Having an Effective Follow-up System For Prospects and Clients

By: ActionCOACH

Date: 01 / 11 / 2024

Have you ever wondered what is just the right amount of follow up? I mean, you wouldn’t want to be perceived as pushy, would you? Of course, I’m being a little cheeky, because you should not look at having a great follow-up system as anything less than an important part of your business. Look at it this way, you don’t want folks to think you aren’t interested enough in earning their business to do the proper follow-up, do you?

So, what makes an effective follow-up system? Let’s go through some important points:

1. Whatever you do, it should be timely. So how would we define timely?

First of all, it it’s a new contact, try to call and/or send a note (see more below) within one week of meeting someone.
When else should you make contact? Well, you should not let a quarter go by without having some kind of contact with clients and/or prospects. Heck, why not do something monthly?
Also, it’s very nice to remember special days like birthdays, anniversaries (business and/or personal), and holidays. In fact, I know some people who send Thanksgiving cards rather than December holiday cards, so that they stand out a little.

2. The next question is what – what do I send/do?

I like to think that the 1st contact should be personal. Why not just pick up the phone? Even if you don’t get the person, leave a voicemail. That way they know you tried. A word of caution though – do not expect the prospect to call you back! Just because you left a voicemail, does not transfer responsibility. I like to say something like “I’m sorry I missed you, but I’ll try again later.”
Then, I like to follow-up with something in writing. Obviously, if your prospect is computer savvy, you can drop them a quick “thinking of you” email. Conversely, you can drop a handwritten note in the mail. Have you heard about the service from SendOutCards(TM)? Visit www.sendoutcards.com to learn more. This service allows you to send cards, using your computer, but prints the card in your own handwriting.

3. Have you ever wondered what to say? Read more in Part Two of my article.

About ActionCOACH

Brad Sugars founded the brand Action International in 1993 when he realized there was a disconnect between business advice and implementation. The answer was Action! Brad Sugars created a business coaching company so that business owners throughout the world can realize their goals in business. Today the company is known as ActionCOACH. To learn more about business, visit Brad Sugars Review blog!

Reason #1: Different styles and methods of business coaching don't work for everyone

It's important to be honest with yourself and conduct a realistic assessment when it comes to business coaching. Though business coaching can have many benefits, it might not work for everyone.

Every individual brings their own experiences and values to the coaching dynamic, so results will vary. Additionally, some individuals might need more than just a coach. They might also need specialised knowledge or communication strategies specific to their industry or target audience. Below are a few key factors to consider:

Reason #2: There is no clear focus or vision (talk about time dedication here too)

cIt's important to be honest with yourself and conduct a realistic assessment when it comes to business coaching. Though business coaching can have many benefits, it might not work for everyone.

Business coaching is an effective tool for developing a clearer focus and vision for growing your business. A good coach will help you to take a comprehensive look at your strengths, weaknesses, and available resources that can be used to reach those goals. They will also help you draw up action plans with step-by-step instructions to get there.

By providing honest feedback and being patient throughout the process, a business coach can make sure that you’re on the right track. This will enable you to set realistic milestones and tasks.

These tasks may need dedicated time outside of coaching sessions. For example, a coach might help a client develop a marketing strategy or implement new systems for managing employees. However, if the client does not have enough time to devote to these tasks outside of coaching sessions, progress will likely stall.

Both the coach and the client must have enough time available to reflect on past experiences, brainstorm new solutions, and test out different strategies. If either party is rushed or distracted during coaching sessions due to other commitments or obligations, they may struggle to fully engage in this process.

Effective business coaching also requires a commitment to regular meetings and ongoing communication. If either the coach or the client does not have enough time to dedicate to these meetings, progress may be slow or nonexistent.

It's important to recognise that business coaching is an ongoing process that takes time to yield results. While some clients may see improvements after just a few sessions with their coach. Others may need months or even years of consistent effort before they begin seeing real changes in their businesses.

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