Follow up email after no response that gets a reply
You sent a proposal, a question or a request, and a week later there is nothing. Most "just checking in" emails get ignored too. This prompt has your todo.is agent read your original email, figure out why it may have stalled, and write short nudges that add something new and make replying easy.
The prompt
- Write a follow up email after no response. Here is the email I sent: [YOUR ORIGINAL EMAIL]. I sent it to [RECIPIENT AND ROLE] on [DATE SENT] and I need [WHAT YOU WANT FROM THEM]. Write 3 follow-ups: one for now, one for 5 working days later and a polite last one ("break-up" email) for 2 weeks later. Each under 90 words, in the same thread, with a new angle or useful detail each time and one easy yes/no question. No guilt, no "just checking in". Tone: [TONE]. If my Gmail is connected, find the thread, save follow-up 1 as a draft reply, and remind me on Telegram when the next one is due. Do not send anything.
What to change
- [YOUR ORIGINAL EMAIL]: Paste the email, or write "find my email to Jake about the catering quote" and your agent searches Gmail.
- [RECIPIENT AND ROLE]: Who you wrote to, e.g. "Jake Moore, office manager at Fernway".
- [DATE SENT]: When you sent it, e.g. "3 October".
- [WHAT YOU WANT FROM THEM]: The outcome you need, e.g. "approval of the quote by Friday" or "a call to discuss".
- [TONE]: E.g. "friendly", "professional and direct", or "very polite, this is a senior person".
Example result
- Why the first email may have stalled
- • The ask was at the bottom, after three paragraphs
- • It needed Jake to make a decision without a deadline
- Follow-up 1 (now)
- Subject: Re: Catering quote for the 24 October team day
- Hi Jake,
- Bringing this to the top of your inbox. To hold the 24 October date, the caterer needs a yes by Friday.
- The short version: 40 people, lunch and coffee, within the budget we agreed. The full quote is attached again.
- Shall I confirm it?
- Thanks,
- Lena
- Follow-up 2 (5 working days later)
- Subject: Re: Catering quote for the 24 October team day
- Hi Jake, the caterer can hold the date until Wednesday. If this menu does not work, I also have a cheaper option with sandwiches instead of hot food. Would you prefer A or B?
- Follow-up 3 (2 weeks later)
- Subject: Re: Catering quote for the 24 October team day
- Hi Jake, I will assume we are skipping catering for now and let the caterer know. If you would still like it, just reply "yes" and I will sort it out. No problem either way.
- What makes these work
- • The ask comes first, in one line
- • Each email gives a reason to answer now (a deadline or a new option)
- • The last one closes the loop politely, which often gets the fastest reply
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt, paste your original email (or tell your agent which one to find) and fill in the rest.
- Send it to your agent from the Today screen in todo.is, or on WhatsApp, Telegram or Slack.
- Your agent writes three nudges and saves the first as a Gmail draft in the same thread.
- Send each one when your agent reminds you. If they reply, tell your agent to cancel the reminders.
Tips for a better result
- Put the ask in the first two lines. Busy people read the top of an email and decide.
- Give a real reason to answer now, such as a date, a held slot or a limited offer.
- Turn open questions into choices: "A or B?" is easier to answer than "what do you think?".
- Ask your agent to "check every morning if Jake replied and tell me on Telegram". It is a recurring to-do that stops when you say so.
follow up email after no response: FAQ
- How long should I wait before following up on an email? For work emails, 3 to 5 working days is a polite gap. Wait longer for big decisions or very senior people, and less if there is a real deadline.
- How many times should I follow up? Two or three follow-ups is usually enough. After that, a short closing email that says you will stop is more effective than more nudges.
- How do I follow up without sounding annoying? Keep it short, add something useful each time and make the reply easy. Avoid guilt lines like "I have not heard back" or "per my last email".
- What is a break-up email? A final, friendly email that says you will close the topic unless they reply. It removes pressure and often prompts a quick answer.
JavaScript is required to use the todo.is app.