Text Message Follow-up Strategy That Boosts Replies

A text message follow-up strategy is a clear plan for sending messages to people after an initial conversation. It uses SMS to keep the dialogue going, nurture leads, and encourage a response. This approach is highly effective because text messages have near-perfect open rates.

People read texts quickly, unlike emails that get buried. A good strategy helps you stay connected, provide value, and guide potential clients toward a decision without being intrusive. It turns cold leads back into warm conversations.

Read on to learn how to build this simple yet powerful system for your sales team.

Key Takeaways

• Write short, personal messages with a clear next step.
• Send your texts at thoughtful times to be helpful.
• Use texting with email and calls for the best effect.

The Problem: Why Your Leads Are Going Cold (and How Texting Can Help)

Imagine you have a great conversation with a potential client. They seem interested in your product or service. You send a follow-up email with all the details. And then nothing happens. The lead goes cold.

This is one of the most common frustrations for sales teams. It happens because people are busy. Their email inboxes are overflowing.

A single email can easily get buried under dozens of new messages. A phone call might go to voicemail, and calling back feels too formal or intrusive. This is the gap where conversations die. A text message follow-up strategy is designed to bridge this gap.

Text messages have an incredible open rate, recent research shows it’s around 98%, making SMS far more visible than email. Plus, SMS doesn’t just get seen: about 45% of recipients respond on average, so you’re more likely to restart the conversation.[1]

This immediacy and engagement is your biggest advantage. A text is a gentle nudge. It is a way to say, “I’m here to help,” without adding to the email noise. It can bring a cold lead back to life by restarting the conversation in a channel people actually pay attention to.

Step 1: Crafting the Perfect Follow-Up Message

Your first follow-up text is important. It should be friendly and easy to understand. The goal is to remind the person of your chat and suggest a simple next step.

Concise and Clear Messaging

Keep your message brief. Get straight to the point to respect the person’s time. A good follow-up text is easy to read in just a few seconds. It should not be a long paragraph. Short messages work best for getting a quick reply. Remember to keep it short.

Personalization is Key

Always use the person’s name. This makes the message feel personal. Reference your last conversation. Mention the product or service you discussed. This shows you were listening and helps build trust. A personal touch makes the recipient more likely to respond to you.

Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Tell the person exactly what you want them to do next. A vague message does not get good results. Your call to action should be simple and easy to follow.

Here are examples of clear calls to action.

• Ask a simple yes or no question.
• Suggest a specific day for a quick phone call.
• Prompt them to review a document you sent.

For example,

“Hi Sarah, it was great chatting about Project X. Are you free for a 15-minute call on Tuesday?”

This is clear and easy for her to answer.

Step 2: Timing is Everything: When to Send Your Follow-Up

When you send your text is very important. Good timing shows you are organized and respectful of the other person’s schedule.

Initial Follow-Up: Strike while the iron is hot.

Send your first follow-up text soon after your initial contact. This could be right after a meeting or a few hours after you send an email. The idea is fresh in their mind.

A quick text can confirm they got your information, which is especially important in a multichannel outreach strategy to maintain engagement across email, calls, and SMS. It also lets you answer any questions right away.

An example is,

“Hi John, I just emailed the proposal. Feel free to text me any questions”.

Subsequent Follow-Ups: Staying top-of-mind without being annoying.

If you do not get a reply, do not give up. Send a second text a few days later. Your tone should still be helpful. The goal is to check in, not to pressure them.

A good follow-up message might be,

“Hi Maria, just circling back on my email from last week. Any thoughts on the proposal?”

It is smart to space your messages out. This avoids overwhelming the person.

Step 3: Mastering the Art of Persistence (Without Being Pushy)

Staying in touch is key in sales, but it must be done politely. The line between being persistent and being pushy is thin. The words you choose make all the difference.

Finding the Right Balance

A good plan is to send a sequence of 3 or 4 follow-up texts over a couple of weeks. If you get no response after that, it might be time to pause. Being consistent builds familiarity. But too much contact can feel like spam. The right balance keeps you top of mind without hurting the relationship.

Polite and Respectful Language

Your word choice shows respect. Avoid sounding demanding. Use phrases that show you value their time. This approach builds trust and keeps the door open for future conversation.

Instead of

“You need to reply to me”

try

“I know you’re busy, but I’d appreciate any update when you have a moment”

This builds trust over time.

Step 4: Leveraging Different Channels: Texting as Part of a Multi-Channel Approach

Texting is most powerful when you use it with other methods. It should not replace email or phone calls. Instead, it should work with them. This multi-channel approach covers all your bases and helps with customer engagement.

Following Up on Unanswered Emails

A text is perfect for following up on an email that got no reply. It is a direct way to ensure your message was seen. This can rescue a lead that might have gone cold.

For instance,

“Hi David, I sent an email about the demo on Monday. Want to make sure you saw it?”

This is an effective follow-up technique for cold leads.

Following Up on Missed Meetings

Life gets busy. If someone misses a scheduled meeting, a text is a quick and low-pressure way to reschedule. It is more immediate than an email. It shows you are flexible and understanding.

A good message is,

“Hi Lisa, I saw we missed our call. No problem at all. What’s a better time for you this week?”

Step 5: Compliance and Best Practices: Staying on the Right Side of the Law

When you send business texts, you must follow the rules. This protects your business and shows you are a professional. Following these rules is not optional for good business texting.

Company Identification

Always identify who you are and what company you represent in your first message. This is a basic rule. It builds immediate trust and clarity. The recipient should never wonder who is texting them. This is a core part of professional customer service.

Opt-Out Options

You must give people a clear way to stop receiving messages. This is a legal requirement in many places. A simple “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” at the end of your message is standard practice. You must honor these requests instantly. This is crucial for legal compliance and respecting your customers.

Respect Time Zones

Timing matters even more when running automated text messaging that send messages across multiple time zones.

Be thoughtful about when you send texts. Avoid early mornings and late nights. Sending a message at 9 AM in your time zone might be 6 AM for your contact. This can feel intrusive. It is a simple act of respect that improves your customer relationships.

Step 6: Tracking and Optimizing Your Text Message Follow-Up Strategy

To make your strategy better over time, you need to measure it. What gets measured gets improved. Look at your results to see what works best for your audience and their frequently asked questions.

A/B Testing Your Messages

Try sending two different versions of a follow-up text to similar groups. See which one gets a higher response rate. You might test different calls to action or slightly different wording. This is how you learn what resonates with your potential clients. You will discover what works best.

Analyzing Response Rates

Pay close attention to which messages get replies, SMS campaigns can prompt really strong engagement. In fact, research shows an SMS response rate of about 45%.[2] If a certain type of question always gets a reply, use it more often.

If messages with specific details perform well, use those details. Your analytics will guide your future follow-up messages and help you close more deals.

Adapting Your Strategy Based on Results

Your first strategy is not your final strategy. Use what you learn from testing and analysis to make changes. Maybe you need to send the second follow-up text sooner. Perhaps your messages need to be even shorter.

Continuous improvement will make your sales process stronger. You can even use tools to automate follow-ups based on what you learn.

Your Text Message Follow-Up Strategy Checklist

This plan turns texting into a powerful system for your sales team. It helps you build relationships and guide leads to a decision. The best practices are straightforward. Using follow up text messages strategically ensures each step in your checklist consistently drives engagement. You can use this checklist to start.

Here is a simple framework to follow,

• Craft personalized messages with a clear call to action.
• Time your follow-ups strategically after initial contact.
• Be persistent but always polite in your language.
• Use texting as part of a multi-channel approach.
• Stay compliant with all regulations.
• Track your response rates and optimize your results.

FAQ

How can we use a follow up text message to improve open rates and response rates?

When we send a follow up text message for you, we keep it short and clear so your open rate and open rates stay high. We add a gentle nudge that feels friendly, not pushy. You can feel free to include specific details to guide potential clients.

This approach works best when you reach out to cold leads and want them to move forward.

What should you include in a text message after a missed meeting slows the sales process?

When a missed meeting happens, we help you send follow up texts with a clear call and simple next steps. These text messages answer any questions, show steady customer service, and keep you top of mind.

This style builds trust because you stay helpful and present. It also keeps the sales process moving forward without pressure.

How do sales teams send a follow up text that supports the full sales follow flow?

At BrandJet, we help you send a follow up text after the initial contact so your sales follow steps stay organized. We use business texting to automate follow tasks and keep your follow up messages consistent.

You can feel free to use our message templates or text message templates. These tools make it easy to send a follow up message that guides people to move forward.

How should we send a final follow up text message when cold leads go quiet?

When cold leads stop replying, we use follow up sms messages and follow up sms to send a final follow note that still feels warm. You can feel free to use our text message samples or message templates to explain your product or service clearly.

This effective follow style keeps you top of mind and can help you close more deals without sounding pushy.

How does sms marketing help you send follow up text messages that improve customer service?

SMS marketing allows us to help you send a follow up text message at the right moment. With business texting, we automate follow steps, improve response rates, and support potential clients quickly.

A perfect follow up text gives clear direction so people know how to move forward. You can feel free to offer a free trial when it makes sense, which helps build trust.

Conclusion

A strong text message strategy turns missed opportunities into closed deals. By sending personalized, timely messages, you keep your sales pipeline active. Remember to be helpful, track what works, and respect boundaries. This consistent effort builds the trust needed to move forward.

To see how technology can streamline this process for your team, explore the tools available at BrandJet. It can help you manage these conversations more effectively.

References

1. https://www.sci-tech-today.com/stats/sms-marketing/
2. https://www.marketingscoop.com/blog/35-must-know-sms-marketing-statistics-in-2024/

Related Articles

• https://brandjet.ai/blog/text-message-campaigns/
• https://brandjet.ai/blog/multichannel-outreach/
• https://brandjet.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-text-campaigns/