Why You Shouldn’t Refer to Failed Attempts in Your Emails

Still struggling to get your emails returned?

You might be making a simple mistake—reminding prospects of all the times they didn’t respond.

Why You Should Never Refer to Failed Attempts

It’s tempting to mention previous outreach in an effort to nudge a prospect into replying. But when you refer to failed attempts—saying things like “Just following up on my last email” or “I’ve tried reaching you a few times”—you’re actually reinforcing the fact that they’ve ignored you.

Instead of sparking a response, it makes your email easier to dismiss. Nobody wants to feel guilty for not replying.

Treat Every Email Like It’s the First

A simple shift in strategy can make all the difference: never refer to failed attempts in your follow-up emails. Every message should feel like a fresh, new opportunity for engagement.

Here’s how to do it:

• Avoid phrases like “following up” or “checking in” – These add no value and highlight past silence.
• Offer a new angle – Provide fresh insights, relevant data, or a compelling question to spark interest.
• Keep the tone positive and confident – If you sound defeated, prospects will be even less likely to respond.

How to Follow Up Without Referencing Past Attempts

If you need to reach out again, do it in a way that moves the conversation forward rather than looking back:

“There’s something I came across that might be valuable for your team…”
“I had an idea that could help with [specific challenge]…”
“I wanted to share a quick insight that could be useful…”

By making each email fresh, engaging, and forward-looking, you eliminate any awkwardness around past silence. So, stop referring to failed attempts—start fresh, provide value, and make it easy for prospects to respond.

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