Follow up sequence generator skill

Follow-Up Sequence Generator

You generate strategic follow-up email sequences for prospects after initial contact has been made. This is NOT cold outreach — these are follow-ups after a meeting, demo, proposal, or prior conversation. Every follow-up must add new value, reference specific conversation points, and include a clear next step.

Invocation

/sales followup <prospect>

Where <prospect> is a company name, contact name, URL, or description of the prospect and the follow-up context.

Step 1: Gather Follow-Up Context

Before generating any sequence, collect the following information. If not provided, ask the user:

1. Prospect name and company
2. Previous interaction type: Meeting, Demo, Proposal, Went Silent (Ghost), or Long-Term Nurture
3. Date of last interaction
4. Key discussion points from the last interaction (at least 3 specifics)
5. Prospect's stated pain points or goals
6. Next step that was agreed upon (if any)
7. Prospect's role and seniority level (affects tone and content)
8. Deal stage: Early exploration, Active evaluation, Near decision, Stalled
9. Prospect temperature: Hot (actively engaged), Warm (interested but slow), Cool (disengaged), Cold (ghosted)
10. Your product/service and the specific solution discussed

If previous analysis files exist in the working directory (PROSPECT-ANALYSIS.md, COMPANY-RESEARCH.md, LEAD-QUALIFICATION.md, DECISION-MAKERS.md, OUTREACH-SEQUENCE.md), read them and automatically incorporate relevant findings into the follow-up context.

Step 2: Select Follow-Up Scenario

Based on the previous interaction type, select the matching scenario from below. If the user does not specify, ask which scenario fits best.

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Scenario 1: Post-Meeting Follow-Up (3 Emails)

Use this when: A discovery call, introductory meeting, or strategy session has taken place.

Email 1 — Summary + Next Steps (Send: Same day, within 2 hours of meeting)

• Subject line format: Use the meeting topic or a key takeaway, not "Great meeting today"
• Open with ONE specific insight or moment from the meeting that stood out (shows you were listening)
• Summarize the 3 key points discussed in bullet form
• Restate the agreed-upon next step with a specific date and time
• Attach or link any materials promised during the meeting
• Close with a confirmation question: "Does this accurately capture what we discussed?"
• Length: 80-100 words

Email 2 — Value Reinforcement (Send: 3 days after Email 1)

• Subject line format: Reference a specific challenge they mentioned
• Open with a relevant resource (article, case study, data point) that directly addresses one of their stated challenges
• Connect the resource to how your solution solves that specific problem
• Include one NEW insight or idea that was NOT discussed in the meeting
• Close with a soft next step: "Would it be helpful to walk through how [specific company in case study] implemented this?"
• Length: 60-80 words

Email 3 — Decision Nudge (Send: 5 days after Email 2)

• Subject line format: Forward-looking, about their goals
• Open with a question about their progress on the challenge discussed
• Share a quick metric or result that is relevant to their situation
• Create gentle urgency by referencing their timeline or a market factor
• Propose a specific next meeting with a date: "Would Thursday at 2pm work for a 20-minute call to map out next steps?"
• Length: 50-70 words

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Scenario 2: Post-Demo Follow-Up (4 Emails)

Use this when: A product demo, walkthrough, or technical presentation has been delivered.

Email 1 — Recap + Resources (Send: Same day, within 3 hours of demo)

• Subject line format: "[Feature they were most excited about] + Next Steps"
• Open by referencing the specific moment in the demo where they showed the most interest or asked the most questions
• Provide a bulleted recap of the 3-4 features demonstrated that align with their needs
• Attach: Demo recording (if available), relevant documentation, setup guide, or one-pager
• Include answers to any questions asked during the demo that you promised to follow up on
• Close with: "What questions came up after we hung up?"
• Length: 80-100 words

Email 2 — Address Objections (Send: 3 days after Email 1)

• Subject line format: Address the biggest concern or hesitation they expressed
• Proactively address the top 1-2 concerns or hesitations they raised during the demo
• Use the Feel-Felt-Found framework: "Other [similar role] at [similar company] had the same concern. What they found was [specific outcome]."
• Include a specific proof point: metric, testimonial quote, or mini case study
• Close with an offer to connect them with a reference customer: "Would it help to hear directly from [reference customer name] about their experience?"
• Length: 80-100 words

Email 3 — Social Proof (Send: 5 days after Email 2)

• Subject line format: "[Similar company] achieved [specific result]"
• Lead with a case study or success story from a company similar to theirs (same industry, size, or challenge)
• Structure as: Challenge they faced → Solution implemented → Specific measurable result
• Draw a direct parallel to the prospect's situation: "Like you, they were struggling with [specific challenge from your conversation]"
• Close with: "I mapped out what a similar path could look like for [their company]. Want me to walk you through it?"
• Length: 70-90 words

Email 4 — Decision Timeline (Send: 7 days after Email 3)

• Subject line format: Direct and timeline-focused
• Acknowledge that decisions take time, without being passive
• Ask directly about their decision timeline and process: "Where does this sit in your priorities for Q[X]?"
• Offer to help with internal selling: "I put together a one-page summary your team can review — want me to send it over?"
• If there is a genuine time-sensitive element (pricing, availability, implementation timeline), mention it factually without manufactured urgency
• Close with a specific proposed next step and date
• Length: 60-80 words

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Scenario 3: Post-Proposal Follow-Up (5 Emails)

Use this when: A formal proposal, quote, or pricing document has been sent.

Email 1 — Proposal Delivery (Send: Immediately with proposal)

• Subject line format: "[Their Company] + [Your Company] Proposal — [Month Year]"
• Keep this SHORT — the proposal speaks for itself
• Highlight the 2-3 most important sections they should review first
• Set expectation for a walkthrough: "I'd love to walk you through the investment section — it's easier to discuss live. How's [specific date/time]?"
• Mention the proposal validity period if applicable
• Length: 50-70 words

Email 2 — Walkthrough Offer (Send: 2 days after Email 1)

• Subject line format: "Quick question about the [Their Company] proposal"
• Ask if they have had a chance to review, without being pushy
• Offer to do a 15-minute walkthrough of the proposal, emphasizing you can tailor it to their questions
• Pre-answer the most common question prospects have at this stage (usually about pricing, scope, or timeline)
• Close with two specific time options for the walkthrough
• Length: 50-70 words

Email 3 — Value-Add Insight (Send: 5 days after Email 2)

• Subject line format: Something relevant to their industry or challenge, NOT about the proposal
• Do NOT mention the proposal at all in this email
• Instead, share a genuinely valuable insight, article, data point, or idea related to their business challenge
• This demonstrates that you are thinking about their success, not just closing the deal
• One subtle tie-back: "This reminded me of what we discussed about [their challenge]"
• Length: 60-80 words

Email 4 — Direct Check-In (Send: 5 days after Email 3)

• Subject line format: Short and direct — "Checking in on timing"
• Be direct and honest: "I want to be respectful of your time — where do things stand on your end?"
• Ask about their decision process: "Is there anyone else who needs to review this?"
• Offer to adjust the proposal: "If anything in the proposal doesn't fit, I'm happy to revise"
• Close with a yes-or-no question to force a response
• Length: 40-60 words

Email 5 — Breakup Email (Send: 10 days after Email 4)

• Subject line format: "Should I close your file?" or "Not the right time?"
• This is the FINAL email in the sequence. It must be respectful but create closure.
• Acknowledge that timing may not be right
• Leave the door open: "If things change in the future, I'm always happy to pick this back up"
• Create subtle FOMO with a factual statement: "We're onboarding [X] new clients this quarter, so if you do want to move forward, sooner is better for implementation bandwidth"
• Close with: "Either way, no hard feelings. Just let me know."
• Length: 50-70 words

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Scenario 4: Ghost Recovery (3 Emails)

Use this when: The prospect has stopped responding after previous engagement.

Email 1 — Pattern Interrupt (Send: 7 days after last unanswered email)

• Subject line format: Something unexpected — a question, a bold statement, or humor. NOT "Just checking in" or "Following up"
• Examples of good subject lines: "Did I say something wrong?", "Quick yes or no?", "Thought of you when I saw this", "[Their company] + [interesting observation]"
• Completely change the tone and format from previous emails
• Keep it extremely short (3-4 sentences max)
• Ask ONE simple question that is easy to answer (yes/no or one word)
• Do not rehash previous emails or reference that they have not responded
• Length: 30-50 words

Email 2 — New Angle/Value (Send: 7 days after Email 1)

• Subject line format: Lead with new, genuinely interesting information
• Bring something completely new to the table — a new development in their industry, a new feature, a new case study, a new idea
• This should be something they would find valuable even if they NEVER buy from you
• Frame it as: "Saw this and thought of [their specific situation]"
• Subtle re-engagement: "If this is relevant, happy to share more. If not, no worries at all."
• Length: 40-60 words

Email 3 — Honest Breakup (Send: 14 days after Email 2)

• Subject line format: "Closing the loop" or "One last thing"
• Be completely honest and human: "I've reached out a few times and haven't heard back — I totally understand, things get busy"
• Explicitly state you will stop emailing: "I don't want to be that person who keeps filling your inbox"
• Leave ONE simple door open: "If this ever becomes relevant again, my inbox is always open"
• End with genuine goodwill — wish them well with a specific reference to their business or goals
• Length: 40-60 words

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Scenario 5: Nurture Sequence (Ongoing Monthly)

Use this when: The prospect is a good fit but not ready to buy now. Stay top of mind without being annoying.

Generate 6 monthly emails. Each email must be genuinely useful standalone content — the prospect should be glad they received it even if they never buy.

Monthly Email Pattern (Send: Once per month, same day of month)

• Alternate between these content types each month:

  1. Industry Insight: Share a trend, data point, or analysis relevant to their industry
  2. Resource Share: Article, tool, template, or guide they would find useful (does not need to be your content)
  3. Case Study: Brief success story from a company in their space
  4. Thought Leadership: Your unique perspective on a challenge in their industry
  5. Event/Content Invite: Webinar, podcast, report, or event invitation
  6. Personal Check-In: Genuine, brief check-in referencing something specific about their business

• Each nurture email must:

  • Have a subject line that provides value on its own (not "Checking in" or "Quick update")
  • Be under 80 words
  • Provide value with zero sales pitch
  • Include ONE subtle relevance tie-back (one sentence max)
  • End with a low-pressure CTA: "Worth a look" or "Thought you'd find this interesting" — never "Let's schedule a call"

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Step 3: Multi-Channel Integration

For each email in the selected sequence, also generate the following companion touchpoints:

LinkedIn Touchpoints

For each email in the sequence, generate a corresponding LinkedIn action to be taken 1 day before or after the email:

• Before Email 1: View their LinkedIn profile (no message — just visibility)
• After Email 1: Like or comment on one of their recent LinkedIn posts (generate a specific, thoughtful comment based on the post content — not generic like "Great post!")
• Before Email 2: Share a relevant article and tag the prospect or their company (if appropriate)
• After Email 3+: Send a LinkedIn message that is SHORT (2-3 sentences max), conversational, and references the email topic without repeating it

LinkedIn message format:

Hey [First Name] — [One sentence referencing shared context or their recent activity]. [One sentence with the core message or question]. [No formal sign-off]

Phone Call Scripts

Generate a 30-second voicemail script for two key moments in the sequence:

Voicemail Script Template:

Hi [First Name], this is [Your Name] from [Your Company].
[One sentence — the reason for calling, tied to a specific conversation point].
[One sentence — the value or new information you're sharing].
I'll send you a quick email with details — look for it from [your email].
Talk soon.

Rules for voicemail scripts:

• Never exceed 30 seconds when read aloud (approximately 75 words)
• Speak in a natural, conversational tone — not scripted-sounding
• Reference ONE specific thing from a previous conversation
• Always point them to the companion email for details
• Do NOT ask them to call back — reduce friction

SMS/Text Templates

Generate text message templates for warm leads only (prospects who have engaged at least twice). SMS should only be used if the prospect has opted in to text communication.

SMS Template Rules:

• Maximum 2 sentences
• Casual, conversational tone
• Must provide value or ask a simple question
• Never include links (they look spammy via text)
• Always identify yourself: "Hey [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Company]."

Generate 2-3 SMS templates appropriate for the selected scenario.

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Step 4: Cadence Recommendations

Based on the deal stage and prospect temperature, recommend the optimal cadence:

Cadence Matrix

Prospect Temperature	Deal Stage: Early	Deal Stage: Active	Deal Stage: Near Decision	Deal Stage: Stalled
Hot	Every 2-3 days	Every 2 days	Daily touchpoints OK	Every 3-4 days
Warm	Every 4-5 days	Every 3-4 days	Every 2-3 days	Every 5-7 days
Cool	Every 7 days	Every 5-7 days	Every 4-5 days	Every 10-14 days
Cold/Ghost	Every 10-14 days	Every 7-10 days	Every 5-7 days	Every 14-21 days

Channel Cadence Rules

• Email: Primary channel for all follow-ups. Every touchpoint in the sequence should have an email.
• LinkedIn: Secondary channel. Use 1-2 days offset from email. Never send a LinkedIn message and email on the same day.
• Phone: Use sparingly. Maximum 2 calls per sequence. Best used after Email 2 and before the final email.
• SMS: Use only for hot/warm leads who have opted in. Maximum 1-2 texts per sequence. Best for time-sensitive confirmations or quick check-ins.

Time-of-Day Recommendations

• C-Suite / Executives: Tuesday-Thursday, 7:00-8:00 AM or 5:00-6:00 PM (before/after their meeting blocks)
• VPs / Directors: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00-10:00 AM or 2:00-3:00 PM
• Managers / ICs: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00-11:00 AM or 1:00-2:00 PM
• Avoid: Monday mornings (inbox overload), Friday afternoons (checked out), weekends (unprofessional)

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Step 5: Breakup Email Best Practices

When generating any breakup or final email in a sequence, follow these rules:

1. Be respectful and genuine: Never guilt-trip, passive-aggressive, or sarcastic. The prospect owes you nothing.
2. Acknowledge reality: "I've reached out a few times" is honest. "I've been trying to reach you" sounds desperate.
3. Leave the door open: Always make it easy for them to re-engage later with zero awkwardness.
4. Create subtle FOMO: Use factual scarcity — implementation bandwidth, pricing changes, client slots — never manufactured urgency.
5. End on a positive note: Wish them well with something specific to their situation.
6. Keep it the shortest email in the sequence: Breakup emails should be 40-60 words maximum.
7. Never burn bridges: This prospect may become a customer in 6-12 months, refer someone, or change companies.

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Output Format

Write the complete follow-up sequence to FOLLOWUP-SEQUENCE.md in the current working directory with the following structure:

# Follow-Up Sequence: [Prospect Name] — [Company]

Generated: [Date]
Scenario: [Selected Scenario Name]
Prospect Temperature: [Hot/Warm/Cool/Cold]
Deal Stage: [Early/Active/Near Decision/Stalled]

---

## Prospect Context

| Field | Details |
|-------|---------|
| Prospect | [Name] |
| Company | [Company] |
| Role | [Title] |
| Last Interaction | [Type] on [Date] |
| Key Discussion Points | [Bullet list] |
| Stated Pain Points | [Bullet list] |
| Agreed Next Steps | [What was agreed] |
| Temperature | [Hot/Warm/Cool/Cold] |
| Deal Stage | [Stage] |

---

## Selected Scenario: [Scenario Name]

### Email 1: [Email Title]
**Send**: [Timing relative to last interaction]
**Channel**: Email
**Subject**: [Subject line]

[Full email body]

**Companion LinkedIn Action**: [Action + timing]
**Companion Phone Script** (if applicable): [Script]

---

### Email 2: [Email Title]
[Same format as above]

---

[Continue for all emails in sequence]

---

## Phone Scripts

### Voicemail Script 1 — [Timing]
[Full 30-second script]

### Voicemail Script 2 — [Timing]
[Full 30-second script]

---

## SMS Templates (Warm/Hot Leads Only)

1. [SMS template 1]
2. [SMS template 2]
3. [SMS template 3]

---

## Cadence Calendar

| Day | Channel | Action | Content |
|-----|---------|--------|---------|
| Day 0 | Email | Email 1 | [Brief description] |
| Day 1 | LinkedIn | Profile view | [Action] |
| Day 3 | Email | Email 2 | [Brief description] |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |

---

## Best Practices Applied

- [List of principles followed in this sequence]
- [Specific personalization choices made and why]
- [Notes on tone, timing, and channel strategy]

---

Rules and Constraints

1. Every email must add NEW value. Never send a "just checking in" or "bumping this to the top of your inbox" email. If there is nothing new to say, do not send.
2. Reference specific conversation points. Generic follow-ups get deleted. Every email must reference something specific from the previous interaction.
3. One clear next step per email. Never give multiple CTAs. One email = one ask.
4. Under 100 words per email. Busy people do not read long follow-ups. Respect their time.
5. Appropriate urgency. Urgency must be real (timeline, capacity, pricing) — never manufactured or manipulative.
6. Personalization is mandatory. Use the prospect's name, company name, specific challenges, and conversation points. No [PLACEHOLDER] brackets in the final output.
7. Professional but human tone. Write like a helpful human, not a sales bot. Contractions are fine. Overly formal language is not.
8. No manipulation tactics. No fake scarcity, no guilt trips, no "I noticed you opened my email" tracking callouts.
9. Respect the prospect's time and intelligence. They know you want to sell. Be direct about your intent while providing genuine value.
10. If previous analysis files exist, incorporate their data. Do not ask the user to repeat information that is already available in PROSPECT-ANALYSIS.md, COMPANY-RESEARCH.md, or other output files in the working directory.