Sales · Templates
How to write a sales follow-up email after a call (with 3 templates)
The Odrivyn team · Updated · 6 min read
The short answer
Send the follow-up the same day. Thank the buyer for one specific thing they said, restate what was agreed in two or three lines, list next steps with who does what by when, and end with one clear ask. Keep it under 170 words and in plain text.
What should a sales follow-up email include?
- A specific thank-you: name something the buyer said, not their time.
- The recap: two or three lines on what they need and what you agreed.
- Next steps: each one with an owner and a date.
- One ask: a meeting, a decision, or a document. Only one.
Template 1: after a discovery call
Subject: SSO and your March rollout
Hi Sam, thanks for walking me through the March rollout, and especially the SSO requirement from your security team.
What I heard: 40 seats in phase one, SSO required before sign-off, budget approved this quarter.
Next steps: I'll send our security overview by Friday. You'll check with IT which identity provider you use. Can we book 30 minutes next Tuesday with your security lead?
Template 2: after a demo
Subject: The two questions from today's demo
Hi Priya, thanks for the sharp questions on reporting. Here are the two answers I promised: exports run daily at 06:00 UTC, and custom fields carry over from your CRM.
Next step: a two-week pilot with your team of five. Does starting on the 14th work?
Template 3: when a deal has gone quiet
Subject: Still aiming for a Q4 start?
Hi Lee, when we spoke you wanted the new process live before the Q4 review. If that's still the plan, the pilot needs to start by the 1st. If priorities have changed, a one-line reply is all I need, and I'll stop chasing.
When should you send it?
The same day, while the buyer still remembers the call. That is also why writing it from memory is the hard part: by the time you sit down, the details are gone. Odrivyn writes the recap and a draft follow-up from the call's transcript the moment you stop listening, so you only edit and send.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a follow-up email be?
Short enough to read on a phone: under 170 words, with the next steps as a short list.
Should I attach the deck?
Link it rather than attach it, and only if the buyer asked. Attachments bury the ask.
What if I promised to find something out?
Put it in the next steps with a date, and send it separately when you have it.