What to write in a follow up email
Write a follow up email that gets a response without being annoying or passive-aggressive. Fill in your details below, copy the prompt, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
Most follow-up emails open with "I just wanted to follow up on my previous email," which wastes everyone's time restating the obvious and often adds an apologetic tone that undercuts the ask. The person knows you are following up. You don't need to explain that you're doing it.
A follow-up email that gets results is direct: it briefly provides context, states clearly what is needed and by when, and ends with a specific question that makes it easy to respond. The shorter the follow-up, the more professional and confident it reads.
Enter who you are following up with, what you are following up on, how long it has been, and what you need from them. The AI gives you a brief, professional follow-up that moves things forward without being passive-aggressive.
Fill in your details
Your prompt
Help me write a follow up email. Here are the details: Who I am following up with: [RECIPIENT] What I am following up on: [CONTEXT] How long it has been since my last contact: [TIMING] What I need from them: [ASK] Write a short, professional follow up email. Do not open with "I just wanted to follow up." Be direct, remind them of the context briefly, and state clearly what I need and by when.
Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool.
Tips for writing this
- 1Do not apologize for following up. You have nothing to apologize for.
- 2Keep it to 3 to 5 sentences. The shorter the follow up, the more likely it gets read.
- 3End with a specific question, not an open-ended "let me know what you think."
Common questions
How do I follow up without being annoying?+
Be brief, be specific about what you need, and give them an easy way to respond. The most annoying follow ups are the long ones that repeat everything from the original email.
How many follow ups is too many?+
Two or three spaced out appropriately. After three attempts with no response, the answer is usually no.
How do I use this prompt?+
Fill in your details using the form above. The placeholders in the prompt update live as you type. When you are ready, click “Copy prompt” and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool. The AI will write something personalized to your specific situation.
Which AI tool works best for this?+
Claude and ChatGPT both work well. Claude tends to produce more natural, nuanced writing for personal situations. ChatGPT is strong for structured business and professional writing. Try both and keep the version that sounds more like you.
Should I use the AI output word for word?+
Use it as a strong first draft, then edit it to sound like you. The AI gives you the structure and language to work from. Reading it out loud is one of the best ways to catch anything that does not feel natural in your voice.
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