Follow-Up Isn’t Pressure. It’s What People Want.
Have you ever been on a call or met someone, and they say, “Email me. Call me Tuesday. Let’s connect next week.” And you do exactly that only to hear crickets.
So you wait a few days and reach out again. Only to hear more, crickets. Now you're in your head.
When do I follow up? What do I say? How many times is too many?
These are all valid questions because, at some point, follow-up starts to feel like pressure. It can feel worse, like you’re being pushy or annoying.
I think about it differently.
It’s not pressure. It’s memory. They told you to reach out. You’re not chasing them. You’re reminding them, so in that sense, you’re actually helping. People are busy, and things fall through the cracks. Good intentions don’t always turn into action.
I had a buyer come through one of my listings without a broker. I followed up and asked if she was interested in the apartment. She said no… but asked if I could help her find something else. I said yes. And then… nothing.
I followed up a few more times, all to no response. It would’ve been very easy to assume she wasn’t serious or that I was being annoying, but I stayed consistent in my reminders.
And then one day, out of nowhere, she emailed me, “Can we go see this?” We did. I ended up helping her buy something. Turns out, she had been in a completely crazy stretch at work. It had nothing to do with me, and nothing to do with my follow-up.
She just needed time.
There’s always that fine line between following up and stalking, but most people quit way before they even get close to that line. If your intention is clear, and your tone is normal, and you're not being pushy, then you're doing what they asked.
Plus, you're being what most people aren't: consistent.
Especially now, when so much follow-up is automated and impersonal. Most people aren’t ignoring you. They’re ignoring the noise.
Be the person who doesn’t sound like it.
