Dear Sales and Marketing Managers,
Let’s cut to the chase: You’re leaving money on the table.
Not because your product sucks. Not because your team isn’t talented. But because you’re giving up too damn early.
Here’s a dirty little secret: 80% of sales require five follow-ups to close… but 44% of salespeople quit after just one “no” (source: Marketing Donut). That’s like baking a cake, pulling it out halfway, and wondering why it’s still gooey.
But what if I told you there’s a way to follow up like a pro—without sounding desperate, robotic, or pushy? A strategy so lazy, you could do it in your pajamas… while prospects practically beg you to take their money?
Let me show you how it works.
The “Forgot You Existed” Problem (And How to Fix It)
Picture this:
You send a proposal to Decision-Maker Dave. He says, “Looks great! Let me circle back next week.” You wait. A week passes. Radio silence. You send a polite “Just checking in!” email. Crickets. You assume he hates you. You give up.
But here’s the reality: Dave’s inbox is a war zone. His toddler has the flu. His boss just dumped a last-minute project on him. Your email isn’t a priority—until it suddenly is.
The fix? Stop “checking in.” Start “sneaking in.”
The 3-Step “Lazy” Follow-Up System (That Feels Like a Favor)
This isn’t about blasting reminders. It’s about becoming a *low-key, high-value* guest in their inbox. Here’s how:
1. The “Oops, I Forgot!” Opener
First follow-up flop? Send this:
“Hey [Name], quick note—realized I never shared [specific resource] that helped [similar client] get [result]. Thought you’d find it useful!”
Attach a case study, a blog post, or a 2-minute Loom video.
Why it works: You’re not nagging. You’re helping. A study by HubSpot found adding value in follow-ups boosts reply rates by 35%.
2. The “Drop Breadcrumbs” Tactic
No response? Wait 4 days. Then send:
“Hey [Name], came across [industry trend/news] and immediately thought of your goal to [specific pain point]. Here’s how others are tackling it…”
Real-life example: A SaaS company used this with a 3-sentence LinkedIn message linking to a *Wall Street Journal* article. Result? 22% of “dead” leads replied within 24 hours.
3. The ‘One Message’ Miracle That Resurects Dead Deals (No Begging Required)
Still nothing? Hit them with:
“Hey [Name], circling back one last time. If this isn’t a fit, just say ‘stop’ and I’ll close the file. But if you’re still wrestling with [pain point], reply with ‘Guilty’ and I’ll send you a shortcut.”
Why it works: It’s disarmingly human. A VP of Sales at a Fortune 500 company told me this email alone revived 15% of stalled deals last quarter.
The Science of Being “Politely Persistent”
Data doesn’t lie:
– Follow-ups spaced 2-4 days apart have a 27% higher response rate than daily pings (Backlinko).
– Personalized subject lines (“Quick question about [specific project]”) lift open rates by 22% (HubSpot).
But the real magic? Automation.
Use your CRM to tag leads with triggers (e.g., downloaded a pricing sheet, attended a webinar) and auto-send follow-ups with a human touch. One marketing agency grew revenue by 63% in 90 days by setting up a 7-email “drip” sequence… that required 10 minutes of work.
“But Won’t I Annoy Them?”
Here’s the kicker: If your follow-ups are generic, yes. But if every message offers a micro-dose of value? You’re not a pest—you’re a partner.
Take it from a real estate agent who closed $4.2M in deals last year: She sends monthly “market update” emails with 3 bullet points (“Why your neighbor’s house sold for $50k over asking…”). No ask. No pressure. Just value. When leads are ready? They call her.
Your Homework (Yes, It’s Easy)
1. Audit your last 20 lost deals. How many follow-ups did you send?
2. Build a 5-email “lazy” sequence using the templates above.
3. Automate it. Let the system work while you sleep.
Deals aren’t lost because prospects say “no.” They’re lost because you stop listening to “not yet.”
So—ready to stop chasing and start closing?
Talk soon.
Regards,
Your B2B Marketing Strategist and Tactician
P.S. Click here for the free white paper titled “The B2B Sales Pipeline Playbook: Strategies That Actually Close Deals”