A writer friend and I
hadn’t communicated
for a couple years.
She had to ask another friend
for my email.
That was how long it had been.
Then she contacted me,
asking for help
promoting her new book.
There was no “How have you been?”
or
“What have you been doing?”
or
“I’ve missed talking with you.”
It was direct to the ask.
If she had done this
a couple years ago,
that would have been okay.
I would have been a warm lead.
But I was now a cold lead
and I said no without hesitation.
If it has been
more than a year
since we’ve interacted
with a prospect or former customer,
that first renewed contact
is a cold call.
The relationship should
warm up quicker
than a brand new contact
but we still have
to do that intro work.
Treat it like a cold call.