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You can describe payment reminder emails in just one word–tricky.
Business owners must be polite to maintain a good customer relationship but straightforward enough to complete the payments on time.
An irregular payment cycle can affect a company's progress and cash flow. To make your business stay afloat, you have to send friendly reminders for payment to your clients and make sure your dues are paid off.
Well, writing a friendly reminder for payment can be awkward. This article will help you write payment follow-up emails and maintain a positive cash flow.
The first question that occurs in your mind is, what things should you add to your friendly email reminder for payment?
Well, it depends on the type of your business, your relationship with the customer/client, and the type of service you offer or the product you sell.
There are certain things you need to include in your payment reminder emails irrespective of the type of your business, such as:
Some other optional things:
Your client should understand the email by reading the subject line. The ideal length should be around ten words. Try including their first names to personalize and ensure your client opens it.
Keyword-based subject lines work better for friendly reminders of overdue amounts. For example, include 'payment reminder' in the subject line to get a clear idea.
Here are some examples you can use:
You can consider including the invoice number or order number and the payment date to be more specific.
Remember that it's your responsibility to remind the client about the due. Don't make your customers go through the hassle of digging out the invoice, and send a copy of the invoice as an attachment to your friendly email reminder for payment.
You may be frustrated with the long overdue payment. Whatever the reason, you shouldn't sound frustrated while sending a friendly reminder for payment.
Greet your client graciously by their name and add a line or two wishing them well or congratulating them on their achievements, then convey your payment request politely, maintain a friendly tone, and attach the overdue invoice with the mail.
Automation of late payment reminder emails can help your business save time and effort.
Although it is important to sound polite, you should clearly include all the necessary details. Don't sound vague; add a call to action to inform them how to make the due payment.
For example, "You can pay with a Debit/Credit card, cheque, or cash."
If there are any late payment fees or interest provisions, mention that (including the exact numbers).
Pro Hack: Use a payment collections agency to make payments more effortless. Add your bank details or unique transaction ID to make the process easier for your clients.
This is the most vital part of your email body. You should be very specific about reminding your client of the payment date, purchase/service date, and payment details.
Also, avoid using confusing statements. Moreover, if you are sending overdue payment request emails, mention the exact days, weeks, or months in the mail for timely payments.
As the name suggests, friendly reminders for payment should be short and 'friendly.' Before hitting the 'send' button, make sure everything you have said is in a polite tone.
For example, don't say, 'You have to pay by 1st October'; instead, say, 'Your payment is due on 1st October'.
Also, check for grammatical errors and typos in your emails and proofread your copy at least once. The recommended word count for payment reminder emails is 50-100 words.
Imagine receiving a payment reminder email just before bedtime. It doesn't feel nice, right?
Also, it is a standard practice to send emails during business hours to get maximum email open rates. So, send your payment reminder emails during business hours and follow up after a certain period–most likely within 24-48 hours.
Writing individual emails for each of your clients and personalizing them is a tiring and time-consuming process.
Use email automation software like HubSpot, Outreach, GetResponse, etc., to automate your friendly reminder. You can utilize Smartlead.ai for its AI-powered writing assistance for creating personalized email copies and automating follow-ups.
Structuring a friendly email reminder can be tricky sometimes. If it's not written correctly, it can lead to misunderstanding, hampering your brand image.
Just like a cold email, a payment reminder email should consist of a subject line, a cordial greeting, an email body, a proper closure, and a professional signature.
An ideal subject line should not exceed the word limit of 10 words. It should be concise and clear. It is best if you can add the reference number or the order number (if any) in the subject line itself so that it states your message clearly.
If your payment is long overdue, you can add 'URGENT' or 'IMPORTANT' to make sure your client opens the email.
Be it a cold email or a long overdue payment reminder email, starting with a warm greeting is standard practice. Address your client by their first name so that it seems more personal.
Your greeting should not be too formal yet professional. Starting with a 'Hi,' 'Hello,' or 'Hey' can do the trick. On the flip side, using 'To whom it may concern' sounds like a generalized statement, so avoid using it.
Always remember that the 'the shorter, the better' formula is best for business emails. Your goal is to convey the message as concisely as possible. So, try to make your email body short and to the point. 50-100 words are the ideal word count for the email body.
As we've mentioned above, attach the invoice with the email. Lastly, don't forget to add additional info, such as paying methods, due dates, and late fees, if necessary.
Once you have conveyed your concerns, it is essential to end the email with a proper closure. You can thank them for doing business with you or encourage them to associate with your company again.
Your customer needs to know who exactly is asking for monetary transactions. So, once you are done writing the email body, include your name as 'All the best, name,' 'Regards, name,' etc. for clarification.
Enter your company's physical address to make your email look more professional.
Now comes the most critical part–brand optimization. Once you compose your email, optimize it with your brand logo and tagline. It would make your email look professional.
Subject: Urgent: Payment due on {{date}}
Hi {{recipient name}},
We hope this email finds you well and would love to hear about your experience with our product.
We're reaching out because we've noticed you haven't made any payments recently.
Please be sure to reply to this email so we can get in touch with you about your account and transaction options.
Cheers!
{{sender name}}
Subject: Payment Reminder
Hello {{recipient name}},
I hope you are enjoying our services.
I wanted to follow up on the invoice number {I sent you. We would appreciate your prompt consideration. You can pay via credit card or contact us at {contact number} if you have any questions.
Best,
{{sender name}}
Subject: ATTENTION, overdue {{invoice number}} for {{client’s name}}
Hey {{first name}},
I am writing this to remind you about the overdue {{invoice number}}, due on {{due date}.
PFA your unpaid invoice here: {{link}}
We offer you a grace period of one week, after which a late charge of 5% on the outstanding balance will apply.
Kindly let us know when we can expect the transaction or if there's any discrepancy we can resolve.
Thank you,
{{sender name}}
Email automation can do wonders for your reminder email campaigns. Here is a quick overview of how automation can make your job easier:
Reminding a client about the due amount without sounding harsh or a money-grubber is no less than any art.
We hope you have learned how to write and send friendly reminders for payment to your clients. Remember that once you receive the amount, don't forget to send a thank you email.
One tip: Payments from customers can be late sometimes. Consider asking your clients politely for 60 days. Once you cross the threshold of 60-days, you might consider sending a legal notice and hiring a collections agency to collect the outstanding money and keep the cash flow intact.
With that, we'll take our leave.
See you soon, take care!
It is important to keep various methods open for your clients to avoid any delay. Here are some widely accepted methods you can use: PayPal, credit card, debit card, net banking, cryptocurrency, E-wallets, Buy-Now-Pay-later, and electronic bank transfer.
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