Quick answer: "Not now" usually means the timing or priority is wrong, not that the answer is no. Thank them, ask permission to check back, and note a date. "Send me info" is often a polite way to end a chat or a genuine request to review something. Send one short, relevant item and ask one question that moves things forward. In both cases, keep it brief and never argue.
Why are these two replies so common?
Both are low-effort ways for a busy person to respond without committing. Neither is a rejection, and neither is a yes. The most useful way to treat them is as small requests: "not now" asks you to wait, and "send me info" asks you to make it easy for them to decide.
The wrong responses are the two extremes. Pushing back ("But it only takes 15 minutes!") makes you look pushy. Disappearing after sending a long PDF makes your effort invisible. A short, useful answer sits between them.
How should you read each reply?
| Reply | What it often means | What to aim for |
|---|---|---|
| "Not now" | Wrong timing, or a polite no | Permission to follow up later, plus one reason to remember you |
| "Not now, maybe next quarter" | A real, soft timeline | A dated reminder and a short check-in then |
| "Send me info" | Mild curiosity, or a way to end the chat | A short, specific item and one question |
| "Send me info" after a conversation | A genuine request to share internally | A forwardable summary and an offer to answer questions |
| "Not interested" | A clear no | Thank them and stop |
You cannot always tell which meaning you have. The goal is a reply that works for both.
How do you answer "not now"?
Three steps: acknowledge, ask permission, and make a note.
Made-up example:
"Understood, Sam, and thanks for telling me. Would it be all right if I checked back in a couple of months? If a different time suits you better, say so and I will mark it."
Why it works: it respects the answer, it asks a question that is easy to say yes to, and it gives them control.
Then do what you said. Put a reminder in your calendar and write a short, fresh message when the date comes. Do not send monthly nudges in between. For more on timing, see how to follow up with prospects who went quiet.
If they gave a reason ("we are in the middle of a hiring round"), refer to it when you come back: "Last time you mentioned hiring. How did that go?" It shows you listened.
How do you answer "send me info"?
First, decide whether to send anything. If the person has shown no interest and you are about to send a deck to a stranger, a short question may do more good than an attachment.
If you do send something, follow these rules:
- Send one thing, not five. A short summary or one relevant example beats a folder.
- Make it specific to them. A single line connecting it to their situation turns generic material into a real answer.
- Keep the message itself short. Two or three sentences.
- Ask one question. "Does the second point match what you are seeing?" gives them an easy way to respond.
- Do not hide the key point in an attachment. State it in the message so a skim is enough.
Made-up example:
"Happy to, Priya. Here is a one-paragraph summary of how teams like yours handle follow-ups: [short summary]. One question so I send the right thing: is the bigger issue getting replies in the first place, or handling them once they arrive?"
If the answer to that question is a reply, you now have a real conversation, and you can move toward a call after a few light questions. See how to qualify a prospect before a sales call.
What is the follow-up after you send info?
Wait a few days, then send one short message that references what you sent:
"Hi Priya, did the summary answer what you were wondering? If something was missing, tell me and I will fill it in."
If there is still no reply, apply your usual stopping rule rather than inventing a new one. A starting point is in how many follow-ups are enough.
What should you not do?
- Do not argue with "not now". You cannot out-talk a priority.
- Do not send a long brochure to someone who barely replied. It is easy to ignore and signals that you did not read their message.
- Do not fake urgency or discounts. Invented deadlines damage trust.
- Do not keep following up on "not interested". Thank them and mark the contact closed.
- Do not treat every "send me info" as a lead. It can be a polite exit, and that is fine.
Limits and when this does not apply
These replies are only part of the picture. If someone replies "stop messaging me", you stop, full stop, and you record it so no later step contacts them. See cold outreach compliance basics. And if you handle a large number of replies, a person should still read anything where the meaning is unclear, because automated sorting can misread tone.
Frequently asked questions
Is "not now" ever worth chasing?
Only on the schedule you agreed. If they allowed a check-in, honor the date. If you did not get permission, one polite follow-up is plenty.
Should I always send the info they ask for?
Usually, yes, as long as it is short and relevant. If you suspect it is a polite brush-off, sending one item plus a question costs little and tells you quickly.
How soon should I answer these replies?
The same working day if you can. A fast, short answer reads as attentive; a slow, long one reads as a form letter. See how to book more meetings from LinkedIn replies.
Can software answer these for me?
It can sort them and draft an answer, which helps at volume. For anything that is not clear-cut, review the draft before it goes out.
Where FollowArc fits
FollowArc puts every reply in one ranked inbox, with a drafted answer waiting so a "not now" or "send me info" is not forgotten. Email replies are never sent automatically, and LinkedIn actions need your approval by default. See the demo or the 7-day free trial.