How do you follow up with a client or a colleague via email?

Crafting that follow-up email is a bit like deciding what to wear to an event—you've got to dress it up with the right intentions. Before you start typing away, take a beat to ask yourself, "What's the goal here?" It's like choosing your outfit based on the occasion. Are you aiming to nudge someone gently about a looming deadline, gather some valuable feedback, lock in the details of an upcoming meeting, or just sending a virtual high-five for a job well done?

Crafting a follow-up email? Start with a clear goal in mind: Define Your Objective: Know what you want to achieve - a reminder, feedback, confirmation, gratitude? Purposeful Tone: Tailor your tone, content, and urgency based on your goal. Subject Line Impact: Clearly state your purpose in a concise subject line. Opening Clarity: Begin with a clear and concise sentence outlining your intention. ?? A purpose-driven follow-up ensures effectiveness and clarity in your communication! ????

Always write with a purpose with you are following up. The follow up is super powerful not just when you are reminding your colleague of something or saying thanks to a client for something else. But also when you are prospecting and your were asked to come back to the prospect at a later date. Understanding your goal and them being direct and straightforward while professional is the best way to win people over while following up.

Be clear and polite in the initial communication; Set expectations for a response; Use descriptive subject lines; Maintain a professional approach; Employ gradual follow-ups, starting with gentle reminders; Provide context and additional information if necessary; Consider using email tracking tools; Avoid excessive and intrusive communications; Adapt to the received response; Request confirmation of receipt if appropriate; Offer alternatives or flexibility; Reassess the true importance of the message before proceeding with follow-ups.

A follow-up email should also add value to your recipient. Recap key points from your previous interaction and provide any additional information or resources they might find useful. This not only shows your attentiveness but also reinforces your commitment to their needs. Politeness, respect, and value addition will foster positive engagement and strengthen professional relationships.

Navigating follow-up emails with grace? Here's your etiquette guide: Politeness is Key: Keep it courteous and professional. Friendly Start: Begin with a warm greeting and address the recipient by name. Express Gratitude: Thank them for their time and attention. Avoid Aggressive Language: Steer clear of terms like "urgent" or "final reminder." Use Appreciative Words: Opt for "kindly," "please," or "thank you." ?? Keep it respectful and build positive connections through your follow-up emails! ????

Whenever you are following up always treat it like a continuation of the previous conversation. Don’t act like you are starting again as you will need to build rapport all over again. But also be as professional as you can be as the other person may need remember your last encounter. So I suggest you kindly remind them of the action points of the last encounter and then go into what you are following up on.

Avoid Repetition: Don't just restate; offer something new and relevant. Share Updates: Include relevant progress or changes since the last communication. Provide Resources: Attach useful materials, testimonials, or relevant links. Spark Interest: Pose a thought-provoking question to engage your recipient. Highlight Benefits: Remind them of the positive outcomes or benefits of your proposal. ?? Make your follow-up stand out by delivering value and meaningful content! ???

A follow up needs to useful to the recipient. If the email doesn’t help them in any way and you are sending it just because you usually send a follow up then you are wasting you both your time and your recipients time. So always lineup a real reason to send that email. This will help you build your authority and rapport with your readers.

Close your follow-up email with a compelling call to action: Specify Request: Clearly outline what you want your recipient to do. Diverse Actions: Ask for a reply, confirmation, scheduling, review, or signature. Set a Deadline: Add a timeframe for urgency and accountability. Move Forward: Use the call to action to propel the conversation. ?? End on a powerful note, ensuring your recipient knows the next steps to take! ????

When it comes to follow up email, so you need to be clear, concise and direct as you wanna make sure that you are sending it for a reason rather than just for the sake of updating someone. I’ve seen two types of follow-ups, the follow-ups with someone is sending you an email we wanna add value to. This could be to remind you to do something. This could be to revisit a previous conversation and the follow-ups where people are just doing it for the sake of doing it after they spoke a month or two ago Always try and do a follow-up that will add value to the person you’re sending the follow-up to rather than just following up for the sake of it.

Avoid Impatience: Don't follow up too soon; it may come off as pushy. Prevent Disinterest: Timing matters; don't wait too long and lose their attention. Consider Urgency: Assess the nature and urgency of your situation. Adapt to Expectations: Follow a general rule of waiting 24 hours for the first follow-up, then 3-7 days for subsequent ones. Context is Key: Factor in the context and your relationship with the recipient. ?? Strike the right balance to ensure your follow-up is well-timed and effective! ???

When it comes to following up with anyone now, speak to you what are usually do is ask them while I’m on a call with them or when I’ve emailed them before when I should come back to them on this topic. Now that I’ve asked them were not shocked when I follow up with them, because I can literally use my previous message of previous conversation as a talking point as to why am following up right now.

Keep your follow-up emails short, sweet, and impactful: Concise Content: Aim for 3-5 sentences, focusing on the essentials. Clear Language: Use straightforward and easy-to-understand language. Avoid Overload: Steer clear of unnecessary details, jargon, or bulky attachments. Highlight Key Points: Use bullet points, numbers, or bold fonts for emphasis. Polished Presentation: Proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation perfection. ?? Make your follow-up a breeze to read, showcasing professionalism and respect for your recipient's time! ????

Estamos en la era del marketing 5.0 y tenemos a la mano herramientas tecnológicas que facilitan enormemente nuestra cotidianeidad laboral ?por qué no automatizar seguimientos? Por ejemplo, activar una secuencia de email en la que si no recibimos respuesta enviará otro email tras determinado tiempo e, incluso, nos crea una tarea diferente de seguimiento como podría ser una llamada o cualquier otro tipo de acción. También se podría combinar alguna herramienta de productividad como clickup que desde ahí mismo se automatizando seguimientos por email y de otro tipo. En resumen: automatiza todo lo que se pueda, quita trabajo repetitivo de tu lista de tareas y deja más espacio para actividades importantes, de mayor valor y estratégicas.