How to Respond to a Snarky Email

I was just noticing that I didn’t have a blog written for this week and as I sat down to start writing, an email came in from a reader. It’s a subject I’ve written about before but bears repeating:

Bill,

Long-time reader/viewer, first time writer ...

I recently received the following OOO from a prospect:

<<I am unavailable today and probably tomorrow too.

If you are trying to sell me something, just stop and pull me off your list. 🙂

I'm not interested.

No. Seriously. Stop. Please.

Take the 15 min you wanted to spend speaking with me and go have a coffee or tea instead. If you are going to SPAM me, bother someone else. Even better — try inbound marketing. It’s a more cost-effective way to generate MQLs and pipeline. 

Have a great day!>>

Before reading my response, consider what you would do. Then, read on …

LOVE this message, Roger. I can think of three responses, two of which are fun and one is obedient.

1. If your name goes on the back of your paychecks (in other words, if you don’t own the company you work for and therefore cannot speak your mind): Either ignore entirely or keep it lighthearted with something like, “Thank you for the laugh. This is a clever response. But, ponder this: You don’t know what you don’t know and a better solution to your business challenges might have come from our relationship.”

If you own the company …

2,  "Thank you for the heads up. I have no desire to work with close-minded people.”

Or, if you want to take that step even further …

3. "Thank you. I work very hard to help my customers find their customers and, more relevant to your email, defeat their competition. My next call will be to yours.”

A few years ago, I wrote a whole column on this subject. Here’s the link …

Bill’s weekly coaching will grow your sales. ‘Nuf said. Need sales? He can be found at BillFarquharson.com and bill@aspirefor.com and 781-934-7036.