Module 09 · The investor update~8s dwell · weight 5
Reply-friendly close
Lower the effort required to reply, so the asks above actually turn into replies.
YC's investor update guide notes that a low-friction close is what actually generates the intros and help asked for above.
Include
- A direct, easy-to-answer closing question tied to the asks above
- Thanks that's specific, not generic
Cut
- Open-ended closers like 'let me know your thoughts' with no specific question
- A wall of sign-off text after the real content is done
Red flags a reader notices
- No question at all in the closing, just a sign-off
Pitfalls behind them
- Asking multiple questions at the close, which makes replying feel like work
- Closing with the same paragraph every month regardless of that month's asks
60-second self-test
- · Could someone reply to this close in one sentence from their phone?
- · Does the close map back to the specific ask above?
Template
If you know a [specific person from the ask above], just reply with a name, happy to take it from there. Thanks for reading.
Weak
"Thanks so much for your continued support, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or thoughts you might have."
Strong
"If you know a VP of People at a company like that, just hit reply with a name, we'll take it from there. Thanks for reading this far."
Nimbus Payroll's close asks for exactly one thing, answerable in five words.
Quick quiz
1. What should the closing question do?
- ○ Open up general conversation
- ✓ Map directly to the specific ask made earlier
- ○ Summarize the whole email again
- ○ Invite a phone call
A close tied to the specific ask turns a read email into a reply.
2. Why avoid asking multiple questions in the close?
- ○ It's rude
- ✓ Multiple questions make replying feel like effort, so the reader replies to none
- ○ It's too long visually
- ○ Investors dislike questions
One easy question gets far more replies than several harder ones.