Emails get lost in busy inboxes. It happens. Your contact might appreciate a reminder that there’s still an open email chain needing attention.

Example: Did this thread get buried? I wanted to make sure things were still in progress. Let me know if you...

Even when you’re ultimately trying to get something, it can be helpful to give something useful as a lead-in.

Example: Are you still looking for solutions to convert [company] website visitors to subscribers? I read a ...

There’s no better way to network than going to events, so why not invite your most valuable contacts to join you?

Example: I was making plans to attend the Great Big Event the weekend of July 7th and it occurred to me you might be interested in going. If you decide to r...

Use the request for a status update as a call-to-action, and make it time-sensitive so you’re more likely to get a response.

Example: I’d love to hear how things are going with the Great Big Infographic design brief. Could you give me a quick status upd...

It never hurts to mention the connections you and your contact have in common as long as they’re relevant to the ongoing conversation.

Example: I had lunch with Kylie Larson yesterday and your name came up. (All good things!) She said your team is still looking for the ...

If you’re concerned that a task may have fallen through the cracks, start with a little context. It can be helpful to explain why the task is important to you, too.

Example:

Last Friday, we talked about growth strategies over lunch, and you shared some thoughts. Y...