Nobody wants to be the nagging tradesperson. Good news: the difference between pushy and professional is entirely in the wording — and it is learnable in five minutes.
The follow-ups that feel pushy share a trait: they ask for something while offering nothing. Flip that, and chasing becomes service.
Every nudge should hand the customer something: an answer to a likely question, a start-date option, a heads-up about the expiry, a photo of a similar finished job. "Just checking in" carries nothing; "we've had a cancellation for early June if that helps timing" carries plenty — and gets replies.
First touch: "Wanted to make sure the quote landed OK — anything you'd like me to walk through?" Second: "Still happy to hold the June start we discussed; shall I pencil it in?" Pre-expiry: "Quick heads-up — the quote lapses Friday. Want me to hold the price a little longer?" Final: "I'll leave it with you. If now's not right, just say and I'll re-quote when it is."
Short over long. Specific over vague. Warm over formal. Never apologise for existing — see the five follow-up mistakes for the full list of self-sabotage to avoid.
Quote Nudge ships with sequences written in exactly this register, sent on a respectful cadence from your Xero quotes. You get the wins; the robot takes the awkwardness.
Be brief, be useful, and space your messages. A two-line note offering to answer questions, a week apart, annoys nobody — it is the daily 'checking in!!' with nothing new to say that grates.
Close warmly and specifically: 'I'll leave it with you — the quote's valid until the 20th, and if the timing's wrong now, happy to re-quote whenever suits.' It removes pressure while keeping the door visibly open, and frequently gets the reply the earlier nudges did not.
Auto follow-ups and branded online acceptance on your Xero quotes, with deposits coming soon. £16.79/mo after the trial — no card required.
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