Templates

Template: when a prospect says they are not the right person

A reply that says not my department is often a referral waiting to happen. Thank the person, ask who looks after the topic, and then write to that colleague, mentioning who sent you. Below are the question, the message to the referred colleague and a version for when no name is given.

Published by Sellinger AI. Numbers and settings checked on 24 October 2026 against the fact register. Report an error.

The text

Placeholders in square brackets are yours to fill. The wording is ours, not a quote from a customer.

Version 1: ask who handles it

Thanks for letting me know, [first name]. Is there a [role, such as supply base manager] you would recommend I connect with to start that process?

Version 2: to the referred colleague

Hi [first name], [referrer] suggested I get in touch because you look after [topic]. [One sentence on why you are writing]. Is it something you are looking at?

Version 3: no name given

Thanks, [first name]. Which team usually looks after [topic], so I can write to the right place?

Why each line is there

Line by line
Line	Why it is there
Thank them	They helped, even if it is not their area.
Ask for a role, not a favour	Easy to answer with a name.
Mention who sent you	Honest and warmer than a cold message.
Ask for the team if no name	Still narrows the search.

What it measured

Not these exact words, but close. In the Lamothermic campaign, about 23 replies said not my department, and a question in the form of version 1 ("Is there a supply base manager you'd recommend I connect with to start that process?") turned them into 14 referrals, 12 of them to buyers.

When not to use it

When the person also asked you to stop.
When you would mention the referrer without their agreement to be named.

How to use it in Sellinger

In the B2B SDR rule pack, a lead who points to a colleague is flagged for human review, so a referral is not lost. Put the approved wording in a text article in a knowledge base collection and attach it to the persona, so the agent answers from it. If you would rather answer yourself, add a needs attention rule for this kind of reply, and the conversation is flagged for a person.

Common questions

What should I do when a prospect says they are not the right person?

Thank them, ask who handles the topic, and write to that person mentioning who sent you.

Is it all right to mention the referrer?

Yes, if they gave you the name for that purpose. Say it plainly.

Does this work?

In the Lamothermic campaign, about 23 not my department replies became 14 referrals, 12 of them to buyers.

Sources and method

Wording is ours, except the quoted question, which is from the Lamothermic case study, Sellinger production data, read only, snapshot 9 October 2026.