The 10 Minute Rule That Could Transform Your Sales

Here's a mistake I see all the time:

A business gets a lead - someone who’s actively interested in their product or service - but instead of jumping on it immediately, they wait.

They’re “too busy.” They tell themselves they’ll get to it later. Maybe tomorrow. Sometimes even next week!

But by then, it’s probably too late.

How long should you wait?

Research tells us (and this is 100% true) - If you’re not following up with new leads within 10 minutes, you’re leaving money on the table.

Responding to a lead within 10 minutes makes them 85% more likely to engage with you.

Wait an hour? That drops to 60%. Leave it a few hours? Under 30%.

Most businesses are losing sales without even realising it. Not because they don’t have enough leads, but because they aren’t handling the ones they already have properly.

What’s happening inside your prospect’s head?

When someone makes an enquiry, they’re interested right now. They’re thinking about their problem, actively looking for a solution. They might even be reaching out to multiple businesses.

If you don’t respond quickly, someone else will. And that’s who gets the sale.

Or worse… if too much time passes, the urgency fades. They get distracted. They second-guess whether they need the solution at all.

Either way, you’ve lost them.

The excuse I hear most often…

“But Dan, I don’t have time to respond that quickly!”

Here’s the thing: you don’t have time not to.

If a lead is important enough to generate in the first place, it’s important enough to prioritise. The businesses that win are the ones that act fast.

How to fix this in your business

1?? Be prepared – Know who in your team is responsible for lead follow-ups. Have a process in place. If you are the only one in your business, consider a call answering service. This will likely pay for itself.

2?? Set up notifications – Make sure every enquiry is seen instantly. No delays.

3?? Use multiple channels – Can’t call straight away? Send a quick WhatsApp, text, or email to acknowledge them and let them know you’ll be in touch. There are easy ways to automate a lot of this now and still have it feel authentic.

4?? Schedule follow-ups – If they don’t answer, don’t give up after one call. Have a follow-up plan in place. More info on how best to do this on my website.

Small tweaks like this can make a massive difference.

Want to fix even more leaks in your sales process?

This is just one of the many things we’ll be covering at my upcoming workshop:

The Secret to More Sales: Fixing Your Leaky Bucket 90 minutes of insights, strategies, and real-world solutions to increase your sales Spaces are limited

Reserve Your Spot Here

The best part? You can start implementing this strategy right now. Give it a go - I would love to know what happens!

Have a great week.