Freelance Marketing Technique: How I Convert an Extra 30% Leads Into Customers Just By Sending This Simple Follow-up Email

If you’re providing services online, this freelance marketing technique will convert more leads and grow your business.

If you’re not following up with your leads, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.

Marketers talk a lot about setting up follow-up emails to convert leads into buyers.

In forums, discussion groups, blog posts, and articles, I’ve seen marketers talking about how they load 5, 7, 10, 30 or more follow-up emails into their autoreponders…

… to keep their leads interested, loyal, and willing to buy more products.

Freelance marketing: how to follow up if you’re a freelancer

But if you’re a freelance service provider… it’s a different ballgame.

You just can’t do it like product sellers do.

Your prospects normally approach you directly with inquires and discussions about their project.

They don’t want to be on your list.

So how do you follow up with your lead to close the deal?

If you’re offering services online like web design, search engine optimization, and writing services, this freelance marketing technique is for you.

I’m going to show you how I convert leads into customers just by sending them 1 simple follow-up email.

Say I have an inquiry from Mr. Jones asking for quote.

Mr. Jones exchanges a couple emails with me, appears interested in what I can offer.

But then, he disappears.

No news from him for days…

Most freelancers will assume he’s busy and hope he’ll come back when he has the time.

90% of the time, that doesn’t happen…

Mr. Jones is gone.

Most freelancers will simply ignore Mr. Jones and wait for the next lead to come along.

Here is what my follow up email looks like

Instead of waiting to hear back from leads, here is what I do.

If, after a couple of email exchanges, a lead has shown a high level of interest to hire me for their project but I don’t hear back from them within 48 hours, I send them this:

I follow up with an un-intrusive email.

I don’t ask for the order in the email;

Instead, I reach out to them one more time to see if I can help them with any questions they still have.

Right after I’ve sent the email, if a lead is ready to hire me, I usually see replies like these:

People procrastinate.

Even if they’ve decided to hire you, most of the time they still need a little push to cross the line 😉

Of course, not all leads are at the end of the purchase cycle…

Some leads still have questions in their mind but for some reason, they put off writing back to you.

Like Jimi:

I’d never know if I didn’t ask…

Once I know what’s in their mind, I just have to offer a solution to land myself a new project.

And of course, there are always those who’ve merely decided not to move forward with their plan.

Like Steve:

We have no control over peoples’ decisions.

Those who’ve decided not to order still don’t order even if they see our follow up email.

That’s okay with us.

Our follow up is for those who are sitting on the fence to hire us for their projects.

Maybe they’re procrastinating, or maybe they’re still comparing prices around and are undecided…or for whatever reason.

Our follow up brings them back into conversation with us in an un-intrusive style.

You will be surprised; a lot of people need a little push to move them away from their comfort zone… that’s to hit the order button.

I don’t have proof to show, but I convert an estimated extra 30% of leads into customers just by following up with them with this 1 simple email I’ve shown you.

If you’re offering freelance services online, implement this freelance marketing technique in your business; you will see a lift in sales.

Now, it’s your turn.

If you have any other tips to convert leads into sales that you’d like to share, I’d be really interested to hear them.

Just leave me a comment below.