On Instantly, I get a decent positive reply rate but after follow-up I never hear from them again. I reply within a few minutes and do multiple follow-ups. Any tips?

#177 · How to acquire distribution fast and dominate the AI era

On Instantly, I get a decent positive reply rate but after follow-up I never hear from them again. I reply within a few minutes and do multiple follow-ups. Any tips?

He starts by asking whether you're replying within a few minutes; if so, your speed-to-lead is already good. Then he advises acknowledging the reply with a thank-you, answering their questions, and giving them several specific times to jump on a call while also offering to look at their calendar to find a slot that works for them. For example, you might say: Hey Pete, thanks so much for getting back to me. Yeah, sure. Here's the answer to that question... Would love to chat Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. or Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. work for you. I can also do Thursday and Friday at these times. If neither works, please send me over your calendar—I'll be happy to book according to your schedule and make something happen. He adds that, for convenience, you can include a link to your calendar. If the prospect says they can't jump on a call today but thank you, you respond with something like Hey, for sure. Yeah, X, Y, and Z. Awesome. Thank you. If that still doesn't work, you propose another option, such as booking for tomorrow at 8:15 a.m., staying flexible. The core principle is that every single interaction should move the prospect toward a call; if you never get them on a call, they're as good as lost.

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Related answers

youtube ↗Cold Email

How often should I follow up on Upwork applications, what script or texting principles should I use for high reply rate, and should I offer a call in the first message?

He recommends following up every 24 to 48 hours with anyone who replies on Upwork, freelancer.com, Fiverr, or similar platforms. Following up more frequently makes you seem desperate and hasn't worked for him. His sole goal in every message is to get the person on a call, because a call's bandwidth far exceeds text and lets you convey far more information. He avoids trying to close directly on a call due to high pressure and also avoids hourly follow-ups. Instead, he ends each message by asking for a call: after thanking the person for replying, answering their questions, he proposes a quick 15-minute call, offers specific times (e.g., today or tomorrow), and invites them to share their calendar if those don't work. He then provides a link to his calendar and remains flexible. The idea is that every contact should move the prospect toward a call; if you never get them on a call, they're as good as lost.

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youtube ↗Lead Generation

I'm getting many positive replies but only about 5% of prospects actually show up to meetings. How do you convert positive replies into booked meetings and improve attendance?

The 5% show‑up rate is terrible, so you need to change your process. Stop sending a long, detailed info packet after the initial interest—your prospect has already seen enough to express interest. Respond within five minutes and be super friendly and personal. When you send a calendar link, add a warm, appreciative note like, “Thanks so much, I’m excited to meet. Which of these times works for you?” Include a few time options in your initial email so they can pick one. Once they suggest a time, book it immediately and confirm with a follow‑up like, “Does this time work for you? If not, could you send me your calendar?” Attach your own calendar link for convenience. Treat every lead like gold; be polite, helpful, and make the scheduling experience as easy as possible. Quick, human responses and a personal touch dramatically increase attendance.

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youtube ↗Client Acquisition

How can I improve my show rate for booked meetings when I'm getting many calls but low attendance?

I use a two‑step process to improve show rate. First, when booking, I tell the prospect exactly where and when to meet—for example, 'I’ll talk to you on the Google Meet link in the calendar invite at 2 p.m. Tuesday.' This matters because about 10 % of the time they don’t know where the meeting is; they click the invite and wonder if it’s Zoom or something else, or they’re not tech‑savvy and miss it. Simply giving clear location eliminates that confusion. Second, I send a personalized follow‑up: 24 hours before the call I email, 'Hey Pete, looking forward to seeing you on the call tomorrow. I may be a couple minutes early. Just want to let you know.' This doesn’t look like an automated template; it feels like a real message from me. Then, two hours before, I send another note: 'Hey Pete, sorry, just stuck in traffic, man, but I’ll be there right at 10:00 a.m.' (or the scheduled time). This shows I’m making a concession to be on time, which feels human and triggers reciprocity. It doesn’t change the actual meeting time, but it improves the prospect’s experience and boosts show rate. Understanding these influence tactics helps maximize attendance, and this small concession is a good example.

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youtube ↗Sales

When we get a reply from a prospect, should we pitch them on a sales call immediately or ask some questions and build rapport before sending a scheduled link?

Yes, you should pitch them on a sales call immediately. When a prospect replies on Upwork, they often ask follow‑up questions like, “Hey Pete, I liked your video. Can you do this for X amount? Can you do it this way?” If you give them all the information in the reply, there’s no incentive for a call—you’ve already proved everything in writing. A call lets you demonstrate how you differ from the sea of generic Upwork freelancers. The best approach is to lightly address their questions in your reply, thank them, and then suggest a short 15‑minute call to go over details and provide a scoped price. Offer a few time slots (e.g., next hour, 4 p.m., 6 p.m.) and include a calendar link so they can pick what works for them. This way you keep the conversation moving and avoid endless back‑and‑forth. I also provide multiple ways for them to get in touch—email, calendar link, and other contact options—so they can choose the method that’s most convenient.

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