Comments on: A Simple Follow Up Formula http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:14:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Too Busy to Be Marketing? | The Marketing Caddy: Small Business Marketing Specialist http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-26074 Too Busy to Be Marketing? | The Marketing Caddy: Small Business Marketing Specialist Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:20:56 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-26074 [...] A Simple Follow Up Formula [...] […] A Simple Follow Up Formula […]

]]> By: Building Relationships Takes Time : Virtual Small Business Marketing Support http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-24139 Building Relationships Takes Time : Virtual Small Business Marketing Support Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:16:04 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-24139 [...] A Simple Follow Up Formula [...] […] A Simple Follow Up Formula […]

]]> By: Hourly Rates, Eliot Spitzer and Formulas for Follow-Up: 9 Links Worth a Read « Brett’s Blog http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-18754 Hourly Rates, Eliot Spitzer and Formulas for Follow-Up: 9 Links Worth a Read « Brett’s Blog Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:24:39 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-18754 [...] A Simple Formula for Follow-Up: Ever get stuck in copying and pasting a follow-up email to prospects and clients? Ilise thinks you’re missing out - here’s some good advice on little things that could make a big difference. [...] […] A Simple Formula for Follow-Up: Ever get stuck in copying and pasting a follow-up email to prospects and clients? Ilise thinks you’re missing out - here’s some good advice on little things that could make a big difference. […]

]]> By: Thank You, Note « Storm Seller http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-18086 Thank You, Note « Storm Seller Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:27:45 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-18086 [...] connect with the person you are sending them to, they need to be personalized.  I came accross this article recently from Ilise Benum with some tips on writing follow-up or thank-you notes.  Her main tips [...] […] connect with the person you are sending them to, they need to be personalized.  I came accross this article recently from Ilise Benum with some tips on writing follow-up or thank-you notes.  Her main tips […]

]]> By: Matthew Cornell http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17838 Matthew Cornell Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:56:41 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17838 Thanks for the great tips. I've generalized the idea into how to help anyone. The underlying principle is the same - make yourself a great resource for people - work might eventually come (or not) - just don't depend on it. He helpful is the bottom line. Here's what I came up with: 1. When meeting someone, come with an attitude of genuine curiosity. 2. Maintain a steady, reliable, and valuable atom/bitstream 3. When you come across something of potential value, share it Matt's Idea Blog: How to help people http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-help-people.html Thanks for the great tips. I’ve generalized the idea into how to help anyone. The underlying principle is the same - make yourself a great resource for people - work might eventually come (or not) - just don’t depend on it. He helpful is the bottom line.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. When meeting someone, come with an attitude of genuine curiosity.
2. Maintain a steady, reliable, and valuable atom/bitstream
3. When you come across something of potential value, share it

Matt’s Idea Blog: How to help people
http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-help-people.html

]]> By: Toon http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17294 Toon Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:21:17 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17294 A lot of commenters have mentioned this already: the hard selling and the 'free' newsletter subscription are a bad idea. For most Europeans this e-mail would not come across as a sincere, honest message but rather as a boiler-plate (albeit a bit more personalized than the one-size-fits-all approach of the Prada lady) marketing message. It sounds like some scenario-based thing you'd get from some customer support department. I wouldn't take this person's marketing advice if this is how they approach their new contacts. A lot of commenters have mentioned this already: the hard selling and the ‘free’ newsletter subscription are a bad idea. For most Europeans this e-mail would not come across as a sincere, honest message but rather as a boiler-plate (albeit a bit more personalized than the one-size-fits-all approach of the Prada lady) marketing message. It sounds like some scenario-based thing you’d get from some customer support department. I wouldn’t take this person’s marketing advice if this is how they approach their new contacts.

]]> By: Carl http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17201 Carl Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:56:51 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17201 The woman with Prada shoes probably spent 5 minutes every day sending out these emails. Sure, no special care was taken to tailor messages for specific individuals but her strategy does have other advantages: a) Her email is non-intrusive; no promises of anything b) She provided a gentle reminder of who she is c) The recipient now has her email and contact details in his/her inbox, thus lowering the threshold for any further contacts d) Any relation, business or private, relies on the number of touchpoints with other individuals as a foundation for further interaction. Her small email just increased that count. Now, mix her strategy (formula email to all people you meet) with the one in the article (directed emails to a smaller set) and the result is a really good strategy for building and nurturing relationships with all the people that you meet. The woman with Prada shoes probably spent 5 minutes every day sending out these emails. Sure, no special care was taken to tailor messages for specific individuals but her strategy does have other advantages:

a) Her email is non-intrusive; no promises of anything
b) She provided a gentle reminder of who she is
c) The recipient now has her email and contact details in his/her inbox, thus lowering the threshold for any further contacts
d) Any relation, business or private, relies on the number of touchpoints with other individuals as a foundation for further interaction. Her small email just increased that count.

Now, mix her strategy (formula email to all people you meet) with the one in the article (directed emails to a smaller set) and the result is a really good strategy for building and nurturing relationships with all the people that you meet.

]]> By: Ash Majumdar http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17136 Ash Majumdar Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:11:05 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17136 I think it is easy to get caught up in down playing this article, especially since Llise is pushing a newsletter. The issue in hand is that Llise is trying to make a SALE!. She actually did a pretty good job with the letter. I am more apt to read a letter that is more personal and cuts to the chase. Her letter shows that she respects my time. I love the fact that she uses bullet points and clearly articulates that she knows how to create a PLAN, develop ACCOUNTABILITY and most important EXECUTE on it!. Also, as anybody who has done any kind of selling, she has to ASK to close the deal and make the Sale. I would perhaps instead of asking for permission included a copy of her newsletter and given the reader the option to subscribe if I liked it. As far as the hand written notes, yes! they are great for very focused individual sales, but if you are trying to reach a larger audience it is simply not cost effective. Especially since only 1% of the total distribution is going to convert to an actual sale and that too after you write to them at least 3 times. Great Work Llise! and look forward to reading your articles! Cheers, Ash I think it is easy to get caught up in down playing this article, especially since Llise is pushing a newsletter. The issue in hand is that Llise is trying to make a SALE!. She actually did a pretty good job with the letter. I am more apt to read a letter that is more personal and cuts to the chase. Her letter shows that she respects my time. I love the fact that she uses bullet points and clearly articulates that she knows how to create a PLAN, develop ACCOUNTABILITY and most important EXECUTE on it!. Also, as anybody who has done any kind of selling, she has to ASK to close the deal and make the Sale. I would perhaps instead of asking for permission included a copy of her newsletter and given the reader the option to subscribe if I liked it.

As far as the hand written notes, yes! they are great for very focused individual sales, but if you are trying to reach a larger audience it is simply not cost effective. Especially since only 1% of the total distribution is going to convert to an actual sale and that too after you write to them at least 3 times.

Great Work Llise! and look forward to reading your articles!

Cheers,
Ash

]]> By: links for 2008-02-22 at Everybody needs Somebaudy http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17047 links for 2008-02-22 at Everybody needs Somebaudy Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:25:02 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17047 [...] A Simple Follow Up Formula - FreelanceSwitch - The Freelance Blog The most effective follow up highlights the benefits of working with you. (tags: networking marketing email etiquette followup) [...] […] A Simple Follow Up Formula - FreelanceSwitch - The Freelance Blog The most effective follow up highlights the benefits of working with you. (tags: networking marketing email etiquette followup) […]

]]> By: DLE http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17036 DLE Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:42:25 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/clients/a-simple-formula-for-what-to-say-when-you-follow-up/#comment-17036 Ilse's follow-up is marginally acceptable until the last paragraph's threat of hard-sell and spam. If I received such an e-mail, I'd think twice about doing business with the sender. In fact, I'd rather not receive e-mail from her at all. If she sent me a handwritten note on nice stationery, I'd think the world of her. But an e-mail? Forget it. Anyone can send an e-mail. Heck, there are apps out there today that generate e-mail replies like this automatically. Ilse’s follow-up is marginally acceptable until the last paragraph’s threat of hard-sell and spam. If I received such an e-mail, I’d think twice about doing business with the sender.

In fact, I’d rather not receive e-mail from her at all. If she sent me a handwritten note on nice stationery, I’d think the world of her. But an e-mail? Forget it. Anyone can send an e-mail. Heck, there are apps out there today that generate e-mail replies like this automatically.

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