What Post-Date Text Timing Reminds Us About First Meeting Follow-Ups

So there you have it. Science has settled it. When it comes to looking for love, playing it either too keen or too cool turns out counter-productive.

I'm surprised reporters on this study didn't jump to the label, Goldilocks.

For when given hypothetical scenarios following a 'nice Italian restaurant' first dinner-date, of being texted straight after, next morning, or two days later, the middle ground won through as option most likely to lead to a second date.

Who really knows. Stunning insight revealed, or prone to respondents saying one thing but would actually do another?

Early in my cubrep days I got into the habit of writing a sales letter after a prospect meeting as soon as possible. Especially that vital first one.

A few years in, and one of the future superstars I helped stated their key realisation on that front. To not do immediately means the sale goes nowhere.

And this wasn't a cursory email. Some mere holding pattern placeholder. But the actual in-depth, thought-through assessment of what went before, and ought come after.

In those days I knew where the last post nearby went from. Would arrive back from a call hours away, and race to write, print and send. In those crazy days - even with faxing available - the physical post would arrive very next morning and shine a light.

This was aided by my embrace of process. I had developed and continued to refine a repeatable sales program. Knowing what template of letter worked. And which key intel to pop into it both unique to the prospect and my proposal.

Snail-mail is now 'e'. Yet the same discipline must course through. In solution selling you still must convey the depth of understanding of potential client situation married with outline shape of where you alone can move it towards their desired place.

Scheduled-send is our friend. You can flesh it out at the end of the meeting's day. Primed to land 0830. Also allowing crucial edit should your subconscious deliver some wow addition overnight.

So experience suggests there is indeed parallel between love and sales. Why send a quick one-liner in the glowing penumbra of your finished first call? Why would you ever leave it a couple of days to bring closure to it? Have outline of what you'd send prepped, tailor it before stumps, but still land it on their desk as morning breaks.