How many times should you follow up?
More than most businesses do, and fewer than you fear. Here is a simple rule of thumb.
How many follow-ups
The short answer
For local services, four to six touches over about a week works well: a mix of calls and texts, each one short and useful.
A sample schedule
- Touch 1: text within seconds.
- Touch 2: call within a minute.
- Touch 3: call 2 hours later.
- Touch 4: text the next day with a time slot.
- Touch 5: call or text on day 3.
- Touch 6: friendly last check-in on day 7.
Make every touch useful
Give something each time: an available slot, an answer to their question, a photo of similar work. "Just checking in" alone is the weakest follow-up.
When to stop
When they book, say no, ask you to stop, or tell you they chose someone else. Then mark the lead and move on.
Common questions
Is six touches too many?
Not when each one is short, polite and spaced out, and you stop as soon as they say so.
Does Sales AI follow this?
Yes. It follows a plan like this for every lead and stops the moment they reply or say no.
Related guides
How to follow up with leads
A simple follow-up plan for small businesses: when to call, when to text, what to say, and when to stop.
Read moreWhy leads go cold
The five most common reasons small business leads go cold, and a fix for each one.
Read moreHow to revive old leads
Old leads are free leads. Here is a simple way to bring back enquiries that went quiet weeks or months ago.
Read moreNever lose a lead to a forgotten follow-up.
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