Question 1

1. How long should I wait before following up on an email?

Accepted Answer

How long to wait before following up on an email depends on the urgency of the message and the recipient’s role. For most professional emails, waiting three to five days before sending follow-ups is ideal.  However, a 24 to 48-hour follow-up email is acceptable for a time-sensitive deal. Alternatively, top executives may need 7 to 10 business days before the first follow-up.

Question 2

2. What is the 24-hour rule for emails?

Accepted Answer

The 24-hour rule requires responding to work emails within one business day. It also affects how long to wait before following up on an email. This means you should wait at least 24 hours before sending a follow-up email — unless it’s urgent. This shows a balance of professionalism and patience.

Question 3

3. How long should you wait for an email response?

Accepted Answer

You should wait one to two business days for a response to an internal email and three to five days for an external email. However, you shouldn’t expect replies to cold emails before five to seven days.

Question 4

4. How do I politely follow up on an email?

Accepted Answer

A follow-up email sounds polite when you acknowledge your recipient’s busy schedule, briefly restate your purpose, and invite a response without pressure. Also, keep the tone helpful, not demanding or guilt-tripping.

Question 5

5. How to write a follow-up email without sounding pushy?

Accepted Answer

You can avoid sounding pushy in your follow-up email by doing the following:  Show empathy: “I know you’re busy.” Offer an out: “If now isn’t a good time, I’m happy to reconnect in [month].” Add value: Share a relevant article or case study

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