Should I re-contact AWOL customers?

[bigkidjr]

Hi you guys. I've got a question. I've started up a custom digital art business and it's slow to get off the ground, but I *have* had some hits to my website, some serious inquiries, and a couple of orders. The question I have is about the serious inquiries. For example -- someone will complete my online Order and Info Request Form with questions about how much I charge, how to send me their photo, etc. I'll write back, sometimes at length, then they write back with more questions, or perhaps with an attached photo, then I'll write back, and then...... nothing. I don't hear from them again.

I know people get busy in their lives, forgetful, etc. Would it be OK from a business standpoint to send them a quick note if after 1 or 2 weeks I still haven't heard back from them? Something along the lines of, "I hadn't heard back from you so I thought I'd followup to see if you were still interested in having the work done", etc.

A friend of mine says "No", if they never wrote back, that means they're not interested so let it drop. But I'm thinking, they sure sounded interested in my email exchanges with them... Maybe they just got caught up in something else and need a gentle reminder?

What do you all think? I've now had 3 or 4 cases like this, where I'm about to seal the deal, and then all of a sudden the client drops off the face of the earth. My prices are very reasonable, and my emails are always prompt, informative, and courteous.

Any advice would be most appreciated!!

Thanks!

BK

[Ed_L]

I'd say send another e-mail. It's quite possible that someone mistakendly deleted your address. If that's the case, you might have lost a job by not writing back. If you don't get a response after sending that one, I'd leave it at that. People can be extremely hard to figure out, and the more you deal with the public, the more you'll realize that.

Ed