How can you write a follow-up email that leads to a collaboration?

1 Why follow up?

Following up is not only polite, but also effective. It shows that you are genuinely interested in working with the other person, that you respect their time and attention, and that you have something valuable to offer. It also helps you stand out from the crowd of other people who might be reaching out to them. According to a study by HubSpot, 80% of sales require five follow-ups after the initial contact, but only 8% of salespeople make them. That means you have a huge opportunity to differentiate yourself and build a relationship with your potential collaborator by following up.

2 When to follow up?

Timing is crucial when it comes to following up. You don't want to be too pushy or too passive. A good rule of thumb is to follow up within a week of your first email, and then again every two weeks until you get a reply. Of course, this may vary depending on the context and the urgency of your collaboration proposal. For example, if you are inviting someone to speak at an event that is happening soon, you may want to follow up sooner and more frequently. If you are pitching a long-term project that is not time-sensitive, you may want to space out your follow-ups more.

3 How to follow up?

When writing a follow-up email that could lead to a collaboration, it’s important to be friendly, professional, and persuasive. Start with a catchy subject line that reminds the recipient of who you are and what you want. For example, "Following up on our podcast interview request" or "Checking in on our ebook collaboration idea". Begin with a personalized greeting that expresses your appreciation for their time and attention. Remind them of the value and benefits of collaborating with you, such as how you can help them achieve their goals. Include a clear and specific call to action that tells them what you want them to do next. Lastly, close with a friendly sign-off that expresses your enthusiasm and gratitude. This will help ensure that your follow-up email is successful in leading to a collaboration.

4 How to follow up again?

If you still don't get a reply after your first follow-up email, don't lose hope. Sometimes, people are busy, forgetful, or indecisive. You can try to follow up again by changing the subject line to something more urgent or intriguing, such as "Last chance to join our podcast interview" or "Don't miss this opportunity to collaborate on our ebook". At the same time, open with a friendly and empathetic tone that acknowledges their possible reasons for not replying. Reiterate the value and benefits of collaborating with you, but also add some social proof or scarcity. Then, include a clear and specific call to action that creates a sense of urgency and gives them a deadline. Lastly, close with a friendly and respectful sign-off that expresses your hope and appreciation.

5 How to follow up after a collaboration?

Once you have successfully collaborated with someone, follow up with them and thank them for their contribution. This will help you maintain a good relationship and open the door for future collaborations. When writing a follow-up email, start with a clear and positive subject line that congratulates them on the collaboration. Open with a personalized greeting that expresses your gratitude and admiration. Highlight the results and benefits of the collaboration by sharing feedback, testimonials, or metrics that demonstrate how well it went. Include a call to action that invites them to stay in touch and collaborate again. Close with a friendly and respectful sign-off that expresses your appreciation and enthusiasm. Doing so will help you inform and reassure stakeholders, as well as provide valuable insights for improving your relationship.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?