The follow-up cadence that adds 40% to reply rate

The follow-up cadence that adds 40% to reply rate
A single well-timed follow-up lifts total reply rate from a median 9% to 13% — a 44% relative gain, n=290 sequences. A second follow-up adds almost nothing and starts annoying people.

The cadence:
— Email 1: the pitch, Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10am recipient time
— Wait: 3 full business days, no sooner
— Email 2: 2-line bump, reply in same thread, restate the single ask
— Stop: no third email to non-responders

Reply distribution: 61% of replies hit on email 1, 34% on the follow-up, 5% on anything later — which is why the third email isn't worth the sender-reputation cost.

Sample: 290 sequences, 2023-2024. Timing is for B2B inboxes.
Send exactly one follow-up at day 3, then stop; the third email costs more reputation than it earns links.