DevanovaMost lost enquiries are not rejections. The buyer got busy, compared three suppliers and forgot who answered first. A simple routine fixes much of that.
1. Put every enquiry in one place
Use one shared sheet or a CRM. For each enquiry note the name, source, what they asked, the stage, and the date of the next action. If it is only in your phone, it will be forgotten.
2. Reply fast with an answer and a question
Aim to reply within an hour in working hours. Answer what they asked and end with one question that moves things forward, such as quantity or date.
3. Follow up on a fixed rhythm
| Day | Message |
|---|---|
| 0 | Reply with the answer, one question and, if relevant, the quote |
| 1 | A short check: did the details reach you, and is there anything unclear? |
| 3 | Something useful: a sample, a photo, a short result or an answer to a likely doubt |
| 7 | Close the loop politely and ask whether to keep or close the enquiry |
Templates you can adapt
Day 1: "Hi [name], I shared the details for [product or service] yesterday. Is there anything I should clarify? Happy to help you decide."
Day 3: "Hi [name], here is [a sample, photo or short example] that may help. If useful, I can adjust the quote to your quantity."
Day 7: "Hi [name], I do not want to keep bothering you. Should I keep this open, or close it for now? You can write to me any time."
4. Respect the channel
Message people who have enquired, and stop when they ask you to. WhatsApp has its own rules for business messaging, so check the current WhatsApp Business policy before sending bulk messages.
5. Review weekly
Once a week count enquiries received, replied within an hour, followed up, won and lost, with the reason for each loss. Change one thing and see what moves.
To see where your sales are leaking, try SaleSeep, score your process with SalesVitals, or pick a tool with CRMWise. For a full set-up, see Grow sales.
Want help putting this into practice? Tell us the problem and we start with the Diagnose step.
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Fees, rules and rates change, so confirm current details with the official source or a qualified professional.