be patient

Remembering that most prospects aren't interested in hearing from you unless they really need something, wait patiently for them to return your calls or messages. While it's normal to become frustrated, try to refrain from taking matters into your own hands. There's always another opportunity down the road.

8. Keep it brief

Your job isn't to bore readers with long paragraphs filled with unnecessary information. When you craft your email, stick to the basics. Stick to the facts and leave the fluff behind. Use bullet points whenever possible. Also, keep sentences short and simple. Break up larger blocks of text with subheads wherever necessary.

9. Focus on positive reinforcement

Even if you're disappointed that your correspondence went unanswered, resist the urge to vent. Instead, use your follow-up email to reiterate the benefits of working together while also reassuring your audience that you're willing to continue helping them out.

10. Ask questions

It's important to learn as much as you can about your prospects throughout the process. Asking open-ended questions helps build rapport, which ultimately leads to increased trust. Some examples include "What brought you to look for the product?" and "Why are you considering hiring us?"

11. Send a reminder

Send a reminder two weeks later to check in on whether they've gotten back in touch or not.

12. Don't forget to thank them

Lastly, don't overlook the importance of thanking your customers for giving you the chance to serve them. Your gratitude shows that you appreciate their patronage and encourages others to consider working with you in the future.

How do you follow up politely example?

How do you politely ask for an email response?

How do you politely tell someone you are waiting for them?

How do you politely follow up with a client?

Have you tried following up with a hard-to-reach client? What worked and what didn't? Share your experience in the comments section below!

When it comes to sending emails, there are two main options: you can either wait for them to reply or you can try to contact them again if they don’t. If you’ve been trying to reach out to your client but haven’t heard back from them (or any other communication), then it might be time to take action.

This is especially true when it comes to closing deals, which means that you should always have at least one last shot before giving up on them completely. Of course, this only works if you know what their next steps will be. So here's exactly what you need to do when contacting people who won't listen to your pitches.

1. Craft a Catchy Subject Line

The first thing that you want to do is craft a good headline so that whoever receives your message knows immediately why you're reaching out. It could be anything related to your industry or work experience - the more specific the better. For instance, I'm sure you've received many emails asking about your product or service that start off something like "I'd love to speak to you about our...". This isn't necessarily bad, but it does make it hard to read through the rest of the email without wondering whether you'll actually get a chance to pitch. Instead, use something along these lines:

"Can we talk?"

"I was hoping to chat."

"Will you give me 30 minutes?"

2. Determine a Goal & Context

You also need to decide what you want as far as outcome goes. Is this a quick question where you just want some feedback or details? Or are you looking for permission to continue working together? Once you figure out what you're going for, determine a point of reference for your conversation. You may find that by discussing a recent event, you can bring things into focus and remind yourself why you were thinking of talking to him/her in the first place. Maybe he/she mentioned his new job recently? That kind of gives you something to build upon.

3. Provide Some Background Information

Next, provide some background information regarding who you are. Your name, company name, etc., because even though you both had a meeting scheduled, you still need to establish some familiarity between you. Then, explain the reason behind your current outreach. Perhaps you sent over a proposal a while ago and didn't hear back. In that case, you probably shouldn't expect much from this particular interaction. But maybe you did receive an answer or offer. Either way, you want to let him/her know what happened.

4. Ask Them What They Want From You

Once you have all of the above covered, ask them what they want from you. A lot of times, the problem lies within the fact that people aren't being clear enough with themselves. Asking them directly helps you understand what they really need instead of assuming based on how they communicated with you previously. Take this opportunity to clarify any questions that you may have.

5. Come Prepared With Questions

Now that you've figured out what the other party wants from you, prepare a list of questions ahead of time. There's nothing worse than feeling unprepared during a call or meeting, so come prepared with a few key points. Also, remember that you want to keep it short and simple. The less complicated the process is, the easier it is for everyone involved. And most importantly, be respectful. Don't assume that he/she has already made up her mind or that she's too busy to talk right now. Letting them know that you respect their time makes a huge difference.

6. Be Polite!

Finally, once you feel ready to go ahead and schedule a call or meetup, be sure to end your email or phone call with a nice compliment or thanks. It shows that you care about connecting with them personally and that you value their attention. Plus, it lets them know that you appreciate them taking the time to connect with you.

7. How Do You Politically Follow Up An Unanswered Email?

If you really want to nail down a potential client, you should consider using a template called a "follow-up email". These templates typically contain very general language that allows you to quickly write a personalized email. However, since you're dealing with sensitive situations, you should definitely avoid making direct references to your own business. Here's an example of such a template:

Dear [Client],

It was great speaking with you earlier today. We discussed several topics surrounding your project and hope to move forward soon. Please let us know if there is anything else we can help you with moving forward.

Best Regards,

[Your Name]

8. When Should You Use A Template?

A follow-up email template is usually used to communicate with someone after a meeting or initial discussion. While you wouldn't normally use this type of template to discuss sensitive issues, sometimes you simply run into dead ends and need to reestablish contact. In those cases, it's best to write a generic email and customize it later.

9. How Can You Send A Follow-Up Email Without Creating More Work?

There are plenty of ways to send a follow-up email without creating extra work. First off, you can set up auto-responders. Whenever you send out an email, you can include instructions telling recipients that if they don't hear back from you within 24 hours, they should check their spam folder. This sends a strong signal that you're interested in keeping in touch. Another option is to add a link in your signature. People often overlook signatures and miss opportunities to engage with customers. Finally, you can create a series of automated messages that you send to certain contacts. This way, you never have to worry about losing track of important conversations.

10. How Should You Respond To Clients Not Responding?

After you've tried everything possible and given up on getting in touch with your prospect, it's time to accept reality. At this stage, you may need to move onto another strategy altogether. Whether you choose to continue pursuing them or look elsewhere for a sale, it's crucial to remain positive throughout the entire process. Otherwise, you risk burning bridges and alienating future prospects.

What do you think of the different approaches available to professional marketers? Have you ever followed up on a lead that wasn't returning calls or emails? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments section below!

You sent an email or text message and didn’t hear back from your recipient within 24 hours of sending it (or before). You aren’t sure if they received it, but don’t want to leave them hanging -- so what should you say when you try again?

There are many reasons why people might not reply to emails or texts right away. Maybe they're too busy at work or in class, maybe they have a lot going on personally, or perhaps there's something wrong with their inbox. Whatever the reason is, you'll need to decide whether you want to wait patiently until they get around to responding, or take matters into your own hands by following up yourself.

The best way to determine which approach will be more effective depends largely on who the recipient is and what kind of relationship you two have together. If you know this person well, you may want to let them know exactly what prompted you to reach out. Or, you could simply ask them directly if they received your email/text. If it was urgent enough, they'd probably reply sooner than later.

If you want to give them space to think about their answer, then consider giving them some time before reaching out again. It also helps to keep things lighthearted and friendly when writing your next email. Here are three easy ways to follow up after no response.

How do you politely follow up after no response?

While it's always nice to receive feedback, sometimes we need to move forward without hearing anything back. To help avoid any confusion, here are four steps to follow up after no response:

1) Send another email or text letting them know that you haven't heard back yet. This gives them a chance to respond and lets you know if they've received your first message.

2) State what made you contact them in the first place. For instance, "I noticed you weren't available yesterday, so I reached out to see if everything went okay."

3) Ask if they had a good day and offer to connect again soon. Be careful to make it clear that you still care about connecting with them and are interested in getting together soon!

4) End on a positive note. Say thank you for taking the time to talk with you and hope to continue building a strong connection.

For additional tips on how to craft a great follow up email, check out our article entitled How To Create A Great First Impression With Your Emails & Text Messages.

How do you follow up after someone doesn't respond?

Sometimes, even though you followed these guidelines above, the other party has ignored your email altogether. They may have been distracted by something else or they might have forgotten all about you. In either case, you shouldn't feel offended or upset. Instead, focus on finding out why they chose to ignore you. Perhaps they were having trouble replying due to being overwhelmed by work, or perhaps they felt as though you weren't important enough to spend much time thinking about. Either way, it's perfectly fine to reach out once again and ask if you can speak with them.

This time around, however, use caution when crafting your question. Don't pester them with questions unless you genuinely need clarification. Also, remember to stay upbeat and friendly throughout your conversation.

How can I politely tell someone that I'm waiting for their response?

When communicating via email or text, it's natural for us to expect quick replies. But sometimes, it takes longer than expected to get through. When you find yourself in this situation, it's perfectly acceptable to state clearly that you're expecting a response and asking how long it will take. And while you certainly wouldn't mind receiving a speedy reply, it's better to remain patient.

Here's an example of how one might word such a statement: "Hey [name], I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me today. As you may recall, I mentioned that I needed some guidance regarding my upcoming presentation. Since I never got a response, I figured now would be a good time to touch base and clarify where we stand. While I understand that you must prioritize your workload and schedule accordingly, I would greatly value your input and am hoping to set up a meeting sometime during your next free block of time. Please let me know if that works for you!"

How do you write a follow up email after no response?

Now that you have a plan ready and a strategy for dealing with those times when the other party ignores your initial messages, it's time to start composing your follow up email. Below are five simple rules to follow when drafting a follow up email after no response.

Rule #1 - Keep it brief

Don't waste your reader's time with lengthy paragraphs filled with unnecessary details. Remember, you only have 30 seconds to grab their attention and convey your point. So instead of trying to impress them with every little detail, stick to the main points and save the rest for your next communication.

Rule #2 - Make your opening sentence short and sweet

Your opener needs to catch the reader's interest immediately. Try starting off by saying something along the lines of, "Hi [Name]", "Good morning" or "My name is [your full name]." These simple phrases allow readers to quickly identify themselves and the purpose behind your message.

Rule #3 - Use bullet lists whenever possible

Bullet lists make for concise, easy-to-read copy that's perfect for capturing key information. Instead of wasting valuable real estate on words, break down complex ideas into bite-sized chunks using bullets.

Rule #4 - Avoid using passive voice

Passive sentences sound bland and uninteresting. Readers won't pay much attention to them because they lack clarity and direction. Passive constructions include, "It was suggested," "We believe," "It seems," etc. Stick to active voice verbs whenever possible, as they provide a clearer picture of what you mean.

Rule #5 - Proofread carefully

Before hitting SEND, read over each paragraph multiple times to ensure that it flows smoothly and makes sense. There's nothing worse than reading a draft and realizing that you wrote the same thing twice or used incorrect grammar. Take extra care to proofread your final version, especially since typos and grammatical errors tend to pop up as you type.

With these basic guidelines in mind, you're already halfway done. Now it's time to send your follow-up email! Good luck!

How do you follow up after no response?

A simple yes or no isn't necessarily enough to gauge the extent of a business relationship. Sometimes, it takes several attempts to confirm whether a potential client actually wants to pursue working with you. Whether you're selling insurance, running a marketing campaign, selling stock, or offering services, knowing when to stop contacting leads is essential. The most common technique for determining if your prospects are worth pursuing further involves making calls. However, if you're looking for an easier alternative, consider these tried and true strategies.

To learn more about how to deal with difficult clients, check out our guide titled 7 Ways To Handle Difficult Clients.