I got an email from a friend the other day:
If you ever need a topic, I think you should do a courtesy of business email. Close the loop. How to decline services. That kind of thing. I’ve had so many people just drop off the face of the planet lately for whatever reason. It’s so rude.
This is one of the more frustrating aspects of running a small business. I’ve followed up and done my part, why do you have to be so Pacific Northwest Passive Aggressive and ignore me? Plus, if you tell me no I probably won’t come around nagging you every couple of weeks which is driving you crazy. But what do you say?
Be HONEST
- “Thanks Elizabeth, we’ve found someone who’s a better fit for our needs right now. I appreciate your time.”
- I’ve received this email before and I was totally fine with it. They wanted someone who also does stuff I don’t. I get it.
- “Thanks Elizabeth, after reviewing your proposal this isn’t in our budget right now.”
You’re super expensive and I can’t believe anyone would ever hire you.- If budget is the issue know that they’ll probably respond with recommendations to make it work. But if you’re coming in at their lowest price point then they may realize you aren’t ready for them yet.
- “Thanks Elizabeth, I’ve looked at my goals and need to wait a few months before getting going. I’ll contact you when I’m ready”
- Use this response if you mean it. If you get a proposal and realize it’s not in the budget, OR if something happens and your goals have changed and you truly do need to push this off, then say so. And either offer to follow up with them, or ask them to follow up with you in a few months. “If you want to check back in 3 months, that’d be great.” This also puts the responsibility on them – which is one of my favorite ways to get things off my plate and make people work to earn my money!
Be honest and straight forward. I don’t need your excuses. If it’s not in your budget right now, that’s okay. If after talking you realized you can do it yourself (or someone on your team can) that’s okay. If we didn’t hit it off and you aren’t sold on me, that’s okay. But as a business owner this falls into that treat others as you’d like to be treated category.
Brava! I totally agree. It makes everything so much easier when both parties are honest. It can even lead to working together in a mutually satisfying way down the road. But silence or a pleasantly-worded brush-off is disappointing and unproductive and does nothing to further the relationship.