How to follow up in Gmail: 3 easy ways to boost replies
Master Gmail follow-ups with three easy methods that increase reply rates. Learn built-in tools, templates and smart hacks to boost your email outreach
EVER SENT AN email, waited… and nothing? Following up is one of the simplest ways to boost email reply rates without changing your message. Especially in sales, partnerships, hiring—pretty much anywhere you’re hoping for a yes (or at least an answer). The good news? Gmail has some built-in tools that make this way easier, even if you’re not a power user.
Why Follow-up Emails Matter
Most people don’t ignore you on purpose. They’re busy. Emails get buried. Or maybe they opened yours, meant to reply, then forgot. A quick follow-up can boost email reply rates by nudging your message back to the top, without being annoying or pushy.
And when done right, it shows persistence and professionalism. According to the 2025 cold email outreach study, you’d be surprised how often the second ping gets the job done.
Common Reasons Replies Don’t Come
It’s not always about your message. Timing plays a huge role—if you send an email during a packed day or right before the weekend, it might get lost in the inbox void.
Another common blocker: the ask isn’t clear. If your message is too vague or doesn’t have a clear next step, people won’t know how to respond. And, of course, sheer volume—some people receive 100+ emails daily. Following up helps you stand out.
3 Simple Methods Anyone Can Use in Gmail
No need for fancy tools or complicated setups. These three tactics are built into Gmail or are easily applied. They’ll help you stay organized and boost email reply rates with minimal effort.
1. Use Gmail’s Built-In Follow-Up Nudges
Sometimes Gmail does the follow-up work for you. Nudges are Gmail’s way of saying, “Hey, don’t forget about this.” They gently surface older conversations you haven’t replied to—or that didn’t get a reply from the other side.
You’ll see nudges right at the top of your inbox. These are emails that Gmail thinks deserve a second look—either because you haven’t replied, or you’re still waiting on someone else to respond.
It’s like a subtle reminder system, built directly into your inbox.
How to Enable or Disable It
To turn nudges on (or off), do this:
- Click the gear icon in Gmail and go to Settings
- Open the General tab
- Scroll to Nudges
- Check or uncheck these two options: “Suggest emails to reply to” and “Suggest emails to follow up on”.
Nudges are great if you’re juggling lots of conversations and don’t want to track each one manually. They’re perfect for:
- Light check-ins
- Internal team convos
- Sales threads that cooled off
Because they’re passive, nudges work well for messages that don’t need aggressive follow-ups—but still matter.
2. Set Manual Follow-Up Reminders with Google Tasks or Labels
Want more control over your follow-ups? Gmail gives you a couple of simple ways to keep track of emails you don’t want to forget, without needing another tool. Whether you’re a list-maker or prefer visual inbox cues, Tasks and Labels have your back.
Google Tasks is built into Gmail’s sidebar, making it easy to turn any email into a to-do item.
- Open the email you want to follow up on
- Click the three-dot menu (⁝) and select “Add to Tasks.”
- A task will appear in the right-hand panel
- Click into it and set a due date—this will serve as your reminder to follow up
Prefer visual reminders in your inbox? Labels are your friend.
- Create a label like “Follow Up Friday” or “Needs Reply”
- When sending or receiving an email, apply the label
- Set a time each week to go through all emails under that label
It’s like making your own mini follow-up inbox. You can also color-code it for improved visibility.
3. Use Email Scheduling & Templates for Follow-Up Series
Following up doesn’t have to mean hovering over your inbox, waiting for the perfect moment to hit send. With Gmail’s scheduling and a few well-timed templates, you can automate your outreach and boost email reply rates with less manual effort.
Gmail has a built-in “Schedule Send” feature that lets you write your follow-up now and send it later—whether that’s two days from now or next Monday morning.
Here’s how:
- Compose your email
- Click the dropdown arrow next to Send
- Choose Schedule Send
- Pick a time or set your own
Create a Follow-Up Template
Templates save time and help maintain a consistent tone. You can create one in Gmail’s Templates feature (under Settings > Advanced) or just save it somewhere for copy-paste.
Example Template:
Hi [Name],
Just checking in on my previous message — I’m happy to resend the details if they’re helpful. Let me know your thoughts when you have a moment!
Best,
[Your Name]
Conclusion
The key is consistency. Following up works best when it’s timely, transparent, and not left to chance. Whether you’re relying on nudges, setting your own reminders, or scheduling messages in advance, the goal is the same: make it easy for people to reply.
Select the method that best fits your workflow, and stick with it. Stick with your system, and you’ll steadily boost email reply rates over time.