Effective Follow-Up Emails: How To Write Them Right?

Follow-up emails are the bread and butter of professional correspondence, especially in sales or networking. We at C-Leads have witnessed how these emails can increase response rates and improve relationships in practice.

This article discusses why follow-ups are beneficial, and our thoughts on writing concise messages, followed by a few key pointers that can help you move the needle.

Why Follow-Up Matters

In our experience at C-Leads, follow-up emails are not just reminders — they’re opportunities. Here’s why they’re essential:

• Boost Response Rates: The data shows that on average the chance of your email being opened is 36.5% based on a report from Smart Insights, but a series of follow-up emails increases that chance several times over, significantly increasing the chance of getting a response too. We've seen this data play out in our campaigns many times over.
• Demonstrate Persistence and Professionalism: Reaching back out is one of the best ways to show that you care about the conversation. It illustrates you are not just some one-hit wonder sender. For example, when we follow up with potential clients, we often hear that our persistence was a key factor in them choosing to work with us.
• Clarify and Inform: Follow-up allows you to clear up any misunderstandings and offer additional information that may influence the recipient's decision. We have seen deals close simply because we provided additional critical information.

Want to learn how to create emails that will bring you high conversion rates? We have prepared the article “5-star Email Structure that Will Actually Bring You Customers!”. Read it now!

What Is The Best Number Of Follow-Up Posts?

Depending on the situation, some might say 2 follow-ups are enough, while others do as many, or even more than 4. This is a rough guideline we use to space them out:

First Follow-Up: Three days after the first email, just to remind the client of the previous email.

Second Follow-Up: 5 to 7 days after the first follow-up, offering new insights or additional information.

Last Follow-Up: 10 days after the third, just to see if they need you or if there is someone else you should contact.

Techniques for Writing Winning Follow-Up Emails

Crafting follow-ups that get results isn’t just about sending another email. Here’s how we ensure ours stand out:

• Be Concise: We keep our messages brief and to the point, respecting the recipient’s time. Long-winded emails tend to lose interest quickly.
• Personalize: Every email we send is tailored. We use the recipient’s name and reference our previous conversations to make each message feel personal and relevant.
• Provide Value: Each follow-up offers something new—whether it’s an insight, an offer, or information that could interest the recipient. We believe that every email should move the conversation forward.
• Include a Clear Call to Action: We always make it clear what we’re hoping for next, whether it’s scheduling a meeting or receiving feedback.

These simple yet highly useful techniques always get us results. If you have the feeling that all your emails are going to the void, we strongly recommend you reconsider your strategy and improve your follow-up emails, maybe the problem is there.

Leveraging Email Follow-Ups After LinkedIn Lead Generation Campaigns

This strategy is great for boosting your efforts to reach out to potential clients who may have stopped responding to you on LinkedIn. With this method, you can shift your clients' focus and try to reach out to them using a different platform. Very often, this technique yields good results.

Moreover, it’s a good trigger. It helps to reignite stalled discussions and opens up the opportunity to share useful material that can be crucial in deciding whether to collaborate further.

This strategy has many advantages. It strengthens existing relationships and reaches out to those who prefer email.

Follow-up Emails After a First Call

A timely follow-up email after the initial call serves as an important touchpoint to solidify the conversation and keep the momentum going. It allows you to recap key discussion points, clarify misunderstandings, and provide additional value so you can share important resources and validate next steps. 

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, the use of follow-up emails is pretty universal. Before starting any lead generation campaign, it's important to think through the steps that will help you close deals with customers. You can use them in many ways and combine different techniques without being tied to just one platform.

Ready to elevate your lead generation efforts and drive real results? At C-Leads, we specialize in crafting tailored lead-generation campaigns that connect you with high-quality prospects. Put your lead generation efforts in our hands, and we'd love to help you achieve your goals.