.png)
Read time: 2 mins
Does this scenario sound familiar?
You’ve had a great initial conversation with a potential client.
They seemed interested. Maybe even excited.
They said things like:
"Let me talk to my business partner and get back to you."
Or, "I'll be in touch next week."
And then… silence.
No reply. No follow-up. No “thanks, but not right now.”
Just gone.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
It happens to nearly every business owner we know.
But here’s the thing.
You don’t have to accept ghosting as just part of doing business.
There are better ways to follow up that feel respectful and actually work.
Here’s how to handle it when leads disappear.
3 WAYS TO HANDLE GHOSTED LEADS (WITHOUT CHASING OR STRESSING)
1. Make sure they had enough clarity to decide
A lot of ghosting happens because the lead wasn’t confident enough to say yes.
They weren’t sure what they were signing up for, what would happen next, or whether it would really work for them.
Before you follow up, take a moment to check in with yourself.
In your last conversation, were you crystal clear about:
- What the offer was
- What they could expect
- What step they needed to take next
If any part of that felt vague, your follow-up should focus on giving clarity, not applying pressure.
Try saying:
"Just checking in. If there’s anything you’re unsure about or you wanted more info on, I’m happy to talk through it. No pressure either way."
This opens the door without making them feel uncomfortable.
2. Give them a graceful way to say no
Sometimes people ghost because they’re embarrassed.
They liked the idea, but now isn’t the right time.
Or they changed their mind and don’t want to hurt your feelings.
The best thing you can do is make it easy for them to give you an honest answer.
You might say:
"Totally understand if priorities have shifted. Just let me know either way so I can close the loop on my end."
This lets them know it’s okay to say no.
You’re not chasing. You’re just looking for closure.
And surprisingly often, it brings people back into the conversation.
3. Stay in touch
Not all ghosting is a hard no.
Some people are just not ready yet.
If the lead was a good fit, keep them in your orbit.
You don’t need to follow up endlessly.
You just need to stay present so they remember you when the timing is right.
You can:
- Add them to your newsletter
- Send a quick note if something reminds you of them
- Circle back in a few months with a genuine check-in
Some of our clients have had leads come back six or twelve months later because they stayed in touch without being pushy.
Bottom line:
The truth is, ghosting often has nothing to do with you.
It’s usually about timing, clarity, or uncertainty.
So don’t give up.
Follow up with kindness and confidence.
Give them the space to re-engage (or not).
And if you want help building a follow-up system that feels good and works?
We help, so get in touch.
š Book a strategy call
Speak soon,
Lynne and Steve
TLDR:
Ghosting is usually about uncertainty or timing, not you.
Don't give up. You just need a better way to follow up.
Clarify your offer, and give people a respectful way to say yes or no.
Stay in touch without being pushy.
|