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The Power of Breakup Emails: 7 Templates To Close the Loop
HubSpot Sales Blog
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The “magic email plus.” This was inspired by “the magic email” originally crafted by Blair Enns of Win Without Pitching. It’s a reference I often return to because it takes emotion out of the equation and maintains a professional, strictly business tone that can make the breakup conversation more comfortable for prospects. Hi [Prospect name], I haven’t heard back from you regarding [product/service], so I’m assuming you’re trying a different solution or have changed priorities. If we can be of assistance now or in the future, please feel free to reach out. Best, [Your name] What I like: This email acknowledges a likely lost sale without assigning emotion to it. However, it leaves the door open for the prospect if the competitor’s option they likely bought isn’t working out well by saying they are “trying out” a solution to suggest it isn’t final. When I use this client breakup email template, I’m letting them know it’s okay if it is or isn’t working out, and I’m here to help anytime without putting any pressure on them. 4. The “going away present.” This value-added template is one of my favorite breakup emails because I know I have great resources to share with a potential prospect. Hello [Prospect name], I‘ve reached out a couple of times to connect regarding [business goal]. Since I haven’t heard back from you, I'll assume that now isn’t the right time. In the meantime, I wanted to share some free resources for brands like yours that are facing [business challenge]. Link to resource 1 Link to resource 2 Link to resource 3 If it makes sense to reconnect in the future, you can always book time on my calendar here. Best, [Your name] What I like: Everyone loves something free, and this message gives prospects who aren’t ready to say goodbye just yet a reason to stay interested. Combining that with a convenient self-service way to set up a meeting at their convenience creates goodwill with potential customers who might need more time. 5. The “Hi from the CEO.” “I’ll typically send a neutral message to start a conversation organically by referencing something that’s of interest to them.” What I like: By keeping things casually friendly and open rather than jumping right to “Are you ready to buy,” you can restart the conversation and keep future opportunities alive. 7. The “What do you think?” Along the same lines as starting a new discussion, I’ve found that asking prospects for their opinion helps restart communications when their replies lapse. You can ask about something product- or deal-related or their work or industry. Hi [Prospect name], I saw that [prospect's company]’s new product just launched. Congratulations! How was that experience for your team? Cheers, [Your name] What I like: This takes the sales pressure away from the email while keeping it focused on business. Plus, it gives a chance for a more personal connection to help you learn about their current wins and pain points.Achieve Clarity and Improve Your Conversions With Proven Email Templates Breakup emails are one of the most useful tools in my sales kit. They can be a valuable way to jumpstart a lagging relationship or confirm that it’s time for you to move on. Whatever your prospect says, you’ll know exactly where you stand so you can spend your time and resources wisely. And if you’re ready to freshen up your outreach material with new prospecting and sales templates, we've got you covered.
My experience has taught me that sometimes prospects find a salesperson easy to ignore, but they’re more likely to engage with a message from my company's CEO. If I suspect that’s the case, I’ll check with my CEO to see if I can draft an email in their name. I then ask them to send the message I wrote using their email address and forward any response. Hello [Prospect name], I’m [CEO name], the CEO of [Company name]. [Sales rep name] told me that you recently received a demo of our product, and I wanted to reach out personally to hear your thoughts on [offering]. Your business matters to us, and I'd like to help in any way I can. Thank you, [CEO name] What I like: By referencing the last conversation touchpoint (the demo), you can gloss over their lack of communication, which avoids putting negative pressure on the prospect. Plus, the email coming directly from the CEO’s email makes the prospect feel like a valued contact and creates a positive impression. 6. The “see you later.” In my experience, when a prospect goes silent, it doesn't always mean “No.” It could simply mean, “Now’s not the right time.” This template is my go-to when I plan to pause outreach temporarily. Hello [Prospect name], It’s been a while since I heard back from you, so I‘ll assume [product/service name] isn’t a priority at the moment. I understand and don't want to continue taking up your time. I'll reach out in [timeframe] to see if our goals are more aligned. Sincerely, [Your name] Pro tip: Follow up. Following up is important with this closing-the-loop email template. When it’s time to reach out again, I prefer starting with a fresh email chain. I’ll typically send a neutral message to start a conversation organically by referencing something that’s of interest to them. For example: “Hi [Prospect name]! How've you been? I saw a press release that your company will be at Trade Show [X] this summer. Let me know if you’ll be there, and we can grab a coffee.” “Along the same lines as starting a new discussion, I’ve found that asking prospects for their opinion helps restart communications when their replies lapse.”
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