Stop Being a Jerk: How to Perfect Your Sales Follow-Up Speed

This episode of The Selling Podcast features hosts Scott and Mike as they discuss the critical, often misunderstood art of follow-up timing and the importance of maintaining trust in client relationships.

The Three Speeds of Follow-Up

The hosts outline three distinct speeds of communication that help maintain momentum without crossing the line into desperation or pressure:

• Immediate Response (The First Speed): When a prospective customer reaches out via email or a website, an immediate response is crucial. This initial touchpoint is not for selling; it is solely for acknowledging the inquiry and setting clear expectations for when they can expect a full answer.
• Progress Updates (The Second Speed): These are essential when you cannot meet an initial deadline or are working on complex requests. They are vital for saving trust, as they show the client you are still working on their behalf and haven't forgotten them.
• Value-Based Follow-Up (The Third Speed): This involves "dripping" relevant content—such as articles or ideas—to the client to add value. This keeps the conversation moving forward and opens doors for cross-selling and upselling.

Building and Saving Trust

According to the hosts, the key to successful follow-up is understanding that customers primarily seek certainty rather than constant contact. They categorize the state of the client-advisor relationship into three outcomes based on your actions:

• Building Trust: Delivering exactly what you promised by the time you promised it.
• Saving Trust: Proactively communicating when a delay is inevitable, thereby preventing the erosion of confidence.
• Losing Trust: Failing to communicate or missing deadlines without prior notice.

The Follow-Up Formula

To streamline your communication process, the hosts recommend following this five-step structure:

1. Acknowledge: Confirm receipt of their message immediately.
2. Set Expectations: Clearly state the next steps and when they will hear from you again.
3. Provide Updates: Keep them informed of your progress along the way.
4. Deliver Value: Share something useful, like a relevant article, to keep the engagement high.
5. Ask for Action: Define what the next logical move is for both parties.