Got a quick story for you today as client work continues to pile up on my metaphorical desk:
I was supposed to have a meeting with a lead yesterday at 3 pm. We barely chatted before. I sent her a case study. And a few weeks later, she booked a meeting for a month out.
Well, right before the clock struck 3, I got an email from Calendly letting me know this prospect decided to decline the meeting she set up.
(Why would you cancel a meeting you set up on your own?)
And this rubbed me the wrong way. As it should. I value my time and ask that others interested in working with me value my time too. Plus, I went slightly out of my own way to do a tad bit of research on the brand, the email strategy (from an outsider’s perspective), and the prospect.
Anyway, here’s what I did:
I sent a snooty response in our email chain, filled with a touch of contempt (hey, I told you it rubbed me the wrong way). And then, after my snooty one-line response, I asked her a simple question.
And you know what happened next?
She booked another meeting almost instantly.
Mayhap she forgot who I was since she booked the meeting well over a month in advance. (I also noticed a weak point in my Calendly account for this specific meeting, which I’ve since fixed.)
Mayhap she really was busy or got double booked or something serious came up.
Or mayhap she just booked a meeting on a high and was feeling a bit of “scheduled a meeting” remorse.
I don’t know to be honest. I haven’t even checked the email software to see if she replied yet.
Immoral of this story?
First, losses can become wins pretty quickly.
Second, having the right amount of pompousness usually pays off in marketing. It makes you seem anti-needy.
And last but not least?
There’s always more to gain from losses than from wins.
Had she showed up for the call she originally booked, I would’ve continued to neglect the weakness in my Calendly follow-up.
That said, I ain’t convinced she’ll show up for this new meeting she booked. But it’s only a week out instead of a month out. And methinks the snootiness of my reply will “ethically force” her to show up. Y’know. Because of the implication…
Alright, that’s enough.
Want to grow your email revenue?
Hit reply and let’s chat.
Just show up for the meeting you book, mmmkay?
John
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