A typical Sunday. I opened my LinkedIn app late at night because I was outside the whole day.
I saw a bunch of usual messages but there was a big red bubble highlighting 6 unread messages from a single person 🔴
1:28 PM: 3 messages
1:31 PM: 1 message
9:54 PM: 2 messages
Sir?? You didn’t reply
?
They were all 1-line short messages. Mostly followed by a question mark in the last message.
Honestly, the series of messages was a turn-off and I would rather ignore such messages 🫤
But I politely responded explaining the reason. I just felt she was in real need and probably lacked patience due to that 😅
While building side projects, you have to reach out to people. You have to ask for help, !
But before judging anyone or labeling them as rude for not responding back, try to get into their shoes 👢
Here are 10 genuine reasons why people might not be replying you –
➡️ Too busy:
We’re all juggling a dozen tasks at once. Sometimes, your message just lands in someone’s inbox at the wrong moment, and they haven’t had the chance to respond yet.
Imagine getting a message while you are in the middle of an urgent assignment that needs to be completed as soon as possible. Will you leave it and reply to that message?
➡️ Too much distraction:
Ever been scrolling through your phone, got interrupted, and completely forgot what you were doing? It happens to the best of us. Your message might have been seen but accidentally brushed aside in the distractions.
Imagine scrolling an Instagram Reel and suddenly a delivery person knocks on your door. You get the parcel and come back to your phone. Will you remember which Reel you watched before taking the delivery?
➡️ Asking for too much:
If your request requires a major time commitment or a truckload of resources from the other person, they might be hesitant to dive in right away.
Questions like – can you go through my 4000 word blog and tell me if my grammar is correct?
➡️ Vague and extremely broad questions:
Those vague, open-ended questions are tough to tackle. Be specific!
Questions like – can you guide me about digital marketing?
No. Because it’s way too vast to explain over a message and the internet is full of tutorials.
➡️ Irrelevant questions:
If your message isn’t relevant to the recipient’s interests or expertise, they might not see the point in responding. Tailor your communication to their interests.
Questions like – can you guide me on how I can crack UPSC?
No. I have never been into it.
➡️ Inactivity issues:
Are you messaging where the person is really active?
For example, if you DM me over Reddit, I might see your message months later. Because I am simply not active over there. It is true for every person.
Or sometimes, your message gets lost in the filters or spam folders. Always good to double-check and maybe try alternative channels.
For instance, Instagram Message has a filter that doesn’t allow unknown people to directly DM anyone. It’s called “Message Requests”. There’s no way that the recipient will know that you messaged them.
➡️ Mismatched vibes:
Tone and style matter. If your message comes off too aggressive or too casual, it might rub the recipient the wrong way.
Some people make their questions sound like everyone is entitled to reply and help them out.
Nope. People reply only because they want to help. Doesn’t make anyone entitled.
➡️ Bad timing:
Weekends and busy office hours aren’t the best times to expect quick responses. Consider timing your messages better.
You might have noticed that I only reply to your emails at around 9 AM – 10 AM. Nothing throughout the day.
➡️ Relationship status:
If you don’t have a solid rapport with the person you’re messaging, they might not feel inclined to reply.
We all tend to prioritize replies based on our relations. Message from crush? Extreme high priority. Message from a distant classmate who just remembers you for some work? Low priority.
Common behavior!
➡️ Drowning in requests:
Your message might just be one of the hundred others they receive daily. Stand out from the crowd!
There’s a reason why celebrities and influencers never reply to you. Because you are one of the millions for them 🙂
✍ TODAY’S ACTION ITEM
While cold outreaching or even sending a message to someone known –
✅ Keep it short and sweet: No one likes reading essays in their inbox. Get to the point quickly.
✅ Give context: Explain why your message matters to them. Make it personal.
✅ Respect their time: Acknowledge that they’re busy and show gratitude for any help they can offer.
✅ Follow up nicely: If you don’t hear back, a friendly nudge can sometimes do the trick.
Do you already have a skill that you’re ready to monetize but unable to get clients or customers for it?
You need a framework that will help you grow.
(You can even make me do it for you – I am happy to do it)
Send me framework
✔ WHAT I DID THIS WEEK
First up, my GF’s roommates implemented an epic surprise birthday celebration for her at a distant location. And I was involved too! It’s incredible how people can come up with such creative ideas to make someone’s special day even more memorable 🎂🚗
Then, I took a trip to Bounce, India’s largest trampoline park. Picture this: a big hall of trampolines. I bounced around like there was no tomorrow, but let me tell you, my legs were feeling it for the next 2 days! Lol! 🦘
On the entertainment front, I watched “Article 370,” a gripping political thriller. I couldn’t help but wish I’d paid more attention during my civics classes back in school. Who knew politics could be this thrilling? 🚨
Since summer’s here, I started swimming again. Nothing beats the feeling of diving into a cool pool on hot days! 🏊
Work-wise, it’s been all about AI research lately.
I’ve got this sneaking suspicion that AI has filled up a full-time role in my team! 😌
Okay, maybe not, but seriously, the advancements in AI are mind-blowing. It’s making me rethink the whole man vs AI debate.
Rest, I published 2 videos and a social post about office culture. Let me know if you want to take a look.
Phew!
🌐 AROUND THE WEB
Check this website Don’t Ask to Ask (dontasktoask .com)
It’s a beautiful explanation of how you should be asking questions while asking for something.
Totally relevant to today’s topic of discussion we had.