How to Write a Follow Up Email
Now that you know how
important it is to follow up, and how long (give or take) you should wait before sending
each email, let’s go through how to write the follow-up email itself.
1. Add Context
Try to jog your
recipient’s memory by opening your email with a reference to a previous email
or interaction.
Openers you might want
to try include:
·
I just wanted to follow up on the email I sent last [day of the week email was sent] about [subject of
email].
·
I just wanted to
follow up to see what you thought about [subject of email].
·
I hope this doesn’t
sound weird, but I saw that you read my previous email.
2.
Add Value
Avoid lazy follow-ups
– ones where you’re simply ‘touching base’ or ‘catching up’ – that don’t add
anything other than one more email in their inbox. Provide value at each interaction.
Make it worth their while to open, click, and respond.
3. Explain Why You’re
Emailing
Go on to explain the
reason for your follow-up email, in a manner that’s both direct and concise. Just tell the
recipient what you want. If this hasn’t changed since your last email, remind
them.
·
[product
name] could really
help you [element of prospect’s role] more effectively. I’d
love to have a quick chat to find out if I’m right.
·
[product
name] could really
help you and I wondered if you’d be interested in trying it out for a month or
so (completely free, of course).
·
We’ve just
launched [product name], and it could make a big difference
to [element of prospect’s role]. There’s a link to a resource that
will tell you more just below, but it’d be great if we could also discuss your
current needs so I can figure out exactly how [product name]might
help you.
4. Include a
Call-to-Action
Make it easy for the
recipient to respond.
For example, if you’re trying to arrange a meeting, suggest a specific date
and time (and place, if you’re arranging an in-person meeting).
·
Does 2:15 p.m. on
Thursday work for you?
·
Are you the right
person to talk to about this? If I’m in the wrong place, could you point me in
the right direction?
·
Just reply ‘yes’ if
you’d be interested in getting some more information and I’ll send a couple of
short docs over.
5. Close Your Email
Wrap up in a way that
feels natural to you and is sympathetic to your interactions with the recipient
so far.
While I have a few
suggestions below, this part is really quite personal
– as above, wrap up however you feel comfortable.
·
Let me know what you
think! [Your name]
·
Let me know if you
have any questions. [Your name]
·
Speak soon? [Your
name]
·
I look forward to
hearing from you! [Your name]
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