Why “just checking in” doesn't work
A follow-up with no new content says only one thing: “I still want you to reply to me.” The other side gets nothing out of it. They haven't received a new reason, new information or an easier way to reply. All they've received is pressure.
Most people don't reply for a simple reason: the message arrived at the wrong moment, or it wasn't relevant enough for them to interrupt their work. A reminder solves neither.
When to send a follow-up
At DealBakers we have a simple rule: follow up 10 business days after the first outreach. Three days is too soon. The person may not even have read the message yet, and you already come across as impatient. Two weeks give them space, and at the same time the other side won't have forgotten you yet.
The exception is a new signal. If the contact publishes a post in the meantime, comments on something in your field or looks at your profile, you have a reason to write sooner. And above all, you have something to write about.
What a follow-up should contain
- New context. A reaction to their fresh post, a change at their company or a specific experience from practice.
- Value with no strings attached. A method, a number or a shortcut that will help them even if you never do business together.
- A question that can be answered in one sentence. Not “Can we have a call?” but a question that gives them room to say where they stand.
A proven question that puts on no pressure and still moves the conversation forward:
“What would need to be true for you to feel certain? Is it more about money, about timing, or would you first want to see that it works?”
The answer will tell you more than three more reminders.
Example: bad vs. good
Difference:
❌ “Hello, just checking in regarding my previous message. Are you interested in a quick call?”
✅ “Hello Petra, I read your post about hiring salespeople. With our clients, we see that a new person spends the first two months mainly searching for contacts, not selling. How do you have it set up?”
When to stop
After two follow-ups with no response, move the contact into monitoring mode. Don't write to them, but follow their activity. As soon as a new signal appears, you have a natural reason to come back. Alternatively, try a different channel; see the article LinkedIn silence after your message? It’s not the text — it’s the channel.
How Pipelyx handles it
Pipelyx monitors your contacts' activity and shows what they're dealing with right now. That way you follow up on what the person is actually doing, not on the fact that they didn't reply to you. But the decision to send a message always rests with the salesperson.