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> * If you've been following up with someone for a while, start off an email with "I wanted to follow up with you on this one last time". This reminds the perso

by JadeNB 7y ago

> * If you've been following up with someone for a while, start off an email with "I wanted to follow up with you on this one last time". This reminds the person that you've emailed several times before (and perhaps makes them feel guilty for not replying sooner) and lets them know the ball is completely in their court. I have found this to be very useful in kick-starting leads that went stale. It depends on in how good faith your respondent is acting. If there is no social or other pressure, "one last time" can indicate to its recipient "you just have to ignore this, and the issue will go away."

lisper 7y ago
I've found this to be more effective: "I sent you this three days ago but haven't received a reply. Did you get it?" It's very rare not to get a response to that. On those rare occasions I wait a week and then just say, "Hello?" (on top of a copy of all the previous correspondence of course). I can't remember the last time that has failed to elicit some kind of response. Most of the time it's "Sorry for the long delay, I was out of town..."
- gnicholas 7y ago
  That seems overly aggressive to me. Unless I absolutely had to, I would not respond to either of those follow ups. Are these internal or external emails? I could see how it might be more appropriate with internal recipients.
  - hirsin 7y ago
    For internal, as long as the sender was in the right, I'd be suitably ashamed. I try to keep inbox zero (after dozens of filters), so it means I've really messed up to get those mails (or had bad filters). But yeah - if they're being out of line to begin with (and are ignoring my previous mails implying they should use appropriate channels) or external folks that are asking for special dispensations, yeah, that will get you less helpful responses, not more.
- Arkanosis 7y ago
  Unless I've very strong incentives to answer, I usually put people who dare sending me an email with only “Hello?” or “ping” in it in my “least urgency queue”, if not directly in my spam folder.
  - la_barba 7y ago
    If you had good reasons to ignore their previous emails you should let them know.
    - ygrtil 7y ago
      The sender has forced themselves into my life, and I'm expected to spend my time to tell them that they're unwelcome?
      - la_barba 7y ago
        If you work with the sender or if they are your friend, or otherwise are known to you - then yes. I'm obviously obviously not talking about replying to spammers here.
    - chucksmash 7y ago
      If you have good reasons to ignore them they probably already know them.
      - la_barba 7y ago
        Depends, but I wouldn't want to work with someone who ignores my emails.
        Arkanosis 7y ago
        In my book, “Hello?” deserves no answer and I'm very fine with whoever sends that not willing to send me more emails. The previous emails might deserve an answer I just haven't had the time to send yet, but for otherwise equally important emails, the one from the most annoying / disrespectful sender will be handled last, if ever.
- scarejunba 7y ago
  That usually means the other guy is using the relationship management software that mass mails and waits for leads.

by JadeNB 7y ago

lisper 7y ago

I've found this to be more effective: "I sent you this three days ago but haven't received a reply. Did you get it?" It's very rare not to get a response to that. On those rare occasions I wait a week and then just say, "Hello?" (on top of a copy of all the previous correspondence of course). I can't remember the last time that has failed to elicit some kind of response. Most of the time it's "Sorry for the long delay, I was out of town..."

gnicholas 7y ago
That seems overly aggressive to me. Unless I absolutely had to, I would not respond to either of those follow ups. Are these internal or external emails? I could see how it might be more appropriate with internal recipients.
- hirsin 7y ago
  For internal, as long as the sender was in the right, I'd be suitably ashamed. I try to keep inbox zero (after dozens of filters), so it means I've really messed up to get those mails (or had bad filters). But yeah - if they're being out of line to begin with (and are ignoring my previous mails implying they should use appropriate channels) or external folks that are asking for special dispensations, yeah, that will get you less helpful responses, not more.
Arkanosis 7y ago
Unless I've very strong incentives to answer, I usually put people who dare sending me an email with only “Hello?” or “ping” in it in my “least urgency queue”, if not directly in my spam folder.
- la_barba 7y ago
  If you had good reasons to ignore their previous emails you should let them know.
  - ygrtil 7y ago
    The sender has forced themselves into my life, and I'm expected to spend my time to tell them that they're unwelcome?
    - la_barba 7y ago
      If you work with the sender or if they are your friend, or otherwise are known to you - then yes. I'm obviously obviously not talking about replying to spammers here.
  - chucksmash 7y ago
    If you have good reasons to ignore them they probably already know them.
    - la_barba 7y ago
      Depends, but I wouldn't want to work with someone who ignores my emails.
      - Arkanosis 7y ago
        In my book, “Hello?” deserves no answer and I'm very fine with whoever sends that not willing to send me more emails. The previous emails might deserve an answer I just haven't had the time to send yet, but for otherwise equally important emails, the one from the most annoying / disrespectful sender will be handled last, if ever.
scarejunba 7y ago
That usually means the other guy is using the relationship management software that mass mails and waits for leads.