SalesTanuki

Account Executive

Creative ways of saying "following up"

Hey everyone,

Really interested in getting some creative takes on what you're using in emails instead of saying "follow(ing) up on" when you're replying all to the emails you've sent to prospects/existing customers who aren't replying to specific things.

I cringe every time I write it because I use it so much––because a large portion of my day is honestly "following up" on things. Sometimes I write "coming back (to you) on" just to switch it up but aside from that I've not been successful in coming up with alternatives quick phrases like this that have the same meaning.

Any ideas?

🔎 Prospecting

👑 Sales Strategy

💌 Cold Emailing

67 comments

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Telehealth_2the_Moon

Notable Contributor

Director of Business Development

Whenever I'm emailing a prospect I think about how I can make the email about THEM. "Following up" emails are some of the hardest to do this, but it's important they know why they should care about following up with you.

In practice this often means I bring up their main reasons for engaging with us in the first place, especially if a timeframe for a decision has come up. "Last week you mentioned wanting to see an ROI analysis of the solution and agreed to gather the data needed for this. Is this still the best plan forward?"

Also, I recommend keeping a set of "keep warm" resources. Both company specific things like marketing materials and white papers, but also 3rd party things like relevant articles or resources for the field. I'll send those out as a way to remind them I exist while hopefully providing some value and avoiding "checking in" on them. Them seeing my name is likely a reminder enough of what step is needed.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Absolutely exactly all of what you said.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Very sound approach, much appreciated

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Yes, tie it back to a specific thing that was discussed and the outstanding task/step you're trying to address. Love this response.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Just do everything @Telehealth_2the_Moonsuggested.

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I found this a while back and it has help out quite a bit. Easy to scroll through and easy to follow.

https://marketcircle.blog/8-polite-follow-up-email-samples/

SteveD

Member

Sales Director

Wow fantastic find. I also like a lot of stuff Ample market puts out. http://blog.amplemarket.com/a-simple-guide-to-prepare-for-each-inbound-sales-call/

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

I like to use the excuse of "going through my records" "Looking back at the calendar, I know we talked <date> but I am foggy on <some detail>" and "I was taking a look at our notes from last tuesday and I ..." or "I was talking with my <insert dept name here> team and wanted to confirm..."

I also straight up say follow up at other times b/c there is nothing wrong with being honest and blunt if you aren't getting their attention other ways.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Awesome adds :) Thanks!

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

Depends on your style

radical candor: “My boss is going to ask me so I am asking you, please help me have an answer for my boss”

self-deprecating: “I’m not that great at what I do so I was hoping you could help me look good”

funny: “ yes this is a follow-up email/call.”

to the point: “Hi xyz, on our last conversation there were a few items left open so I am looking to understand

- point a
- point b
- etc…

hope this helps

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Big fan of "to the point"

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

That's all great stuff. Really appreciate the input.

Mereynol

Client Advisor

Also a big fan of “to the point”

When you use radical candor, what’s your typical response? I like it, I just have a hard time believing the recipient would care that your boss needs an answer

Chipsandsalesa

Good Citizen

Sales Development Rep

I do a slightly different approach to the boss reply where I use it to an objection email (since I rarely get a response if I ask straight up why they’re not interested) I’ll say something along the lines of “yeah I definitely understand if this isn’t a service you’re considering at the moment! But when I have to move in from a firm my boss will ask me what the reasoning was. Could you provide me with a little insight, are y’all using another data provider or is this a timing/budget concern”
I almost always get a response and have been able to turn a few of those objections into meetings/closed deals

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Our team 2X’d their response rate with this scalable + creative + 1time investment gif approach.

#ThereIsStillALittleHopeOnLinkedinMaybe

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

what are they putting as the subject line?

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

It's a reply on the same email thread. The finger pointing upward in GIF is basically pointing (guiding) the prospect to look at the email above in the same thread.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Can say I've never sent a GIF to a prospect, but certainly something to consider. But from an email?

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Try it @SalesTanuki. You won’t regret it.

ps: GIFs work better on LinkedIn messages.

SDM

Politicker

Sales development manager

I have tried Mr.bean gif..

SteveD

Member

Sales Director

I've started doing GIFs from some use case videos we have and looks like response rates are a lot better. Remember GIFs can be heavy and get blocked by some client's emails (10Mb limits)

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Did you team create a gif of themselves or used this?

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

Each member created it. One time investment

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

What are you following up about?

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

E.g. a demo they asked for and then sent them some times but they didn't reply, asking for feedback on how things are going using our tool, if a new feature we've released would be helpful and if they're interested in reconnecting

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

I'd pepper in calls if you're not already. Most of those things we be more productive as conversations vs emails

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Fully agree it would be a good way forward.

This brings up another pertinent question for me though.. how do you get a prospects phone number when it's not in their email signature, and your company doesn't use any service for that?

It feels a bit uncouth to straight up ask for it at the end of a disco call or a demo.

Would you use a plugin like Lusha or something and then if they ask how you got their number say you got it from a service online?

For a prospect you've spoken to several times?

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Ask them.

SalesWhisperer

Member

Division Sales Manager

What number can I reach you at next time? Hey, your e-mail signature doesn't have your phone number. Would you mind telling me what it is for my records?

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

So simple and I should definitely be doing that

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Awesome suggestions! Thank you very much :)

PineappleYa

Opinionated

Wanted to reconnect on x
How are you feeling on y ?
What questions have come up on x?
How can i help with y?

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Nice!

Dallas_Knight

Big Shot

Strategic Account Executive

I put it on their timeline, " I do not mean to bother you but as we discussed for us to do ________ by __________ we need _________

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

This is good

aiko

Politicker

Sr. Account Executive

You can have your manager follow up to you, and then you can fwrd the email to your prospect, this way they know that its not just you who has eyes on the project.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Wow this would be quite effective I think, very good idea

I_eat_SaaS

Contributor

Account Executive

Circling back around

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

To me, personally, this is the same as follow up in its cliché. But thank you!

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Always think about what you'd want to see in a follow up email.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

good point for sure

SDM

Politicker

Sales development manager

I keep it to the point and it helped in saving the time of both the parties... Unless I am unsure of anything

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

"Touching base"
"Checking up on ..."
"Bumping the note / message"
"Syncing back in"
"Get together to see how the evaluation is coming along"
:Going through our past conversations"

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

I've used all of these before, too! Thank you for replying :)

connorstewart

Old School Bravo

President

Forget about any excuse or logical reason. Follow up directly and make your ask to progress the deal further. Everyone is busy, nobody wants to play games, be sincere, direct and honest in your ask. Your prospects will respect it and return the favour. Forget about “following up”, reach out and make your ask!

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Fully agree with this, although difficult for me to put into practice sometimes. Afraid that being too direct could be off putting, but I am 98% sure that is all in my head.

connorstewart

Old School Bravo

President

Don’t think of it as asking for the sale. You likely aren’t there yet, however, if you’ve had a meeting or two and the prospect has shown interest in what your offering and agreed to next steps. You have earned the right to ask to take it further with them. Your time is valuable too - the only way to get the right response from prospects with this approach is when you respect your own time as much as you respect theirs. Relationships are a two way street. Your best relationships in life are built on respect and mutual benefit, business relationships are the same.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Thanks for replying!

Looks like that article suggests using "Did you get a chance to..." a lot in the case of following up on previous emails you've sent that haven't been replied to yet.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

Strategic Sales

I say “hey just checking , have you given up on …____…. “

Most likely they respond back

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

I have also found that "Have you given up on" generally works to get a reply. It's one I save until I've "followed up" a few times though.

punishedlad

Tycoon

🧙‍♂️

If I haven't gotten a response to an email, especially one that has info/content that I spent some time on, I'll say something like "Hey _____, pushing this to the top of your inbox in case you didn't see it"

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

This is a tried and true one indeed.

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

I am a big fan of just a one line email that asks a specific question. Response rate is usually high for that as well.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

I should be doing this more for sure, whenever I do it works.

RckChlkG33k

Big Shot

AE (Account Executive)

The old "I forgot-What was supposed to happen after our last conversation?" trick can work wonders.

Only use it appropriately, and sparingly. No more than once per contact, and try not to do it multiple times at the same account.

But it can restart the momentum of a dead conversation.

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Oh this is a nice trick I will be keeping in the ol' back pocket. Thank you!

ChickenDinner

Politicker

Account Executive

sometimes i've titled an email "Progressing" and in the email say something like, "How is the conversation about...(whatever topic of impact we've been discussing that my product solves for) at (company name) progressing? What do you need from me?"

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

I like that

SalesWhisperer

Member

Division Sales Manager

You could add a little variety to the way you're contacting them.

Send them a video e-mail (Bomb Bomb, Dubb) instead, for example. So, I can't wait to hear how x works for you.

Or maybe a picture of yourself (thinking, <3 on their brand) and say I was just thinking of you, our last conversation, the question you'd asked... (fill in the blank.)

Send audio e-mail... we last left things at... how has it progressed? It just occurred to me that...

Send a meme/picture - Halloween's coming up - dying to find out (xx).

Specifically, for a demo request, I'd send them my Calendly link so they can schedule it. Make it easy to do business with you. :) Following up on it, you could say something like... my calendar is so lonely without you.

The point is a pattern interrupt. They get attention because not many people take the time to do this type of thing.

FranchiseSalesQB

Politicker

Franchise Sales QB

Top of my list

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

Could you elaborate on how you'd use this? :)

Chipsandsalesa

Good Citizen

Sales Development Rep

Something simple like “saw an article online and was thinking of you, thought I’d touch base…”

The_Sales_Badger

Notorious Answer

Account Executive

Hand-written thank you cards.

JDialz

Politicker

Chief Operating Officer

If it’s a prospect we have met with 1+ times, often say “Just finished a client meeting with one of your fellow [company] VPs - he/she was saying nice things about you behind your back. We should connect [date at time] to discuss some market ideas our analysts feel *very* strongly about.”

SalesTanuki

Catalyst

Account Executive

I see this working in specific cases. Just not applicable to inbound leads from new accounts, which is more of what I typically deal with :D Thank you for your input!

JDialz

Politicker

Chief Operating Officer

Ah yeah nah, would not recommend.

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

Always add value. Always.

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SalesTanuki

Creative ways of saying "following up"

67 comments

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