Ever had trouble getting a response from a potential customer despite sending emails, making calls, and reaching out on social media? It's a common struggle.

You believe your product is a perfect fit, but the prospect remains silent, not responding to any of your efforts. Instead of just dropping the conversation, there's a savvy move to consider – the breakup email.

In this blog post, we'll share eight simple and effective breakup emails for sales. These messages aim to politely end the conversation while leaving the door open for future opportunities.

It's time to add a personal touch and use this powerful tool to wrap things up professionally.

What Is a Breakup Email?

In a world where approximately 3.7 billion people actively use emails monthly, leveraging this powerful communication channel for sales is crucial. Email remains 1.5 times more influential than social media, making it an indispensable channel for reaching potential customers. 

However, not every interaction yields a positive response rate.

This is where breakup emails come into play – the last-ditch effort to revive the communication loop (or at least pave the way for future conversations) with a prospect who has gone silent.

How to Write Sales Breakup Emails?

Crafting an effective breakup email involves three crucial components: a compelling subject line, a concise email body, and an irresistible call to action. Let's delve into each aspect to understand how to create a breakup email that speaks volumes.

a. Breakup Email Subject Lines:

The subject line is your first and perhaps last chance to grab the prospect's attention. Personalization is key, with statistics showing that personalized subject lines in cold email campaigns witness 50% more open rates. Injecting a bit of emotion and drama into the subject line can make the difference between your email being noticed or ignored.

Examples of Breakup Email Subject Lines:

  • It's me, not you

  • My last email, [prospect name]

b. Email Body for a Sales Breakup Email:

Once you've captured their attention with an enticing subject line, the body of your breakup email needs to maintain the emotional tension. Here are essential points to include:

  • Set the context by explaining previous outreach attempts.

  • Convey that this might be the last communication from your end for a while.

  • Reiterate the value you're still eager to provide.

Examples of Email Copy for Breakup Emails:

"This is my last email, but I'd love your feedback so our product can get better. What's the main reason you didn't want to hop on a call with us?"

c. Breakup Professionally:

Breakups needn't be messy, at least not the ones with your prospects. Following the advice of Nick Cegelski, Founder of 30 Minutes to President's Club, here are some steps to break up professionally:

Take the Blame:

Acknowledge the failure to resonate and take responsibility. It's not about blaming the prospect; instead, it's about recognizing that your approach might not have aligned with their needs or priorities.

Re-explain Your Outreach:

Remind them why you reached out in the first place. With the myriad of messages bombarding them daily, a gentle reminder can help them recall the initial purpose of your connection.

Ask for Correction:

Invite them to correct you if needed. This shows humility and a willingness to adapt, fostering a positive impression even in the face of a breakup.

 Push for Delegation:

If you were targeting the C-Suite, ask for an introduction to a VP or someone more closely aligned with your offering. This helps maintain a connection within the organization.

 Use Tentative Tones:

Frame your email with phrases like "guessing this isn't" or "might." This softens the communication, making it less confrontational and more open for future interactions.

d . Call to Action (CTA) for a Breakup Email:

The call to action in a breakup email plays a crucial role in keeping the door open for future engagement. It should leave room for the prospect to reciprocate and respond positively.

CTA Examples:

"If I don't hear back from you, I'll understand that the current moment may not be the opportune time. Ok to reach back out next quarter?”

“If I’m misunderstanding and you’d like to move forward, just hit reply and I’ll get the ball rolling.”

The 8 Best Sales Breakup Email Templates

A man using his laptop

Source: pexels

1. Keep It Short and Direct:

Honoring the prospect's time is crucial in breakup emails. Keep the message concise and get straight to the point, as demonstrated in the following template:

Hello [prospect’s_name],

My apologies if my emails are becoming bothersome.

Are you still interested in discussing [[main_point]]?

If not, kindly inform me, and I'll stop reaching out.

Best Regards,

[Your_Name]

 This straightforward approach enables the prospect to make a clear decision on whether to continue the conversation or not.

2. Simply Close the Loop:

Closing the loop in a breakup email puts the prospect in control, allowing them to decide the future of the correspondence. The template below assumes the deal may not have a future but leaves room for the prospect to express continued interest:

Hello [prospect_name],

Since I haven't heard from you, I'll assume you've moved on or priorities have shifted.

I’ll be here if I can be of help in the future.

Best Regards,

[Your_name]

This approach maintains professionalism while allowing the prospect to reinitiate contact if they wish to continue discussions.

3. Reiterate the Value You Offer:

Remind your prospect of the value your company can bring to their specific goals, even in a breakup email. This template emphasizes your willingness to help and serves as a final opportunity for the prospect to reconsider:

 Hello [Prospect_Name],

I haven’t heard from you in a while.

Our last discussion revolved around the challenges you faced with [[difficulty]] and how [your_offer] could benefit [specific_goal] within [timeframe].

Seems now isn’t the best time to explore further. I’ll reach out next quarter to see if things have changed.

Thanks,

[Your_Name]

This template reinforces the value proposition and invites the prospect to reassess their decision based on previously discussed goals.

4. Ask for Feedback:

Instead of concluding with a traditional sales pitch, leverage the breakup email to gather valuable feedback. This template encourages the prospect to share their reasons for not responding, fostering a constructive dialogue:

Hey [First name],

This is my last email, but I'd love your feedback so we can improve.

What's the main reason you chose not to hop on a call with us?

Best,

[Your name]

By seeking feedback, you demonstrate commitment to improvement and open the door for potential future engagement based on their response.

5. Let Them Choose the Reason:

Take the feedback-seeking approach a step further by allowing the prospect to choose a predefined reason for not continuing the conversation. This template streamlines the feedback process and adds a touch of humor, making the interaction more approachable:

Hey [First name],

This is my last email, but I'd love your feedback so we can improve.

What's the main reason you chose not to hop on a call with us?

  1. It's not a priority right now

  2. Call us next quarter

  3. I'm not interested

  4. Call me sometime this week, I was busy

I know you’re busy - you can just reply with A, B, C, or D!

Thanks,

[Your name]

This template not only simplifies the feedback process but also injects a bit of levity into the conversation.

6. Taking the Deal Away:

When a prospect has shown interest but suddenly goes silent, it might be time to consider taking the deal away. 

This template aims to create a sense of urgency by letting the prospect know you have other clients in the pipeline.

Hi [FirstName],

Since I haven't heard from you, I am moving forward with onboarding another client this Friday. 

If there's been a miscommunication or if you need more time, please let me know ASAP.

 Thanks,

[Your name]

7. Adding a Touch of Humor

Sometimes, a touch of humor can make your goodbye memorable and increase the chances of a response. It humanizes the communication, making the prospect reconsider their decision.

Breakup Email Template:

Hi [First Name],

I'm pretty bummed that I haven't heard from you. 

I'll be spending the rest of the day in a mood, with only my pup to comfort me. (I'd much rather be explaining why [Product/Service] would be perfect for [Company Name].)

If you feel like cheering me up you can ping me :)

Thanks,

[Your name]

8. Express genuine concern

Sometimes, a prospect's silence can be concerning - especially if they have been very responsive and suddenly drop off. It's ok to reach out with genuine concern, it can still be done in a professional way.

Hi [Prospect’s Name],

Hope you're doing well! Since I haven't heard back from you in a while it's got me a bit worried.

I get that life can get crazy busy or throw unexpected stuff your way.

If you can shoot a quick reply when you have a moment, that would be awesome.

Take care, and looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Wrapping Up

Crafting a thoughtful break-up email is an art that requires finesse and professionalism. By using these eight templates as inspiration, you can gracefully end the conversation while leaving the door open for potential future collaborations. Remember, rejection is not the end—it's an opportunity to build lasting relationships and demonstrate your commitment to customer success.