How many follow ups before giving up?

[flowsimple]

I think the same principle that applies to sales applies here. This stunning fact is something I've never forgotten once I learned it: 80% of closes happen after FIVE or MORE points of contact.

Most people fail to follow up that many times. Let's say one email, then maybe 1 or 2 reminders via phone/email? Up it to at least five and you'll have a better success rate. Personally for sales, I don't ever stop following up. I must either get a clear YES or a clear NO. (This could be as simple as "Unsubscribe.")

[SteveOllington]

I think that's awful (no offense). I get tonnes of link requests, and other such emails every day. I don't have the time to reply to them and neither should I have to. Some of the emails state that "As they haven't had a reply from me... etc..." And then presume to suggest that I should take time out of my busy day to reply to their unsolicited emails.

Continuing to ask after no reply the first, or even second, or as you say 5th time is not getting the message and is little less than harassment.

A lot of people, like myself don't reply because:

a) It open the doorway to more such spam, and

b) Sometimes replies are little more to the sender than confirmation the email exists and responds so they can sell your data

I think it's rude to keep sending people emails. Why should I have to write "No" hundreds of times per week when I didn't even ask for the email in the first place.

So, what you're saying is that you're one of those people who hassle and bug people like me who are just trying to get on with my work, and you won't ever stop despite the fact that I don't reply?

It gives all of the industry a bad name when people do stuff like that.

Also, why should I have to unsubscribe, when I never subscribed in the first place? Not to mention that most of these requests don't have the option to unsubscribe anyway.

Sorry for the rant, nothing personal but I see it as pressure sales via spam... which I'm surprised works at all to be honest.

[EGOL]

Thumbs up, Steve....

I report most link requests as "spam" and if I recognize a second request from the same site I block their email address or better their entire domain from my inbox.  (Gmail allows an unlimited number of blocked addresses.)

Call me on the phone once and I will tell you nicely not to bother me... call a second time and you will not like what I say.

[Gyi]

I think both sides of the earlier responses have merit. However, successful link requests are less about brute force and more about thinking strategically. First, in my experience, unsolicited emails of any kind are a total waste of time, or at least extremely inefficient (not to mention very annoying). Not a good way to start a relationship.

Think about your link requests more like business relationships and less like a sale. Would you spam your colleagues? Your boss?

How do communicate with other professionals? Use that as a template for thinking about how to contact link targets. And don't call them link targets ; ).

[Cyle]

I totally agree with Gyi.  If you are not getting any response, you are not presenting any value to the recipient, or you made it into their junk box.  I would  reply once and if you don't get a response, adjust your strategy and move on.

[EGOL]

You guys are right... it's the "brute force" thing that really bothers me.

The "value to recipient" method would be better - but usually there is no value. lol

[SteveOllington]

You'd have lost it similar to I did once then... I'm always too polite to simply hang up, I just keep repeating politely that I'm not interested for various reasons until they accept it. However, not one time... a telesales guy who was calling to do a 5 minute survey refused to give up. I really was extra busy at the time and told him over and over that I didn't have time and would he please accept no as my answer.

This chap then told me that he would ring me everyday several times per day until I did his survey! He was actually threatening me with daily sales calls.

I went mad, I don't often do that but the damn cheek of it!!

High volumed expletives and frothing at the mouth... I'm not proud of it, but he didn't call back again

Mind you, at least he was human... lately I've been getting called by machines that ring me up and tell me to press button 1, then keep me on hold before passing me to a sales person (I had to go through to ask them to remove me from their list, which was pointless as there's always more).

What is the world coming to lol.

[Breakout]

I refuse to deal with anybody who uses a robo-caller - insta-hang-up and the number is added to my phone's 'reject list'.  What they are saying is that THEIR time is too valuable to waste on the call, but they have no problem wasting MY time.

[flowsimple]

If the emails and followup are unsolicited then yes its spam, and my reaction is the same: to ignore, report as spam and delete.

Gyi is spot on about the overall tactic. Personally I very rarely send unsolicited sales or link requests. I agree those are a waste of time. But if there's already an established connection, then yes absolutely I am tenacious and will pursue the lead for a minimum of 5 times.

[SeekEO]

These emails offer real business relationships: we ask them to become partners and get nicely paid per lead to a good quality product; or feature each others site as the preferred product provider in relevant pages.  I use preciprocity principles, follow/like or link to them ahead of time but the response rate is still low.   Until now, a follow up  to an unanswered email has not resulted in more responses, so I was thinking about not following up at all and just move on

[SeekEO]

If not by an unsolicited email or call, how do you approach a prospect with an infographic or content you might have for one of their specific pages?

[toddmumford]

Pick up the phone. Often solves the problem fast.

Sending an email is easy and requires no "on the spot" thinking.

Speaking to someone by phone does.

Calling just a few of those potential link prospects will have you quickly examining your value proposition (in a good way) since you will likely flub your first few attempts if your offer has no value.