What Kind of Natural Follow-Up Message After Gifting Encourages Posts?

What's worth sending after shipping is not a message asking for a post, but one asking about the recipient's impressions. A considerate phrase like "Did it arrive safely?" or "How are you finding it?" tends to lead, as a result, to a more natural post. Maintaining a distance that won't be perceived as pressure is the practical standard here.

Why Do Words That Ask About Impressions Lead More Easily to Posts?

The phrase "Please post about it" makes the recipient conscious of an obligation, which can actually make them more guarded. On the other hand, a phrase asking about impressions, like "How are you finding it?", is more likely to be received as a casual exchange that doesn't presuppose a post, leaving room for the recipient to want to share their thoughts on their own. We believe that a natural post is not something produced by our asking for it, but something that arises as a result of the recipient wanting to talk about it.

When Is the Right Time to Reach Out After Shipping?

Send a single considerate message around the time the product is expected to arrive. If you rush to ask for impressions right after delivery, even a simple confirmation that the item arrived can come across as pressure. For products that take some time to actually try out, time your message to account for that period.

What Words Should You Choose?

Choose words that show interest in the recipient's experience, such as "Did it arrive safely?" or "How are you finding it?" Avoid mentioning whether or when they should post, and keep the message strictly within the bounds of genuine consideration. Even when a reply comes back, respond to the content of their impressions itself rather than encouraging them to post.

What If There's No Reply?

Even if there's no reply, refrain from reaching out again. One considerate message is enough, and beyond that, the decision is left to the recipient. Sending repeated messages out of excessive concern over whether they will post can actually undermine the appropriate distance.

Scope of This Article

This article covers the content and timing of the first follow-up message sent after shipping a gifted product. For how to handle cases where no post is made, see Is It Okay to Send a Reminder When a Post Doesn't Happen in Gifting with No Posting Obligation?. For actual measured posting rates in gifting, see What Percentage of Gifting Recipients Actually Post, When There's No Posting Obligation?.

Conclusion

The message you send after shipping should be words that show interest in the recipient's experience, not words that ask for a post. That sense of distance is what ultimately leads to a natural post.