Nobody likes being left on learn. For those who’re ready for an e mail reply and your inbox stays empty, it’s in all probability time to ship a follow-up e mail.
Right here’s a five-minute primer in formatting and phrasing your follow-up e mail for optimum success, together with some samples you should utilize.
3 tips for efficient follow-up emails
Whether or not you hope to shut a sale, get employed for a brand new job, or simply get Mike within the accounting division to ship over that dang report, these are some finest practices for sending an efficient follow-up e mail:
- Be form and real. Being a jerk doesn’t get you very far, so strategy the dialog with kindness and authenticity. You’re extra more likely to get the response you need when you maintain your cool and invite open communication. So don’t lose your mood or take an accusatory tone.
- Restate your ask. Keep away from obscure nudges like “simply circling again on Tuesday’s e mail” which might depart the recipient questioning what you imply. Simply restate your ask to save lots of the recipient from looking out earlier messages to search out the one in query.
- Be particular. The extra exact your ask is, the simpler it’s for the recipient to grasp your wants higher (and, hopefully) present it. For instance, asking for “some concepts for our product launch marketing campaign” is a fuzzy deliverable, whereas saying you want “5 concepts for sharing our new product on Instagram, delivered by Friday” clarifies the request, the aim, and the timeline.
4 key parts of a follow-up e mail
Now that we’ve coated the rules, let’s talk about formatting. Every follow-up e mail ought to have 4 key parts:
- Clear, concise topic line
- Pleasant greeting
- Restatement of the ask
- Optimistic signoff
Let’s have a look at the 4 key parts in motion. We’ll use our ol’ buddy Mike within the accounting division for example.
1. Use a transparent, concise topic line
Begin with a transparent, concise topic line.
“Following Up: Gross sales Report Due Tomorrow, Please.”
2. Begin with a pleasant greeting
Then, kick off the e-mail message with a pleasant greeting.
“Hey, Mike. How are you? Hope you loved the weekend.”
3. Restate your ask and be particular.
Subsequent, restate your ask and be particular.
“I’m following up concerning the month-to-month gross sales channel report. Have you ever had an opportunity to finish it and ship it?
I initially requested the report final Wednesday and I’ll want it no later than tomorrow, together with conversion percentages for every gross sales channel. The info is for our quarterly planning assembly later this week.
Hooked up is the advertising and marketing group’s report for cross-reference it. For those who want any further information factors, please let me know by the top of the day, and I’ll collect these for you. In any other case, I sit up for seeing your report tomorrow.”
4. Log off, and voila—you’re carried out!
“Thanks for all of your assist and laborious work, Mike.
Cheers, Chelsea”
That’s it—you’ve crafted a form e mail, restated your ask, and clarified precisely what you want inside a given timeline.
Now, let’s have a look at samples of another frequent follow-up emails.
Pattern follow-up e mail to ship to a gross sales prospect
Writing gross sales emails might be robust. You wish to present enthusiasm and fire up enthusiasm with out coming throughout as pushy.
When potential, reference any private connections or feedback the prospect made—this exhibits you listened carefully and paid consideration. Additionally, don’t be afraid to recommend additional actions to maintain the prospect shifting by means of the gross sales course of (bear in mind, specificity works wonders). However general, bear in mind to supply honest assist slightly than specializing in simply closing the deal as rapidly as potential.
Right here’s an instance of a brief follow-up e mail despatched after a primary dialog with a prospect:
“Hello, Maya.
We met a number of days in the past on the Chamber of Commerce occasion. I loved assembly you and listening to about a few of the progress targets you’ve set for your small business!
As I discussed, I work with a number of firms much like yours and could be completely satisfied to share some ways which have labored effectively for my purchasers. Would you prefer to schedule a time to talk subsequent week?
What day could be handy for you?
Regards, Cristina”
Pattern follow-up e mail to ship after a job interview
Sending follow-up emails after a job interview is much less frequent today however right here’s the factor: It might assist your probabilities, and it solely takes a minute—so why not ship it? Higher to ship the follow-up e mail and know you probably did all you possibly can to attempt to rating that job supply.
Just a few ideas: Like whenever you create a prospect e mail, first spotlight a memorable a part of the dialog so the recruiter or hiring supervisor is aware of you paid consideration. Subsequent, if there’s a particular ability they stated was essential to the job, contact on it. Lastly, don’t be too stiff—a bit of persona makes you a memorable candidate.
Right here’s an instance of a follow-up e mail to ship after a job interview with a recruiter:
“Hello, Kai.
Thanks for taking the time to inform me concerning the product advertising and marketing position at Twilio SendGrid. I’m excited to see the brand new options rolled out. My proficiency with analytics instruments will assist me deliver ahead some sturdy choices for the information reporting options we talked about.
I’m keen to fulfill the product advertising and marketing group and be taught extra concerning the each day dynamics. Will we be capable to get that scheduled this week? I’ve bought loads of time on Thursday or Friday.
Excited for subsequent steps, Olivia”
P.S. If somebody asks you to interview for a job and it’s worthwhile to reply, we’ve bought a useful information for how to reply to their e mail request. (Good luck.)
Stage up your follow-up emails with Twilio SendGrid
Though greater than enough for sending rare follow-up emails, this primer is just the start.
For those who’re an e mail marketer or wish to scale your gross sales program, you want one thing highly effective and complete to get the job carried out: an e mail advertising and marketing software like Twilio SendGrid.
SendGrid customizes and automates emails for prospects, purchasers, repeat prospects, and extra. Signal-up types, automation workflows, detailed analytics, and dynamic templates take you past your e mail platform’s capabilities that can assist you develop your small business with out spending numerous hours on emails.
Plus, you’ll be able to ship an automated follow-up e mail that helps you do enterprise whereas engaged on one thing else. Ain’t expertise grand?
SendGrid is free to affix. Join at present.