We Need To Break Up

In partnership with

Most entrepreneurs spend a good chunk of their time much time chasing leads. Endlessly following up, and hoping for a response.

But… what if pulling the plug actually made people more interested?

What if the very act of giving up sent your lead into a full-blown FOMO(Fear of missing out) spiral?

This is especially true for cold and lukewarm subscribers.

You know the ones who:
- sign up but then ghost you,
- open but never reply,
- or hit you with the classic “I’ll think about it.” 

Instead of desperately clinging to a lead that’s not giving you anything back, it’s time to flip the script.

Enter: the Breakup Email— a cheeky, no-nonsense way to make them realize what they’re about to lose.

Today, we’re diving into this counterintuitive, yet effective way to reignite cold leads, and get them to act . Let’s go.

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Why Walking Away is a Power Move

Most marketers believe that persistence is key. More follow-ups, more touchpoints, more “just checking in” emails. This is logical right? And to an extend its true

HOWEVER

Here’s another truth:
For a good portion of your subscribers the more you chase, the more they ignore you.

Think about it: When was the last time you were excited to receive a “just following up” email? Yeah, never.

People don’t respond because:

❌ They’re busy.
❌ They’re unsure.
❌ They’re procrastinating…

…because they know you’ll just email again.

So what happens when you suddenly stop chasing and give them an ultimatum?

They panic. They rethink. They suddenly want to know if they made a mistake.

And that’s where the Breakup Email works its magic.

The Breakup Email: How to Turn “No Response” into a Deal

A breakup email is a final message where you walk away with confidence. It plays on loss aversion, people hate losing something more than they love gaining it.

Here’s the basic version:

Subject: Should I close your file?

Hey

I haven’t heard from you, so I’m assuming this isn’t a priority right now. No worries—I’ll close your file for now. If you ever want to revisit this, you know where to find me.

All the best, [Your Name] [Your Company]

No begging. No discounts. Just chill, detached confidence. And that’s what sparks urgency and gets people to reply.

Why It Works: The Psychology of the Breakup Email

The Breakup Email taps into two powerful psychological triggers:

🔥 Loss Aversion – Humans hate losing more than they love winning. The second they realize you’re about to disappear, they'll reconsider their decision.

🔄 Reverse Psychology – When someone takes an offer away, it suddenly becomes way more appealing. Leads who ignored you now feel a subtle but powerful sense of urgency.

This is why people rush to buy limited edition sneakers, and why they suddenly want their ex back when they move on. When you stop needing them, they start needing you.

And just like that, you’ll get replies like: 💬 “Hey, sorry, I got busy. Let’s chat next week.” 💬 “Actually, I’m still interested—can you remind me about the offer?”

Breakup Email Variations That Pack a Punch

🔹 The Direct Close (for no-BS, straight-talking leads)

🔹 The Casual “Just Checking” (for softer, more relationship-driven follow-ups)

🔹 The Playful One (for brands with personality 😏)

Each of these variations taps into FOMO (fear of missing out), without being pushy.

How to Use This Strategy Today

✅ Find your cold leads – Dig into your CRM and identify leads who haven’t responded in 30+ days.
✅ Choose your breakup style – Direct, casual, or playful—based on your audience.
✅ Hit send and watch what happens – Expect 30-40% more responses than a traditional follow-up.
✅ Re-engage and close deals – Many leads just needed that final push.

Most marketers think more follow-ups = more conversions. But the truth is, less is sometimes more. The moment you stop chasing, you become desirable again.

So try it.

Send that breakup email and watch what happens.

Cheers
The InBoXer Team