I had to 'up' my followup game recently, because many prospects had ghosted because of the holiday season and were too lazy to head back in the project zone just yet. Some tricks that did wonders for me in at least getting an update, if not a closure:
- Handwritten notes: I didn't send these notes to their addresses, so don't worry. These were just email bodies, no words and nothing else. Just hand written note on a sticky note - as an email body. It pretty much included the context in one line and the next steps in another line.
- My tone when I called: If I had a pickup by the customer, I made sure NOT to use the word 'followup' or 'circling back'. I made sure to keep it really candid and pick it from the line that was last said on the meeting / email in December. I also made sure to have a very warm tone when I called them up. "Hey - this is xxx. How was your vacation to Kansas you'd mentioned?" No company name, no mention of the call. I eventually built it up and led to the followup anyway, but didn't lead with it.
- Quirky subject lines that are click-baits (NOT SORRY, THEY GHOSTED!): So I wrote emails with quirky and click-bait like subject lines that I was sure would be opened. Absolutely not spammy, but a little different for sure. That worked too. Just the subject lines were quirky, the rest of the body was warm and I kept my tone.
- Took reference of their recent LinkedIn post (NOT CREEPY AT ALL!): Hmm well, even that worked when I started the email with their own post. Their own thoughts That too worked wonders for me, because then eventually they were compelled to respond and defend their thoughts.
Hacks (borderline ethical) 101. Thank me later.
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