Remember when a simple phone call used to get a check mailed out the next day?

After a client in Tucson ignored four emails about a $1,200 invoice, I finally sent a text saying 'Hey, just checking in, is everything okay with the final files I sent over?' and got an apology and a payment link within an hour, which made me think maybe they felt less attacked than by a direct 'pay me' message.

4 comments

4 Comments

lucashenderson1mo ago

Funny how that works, right? claire_ross61 brings up a good point about people just being busy, but I think theres a limit to that. That "soft check-in" you mentioned works because it makes them feel like youre on their side, not chasing them for cash. But @craig.piper if the check was actually supposed to go out the next day and they ghosted you for a week, that soft text might let them off the hook too easy. I had one client who loved the gentle nudge so much they kept using it as a signal to delay payment for another week. Sometimes you need to mix it up. Hit them with the friendly check-in first, then a direct reminder a few days later.

craig.piper3mo ago

Yeah the "soft check-in" idea felt weird to me at first, but @the_amy is right, it just works better.

the_amy3mo ago

Try the soft check-in text first. Works way better than a payment demand. Gets them to reply without feeling cornered.

claire_ross613mo ago

Absolutely, that soft check-in is key. It keeps the door open for a real conversation instead of putting up a wall. People often just need a gentle nudge because they're busy or forgot, not because they're trying to avoid paying. Starting with a demand puts them on the defensive right away, and then you're stuck. A friendly reminder shows you see them as a person, not just an invoice. That approach usually gets a much faster and more positive response.