followingup profile picture
followingup profile picture

followingup

Account Executive

Fire Starter
Contributor
Good Citizen

Delayed email response

Hi...sooooo I went to go follow up with a prospect who I thought I hadn't heard from in a little over a month, but I realized that he did actually respond to me and he also CC'd important people as well.


I am mortified because I'm normally so good about following up (hence my WR name), and I'm genuinely unsure of how to apologize for such a long delay. It is literally a month and a week old.


Do I simply say "sorry for the delayed response" and then jump into it? Do I follow up on my original email as though I never received his response lol?


Would love some advice on how to save this L.


☁️ Software Tech
10

11 comments

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FamilyTruckster
Politicker
6
Exec Director, Major Accounts
Call them. Explain it, then respond. 
followingup
Fire Starter
2
Account Executive
love this! thank you!!
Wellss
Tycoon
2
Channel sales
I agree with this! By calling you'll be able to apologize & explain what happened and I think it will feel more genuine than just responding via email
heelonthephone
Praised Answer
2
Inbound Closer
Legit tell them, mistakes happen.
Mobi85
Politicker
2
Regional Sales Manager
Shit happens, if you try to cover it up and tell them some made up story about why you didn’t respond it will eliminate trust between you and them. Be upfront and let them know what happened.
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
Depending upon the content of your prospect, accept it that the email got lost and hence the delay but assure them that their email will be responded at the earliest (henceforth).
MediocreSalesGuy
Valued Contributor
1
AE (Account Executive)
Yeah, be straight up at this point. If it was a week, you could use the excuse that you were out and didn't have an out of office on. But after a month, honesty is your best bet.
sugardaddy
Politicker
1
🍬
Indeed with all the others in here. Just tell him the straight facts. People love honesty. If you’re gonna make up a crappy story and he smell the rotten fish, then I’ll assume he’ll hesitate making the deal. 

Call him - Explain - Mail with follow up! 😎💨
DataSlangah
Politicker
1
SAE
Honesty is the best policy here.  And don't ever miss an email from this client again, otherwise, they will think you're a clown!
Flippinghubs
Opinionated
1
Account Executive
Mistakes happen, own up to it vs making something up
LilSaaSX
Executive
0
Enterprise AE
Always pick up the phone and respond. Do not email a response. If they don’t answer leave a message and if you don’t hear back in 24-48 hours depending on what day of the week then email with a genuine honest answer. I had that happen recently where somehow a prospect I’ve been talking to since August somehow their response for a time for a closing call ended up in my spam somehow. I followed that method and told them the truth and was able to pick up the pieces and mend the relationship and more importantly get the deal over the line

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