You’ve been speaking to a prospective client for some time and suddenly they go AWOL. Have you just been… ghosted?
We often have clients who tell us they’ve been “ghosted” because a business prospect has stopped returning their calls or replying to emails. So, what should you do if it happens to you?
The most important thing to do is – don’t make assumptions. Usually, there is another explanation for a disappearing prospect.
Don’t assume:
- they don’t want to work with you
- they have gone elsewhere
- that they hate you
And definitely don’t:
- bombard them with a million phone calls/voice messages/emails
- be rude to their receptionist/colleagues/voicemail
How to respond if you think you've been ghosted
Until you manage to have a conversation with them or get a reply to your email, avoid jumping to conclusions. Your attitude and behaviour when things get difficult will tell your prospects everything they need to know about you and how you do business.
We find that in our industry sector sometimes clients want to ‘test’ us to see how we will behave towards their prospects when we can’t get hold of them, so being tenacious (not stalking), respectful (understanding boundaries) and polite and patient is essential.
Take some time to think about the day to day problems you face. There are numerous genuine reasons why someone might not be available to take your call or read your email.
- Meetings
- Holidays
- Sickness
- Timing
- Outside influences
- Personal issues
If you’ve started a business relationship with someone and had a meaningful conversation with them, don’t assume they aren’t interested.
Remember:
- Contact them via the mediums they are happy with
- Do not make assumptions or cross reasonable boundaries
- Be understanding, thoughtful and respectful
Next steps
Expert support can take the stress and time pressure away when building those initial B2B relationships. Our dedicated team of lead generators can open up conversations with real prospects, not ghosts.