Follow-Up Messages That Work
And are not annoying
Inside this issue:
Why 80% of sales close after 5-12 touchpoints, and how to apply this to headhunter outreach
The weekly follow-up system that keeps you top of mind without annoying recruiters
Why headhunters need your nudges (we are too busy to remember you)
How a VP of Regulatory Affairs used this system to land a 310k euro offer
A ready-to-use AI prompt that writes all your follow-up messages for you
You Had the Call. Now What?
Most executives nail the first conversation with a headhunter and then vanish.
They send a polite thank-you email, maybe attach their resume, and wait. Three months later they email asking, “Any updates?”
By then, the search is closed. The role went to someone who stayed visible.
Here is what sales research tells us: 80% of deals close between the 5th and 12th touchpoint. Only 2-3% close on the first or second contact.
Most sales reps quit after 1-2 attempts. Most executives do the same thing with headhunters.
The data applies. And so does the strategy, with one adjustment.
The Sales Playbook Works. If You Adapt It.
A sales rep following up 8 times is doing their job.
A candidate following up 8 times? Also fine. If done right.
The principle behind the numbers is sound: staying visible over multiple touchpoints wins. Each follow-up should be a gentle, polite nudge. Short. Kind. Professional. No pressure, no desperation. A few sentences that remind the recruiter you exist and that a conversation with you is worth having.
I included a prompt at the end of this newsletter that writes these messages for you. Use it.
That is how you build 5-12 touchpoints without becoming a nuisance.
The System That Builds Touchpoints Without Burning Bridges
Touchpoint 1: The Same-Day Thank You
