If you're in sales, there's one ugly truth: most people won't reply to your first message. That's why follow-ups matter, and why forgetting them kills deals. This guide is for anyone using Salesken who wants to stop letting leads slip through the cracks. We'll walk through setting up automated follow-up reminders—without annoying your prospects or drowning yourself in notifications.
No fluff, no hype. Just what works, what doesn't, and how to get going fast.
Why Bother with Automated Follow-Ups?
Let's be honest: manual follow-ups get missed. You get busy, your inbox explodes, and suddenly that hot lead is ice-cold. Automation fixes that—if you set it up right.
Automated follow-up reminders can help you: - Remember every lead, not just the squeaky wheels. - Respond faster (speed = more replies). - Keep your process consistent, even on chaotic days.
But automation's not magic. If your reminders are just nagging you about bad emails, or if they're a pain to manage, you'll ignore them. The trick is to set them up to work for you, not against you.
Step 1: Get Your Pipeline in Order
Before you start tinkering with reminders, make sure your pipeline in Salesken is clean. Garbage in, garbage out.
Quick checklist: - Are your leads in the right stages? - Are contact details up-to-date? - Have you logged recent interactions?
If your pipeline's a mess, fix that first. Otherwise, you'll get reminders for dead leads or duplicates, and that's a waste of everyone's time.
Step 2: Decide What Actually Needs a Reminder
Not every contact needs a follow-up. Some leads are stone-cold, some are waiting on you, and some just aren't worth chasing.
Ask yourself: - Who actually needs a nudge? - Is this a one-off reminder or part of a sequence? - Do I want reminders for emails, calls, or both?
Pro tip: Start simple. Focus on hot and warm leads first. You can always expand later.
Step 3: Find Salesken's Reminder Settings
Salesken changes its UI now and then, but as of early 2024, here's the usual path:
- Log in to Salesken.
- Go to your main dashboard.
- Find the “Reminders” or “Tasks” section (sometimes under “Activities” or “Automation”). If it moved, check their help docs—don’t waste 20 minutes clicking everywhere.
- Click “Create Reminder” or “Add Task.”
If your company locked down settings, you may need admin access or to bug your CRM manager.
Step 4: Set Up Your Follow-Up Reminders
Now, actually create the reminders. Here’s what to pay attention to:
4.1 Choose the Trigger
- Manual: You pick leads and set reminders one-by-one. Good for high-value deals.
- Automated/Rule-based: Reminders trigger based on actions (e.g., “3 days after no reply”). Way more scalable.
Most folks start manual, then move to automated as they get a feel for it.
4.2 Timing and Cadence
Don't go overboard. Too many reminders = notification fatigue (you'll ignore them) and annoyed prospects (they'll ignore you).
- Best practice: 2–3 follow-ups, spaced a few days apart.
- What to avoid: Daily pings. If you wouldn't want it in your inbox, don't do it to others.
4.3 Reminder Content
- Be specific: “Follow up with Sarah re: demo” is better than “Follow up.”
- Add context: If Salesken lets you, add notes about the last touchpoint or next steps.
4.4 Assign Ownership
If you’re on a team, make sure the right person gets the reminder. Nothing worse than three reps chasing the same lead.
Step 5: Automate the Sequence (Optional, But Powerful)
Once you’re comfortable, take it up a notch:
- Set up sequences that send scheduled reminders (e.g., day 1, day 4, day 7).
- Use templates for common follow-up emails or call scripts.
- Trigger reminders based on lead behavior (like “no reply to email”).
Reality check: Automation is only as smart as your rules. If you make your sequence too aggressive or generic, expect lower response rates—or worse, spam complaints.
Step 6: Clean Up Your Reminders
Set a weekly calendar block to review old reminders. Mark dead leads as “closed” or “do not contact.” Otherwise, your system will get junked up and you’ll start ignoring all reminders (the CRM graveyard effect).
Quick cleanup tips: - Archive or delete reminders for leads that have gone cold. - Update notes if situations change (e.g., prospect asked to be contacted next quarter). - Adjust reminder timing if you notice patterns—maybe weekly is better than every three days.
What Works (and What Doesn’t)
What Works
- Personal, relevant reminders: The more tailored, the higher the response.
- A/B testing sequences: Try different cadences and see which get replies.
- Snooze/dismiss options: Not every lead needs endless chasing.
What Doesn’t
- Blanket automation: Don’t set reminders for every single contact. That’s just noise.
- Ignoring unsubscribe requests: If someone says “stop,” do it. Your reputation matters.
- Copy-paste messages: If your follow-ups sound automated, people tune out.
What To Ignore (For Now)
- Overly complex “AI” features: Salesken touts smart suggestions, but don’t let the robot do all your thinking. Start with simple rules and only get fancy if you actually need to.
- Integrations you’ll never use: Don’t waste hours wiring up tools unless it solves a real problem.
- Gamification gimmicks: Chasing badges isn’t as useful as chasing deals.
Pro Tips for Getting Replies (Not Just Reminders)
- Reference your last conversation: Reminders are just nudges. The message matters more.
- Keep it brief: People are busy. “Just checking in” beats a wall of text.
- Add value: Share a resource, answer a question, or offer something useful with your follow-up.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Automated reminders in Salesken can help you stay on top of your pipeline and boost response rates—but only if you keep things simple and adjust as you go. Don’t overthink it: set up reminders for your best leads, check them regularly, and improve your approach based on what actually works.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Start with a basic setup, learn from your results, and tweak as you grow. You’ll close more deals—and stop letting opportunities slip away.