If the thought of writing a follow-up email makes you a little uncomfortable, you're not alone. Our gut tells us that if someone hasn't responded to our previous email, they're not interested and won't appreciate it if we bother them again. Unfortunately, in this case, our instincts are often wrong. Very few prospects answer “yes” to the first request – or, for that matter, the second, third or fourth. Jump-start your follow-up email strategy with our proven templates Download your free templates Read on to find out how to write a follow-up email after no response.
Response rate: ideal number of follow-ups A study by Iko System found a response rate of 18% on the first email sent and 13% on the fourth. The sixth email in the sequence received a massive 27% response rate. A similar Yesware study found a 30% response rate to the first email and 14% to the fourth. They actually sent out 10 emails in total and even the very job title email list last one had a 7% response rate. Despite this, Yesware reports that a colossal 70% of email chains stop after a single unanswered email. It gets worse or better, depending on how you see it: About 80% of prospects say “no” four times before finally saying “yes.” But 92% of people give up after hearing “no” four times. So why is it important? This means that only 8% of sellers—those with five or more follow-ups—generate 80% of all sales .
Additionally, other studies reveal that a series of drip emails with 4-7 messages yields 3 times more responses than those with only 1-3 (27% and 9%, respectively). In fact, even following just once can convert 22% more responses. Needless to say, sending follow-up emails is essential (unless you like missing sales…)! " You can't follow too much in the first part of an engagement ." ~Damian Thompson, Lead Rocket Need advice? Here's how to write a follow-up email after no response. How long should you wait before taking action? Automate your follow-up sequence Diversify your channels Decide what you want to achieve Put yourself in their shoes How to write a follow-up email Sales follow-up email templates Expert advice → Download Now: Follow Up Emails [Free Templates]