Writing Emails That Get Responses in Negotiations

I've closed 100s of deals and raised millions in startup funding. All through the power of email. But it wasn't always this way. Early in my career, I struggled to get my point across. My emails were long-winded, unfocused, and often went ignored. But then I learned a simple truth. If you want to get what you want. You need to master email. I analyzed: -tons of successful emails I've received -big deals I’ve closed -many negotiations that went my way. And I started to see patterns. Like, for example, if an email has a bullet list nested neatly in a sea of long paragraphs, I go straight to those bullets to get the gist. And I bet you do the same. Here’s a simple structure that will 10x your email game overnight: 1) Open with gratitude – nobody is obligated to read your email. You are one of 100s they'll receive in a day. Start by thanking them and get off on the right foot. 2) Start with your conclusion – don't bury the lead. Give them the TL;DR immediately, then go into your reasoning around it. Don’t leave your conclusion to chance. Put it right at the top. 3) Short sentences – No long paragraphs – less is more. 4) Bullets are your friend. 3 or 4 bullets can communicate a lot of info. They also signal something important to read. 5) Always end with the next steps and/or a call to action. Make it easy for them to reply by asking a yes/no question. I know, it sounds simple. But trust me, these techniques have been the difference between a "yes" and a "no" more times than I can count. TL;DR: Nobody has time for your long-ass email. Keep it concise, structured, and bullet-pointed. Your recipients (and your bottom line) will thank you.

What makes a great email CTA? This question came up in my How to Write Emails That Get Replies workshop, and here’s the AHA moment one seller had: They realized their CTAs weren’t clear or actionable. They used phrases like: 🚫 “Let me know your thoughts” 🚫 "It would be great if we could talk about this" They left it up to the prospects to have to think about what to do next. The result? Low response rates and no clear next steps. 👉 Here’s what they learned to do instead: Write CTAs that clearly outline the next step, like “Can we speak for 30 minutes next week?” Remove unnecessary friction by offering one simple, specific option. Make it easy for the prospect to say yes. When they rewrote their email, the difference was immediate. Instead of uncertainty, the CTA felt confident and actionable. Prospects could see exactly what to do—and they did it. 📌 Clear CTAs work because they: - Make the action feel easy and low effort. - Reduce decision fatigue by offering one option. - Create a natural transition to the next step in the sales process. Writing Emails That Get Replies is one of my favorite Keynote decks. I am passionate about B2B outbound sales email copy. If you'd like me to share that passion and present this topic at your SKO, email me at leslie@salesledgtm.com so we can schedule a call.

How the military writes emails: I served in the Navy. And I learned a few tactics that changed how I approach email at work. The secret? Let's call it military precision. In the military, precision isn't just about the drill. It's about how folks communicate: Everything from mission briefings to day-to-day emails. Here's the breakdown: - BLUF: Bottom Line Up Front ↳ Always start with your main point. - Start emails with action-oriented subject lines ↳ e.g., "INFO: Q4 Sales Report" or "REVIEW: Client Proposal Due 12/15" - Use Active voice and BE direct ↳ "The team completed the project" is leagues better than "The project was completed by the team" - Follow the 1 idea per paragraph rule ↳ (It really forces you to be clear and concise) - Use bullet points where possible ↳ The bullet points aren't just a layout choice. They force you to be concise. Here's the result: Faster responses. Quicker decision-making. Clearer communication. This approach wasn't just about being formal. It's about getting things done. Whether it's a military mission or a corporate task... Clear and decisive communication wins the day, every time. Try it and see what difference it makes. What’s your take on effective email communication? Any protocols that give consistent results? ♻ Repost to help folks in your network email with military precision. ➕ Follow Kabir Sehgal for daily tips on growth, productivity, & building your portfolio career.

Not getting responses on your outreach? Your message is probably the problem. I see it all the time—especially in M&A. The emails are too vague, too long, or all about you. (Trust me, I get 10+ of these a day. Most go straight to spam.) If you're serious about building relationships—whether you're sourcing deals, looking for partnerships, or just trying to get a convo started—your message needs to earn the reply. Here’s a simple framework that actually works: ✅ Be specific. Mention something timely or notable about their company. Show you’ve done your homework. Generic = deleted. ✅ Keep it low-pressure. Early M&A conversations shouldn’t feel like a pitch. You’re just opening the door. Frame it as exploratory. ✅ Follow up once. No pestering. Just a short, friendly nudge 3–5 days later. That alone puts you ahead of 90% of people who give up too fast—or go too hard. Don’t overthink it. Focus on clarity, curiosity, and respect for their time. That’s how real deal conversations start. Swipe through for what works, what doesn’t, and a simple template you can steal. #MergersAndAcquisitions #CorpDev #PrivateEquity #DealFlow #BuyerLedMA

It’s SO frustrating when you’ve been emailing a potential client and then… nothing. That’s why you need to know the 13 Keys to emails that get a response ⤵️ I was speaking to one of my clients recently who’d been emailing a prospect for months about a potential project, but they kept going cold. She was starting to wonder if it would ever happen. Listen, I’ve also been in a situation where I send an email and I don’t get a response. And I’ve started to wonder… is it me? Have they changed their mind? Did I say something wrong? But when I think back to when I was working in a role similar to my clients, I remember exactly how it was: 1. Firefighting demands from your boss, team, and colleagues 2. An inbox that feels like it's self-filling 3. Plus, worrying about getting to your kid’s science fair or how full your calendar is. 4. Wishing you didn’t have to make dinner tonight so you could just go home and relax. So, if your clients are also crazy busy – which they ARE – how can you get their attention? When my client changed a few things about HOW she emailed her prospects, she got a much better response. In The Academy we talk about 13 keys to sending emails that get the response you’re looking for. The 3 keys that made the biggest difference to my client were these: 1. Have a single purpose for each email – for example, to get into a conversation or invite to an event. Remember, the purpose of an email is NEVER to sell! 2. Start with a relevance statement. Answer the questions – Why am I reaching out to YOU, and why am I reaching out NOW? This statement sets the context for the email. 3. Don’t put too much “noise” in before the “so what”. Picture an impatient person waiting for you to “get to the point”. It IS frustrating when you put work into nurturing a relationship and the line of communication goes cold. But you’re not powerless. Your job is to make it as easy as possible for your client to read, understand, and respond to your communication. Because that’s the best way to keep the conversation going – and ultimately get a YES. #WomenConsultants #B2BSales #EmailStrategy #ProspectEngagement #BusinessCommunication