Ghosted client
When a client goes quiet after delivery, write from the delivery record and ask for payment or a specific issue instead of restarting the whole project conversation.
Send a short recap that names the delivered work and the payment date you need. If they stay silent, send one final written follow-up and stop casual chasing.
Ghosting often creates pressure to over-explain. Resist that. Your strongest email is usually a short recap: the work was delivered and the invoice is outstanding. Ask for either payment or a confirmed payment date. If the client had a problem with the work, they had a chance to say so. Your message can still leave room for a real issue, but it should not invite a vague reset.
Find the delivery record and any note where the client confirmed the deadline or price. Then write from that record. The tone should be calm because you want the client to answer, but the structure should be firm because silence is already the problem.
Hi [Name], I delivered [work] on [date] and have not heard back on invoice [number]. The outstanding balance is [amount]. Please send payment by [date], or reply today with the confirmed payment date. If there is a specific issue with the delivered files, please name it in your reply so we can keep this clear. [Your name]
Click or tap the template to select all of it.
That final sentence is useful because it prevents a vague "we need to review" from replacing a payment answer. If they have a specific issue, they can say it. If they do not, the payment request stays visible.
Silence is not feedback. Ask for payment or a specific issue in writing.
Hi [Name], I am sending one more check on invoice [number] for [project]. The work was delivered on [date], and the balance of [amount] is still unpaid. Please send payment or confirm the payment date by [specific day]. If I do not hear back, I will close this thread as unresolved on my side and keep the delivery and invoice record together. [Your name]
Click or tap the template to select all of it.
You do not need to sound angry to show that the thread has changed. "Unresolved" is factual. It marks the case as no longer ordinary project admin. It creates a clean point to stop sending soft reminders.
Link to the file handoff and note the date it was sent. Mention any acceptance signal you have, such as "looks good" or "approved." If the client has already used the work publicly, do not make an accusation. Keep your payment ask tied to the delivered work and the invoice.
If you delivered through a shared folder, confirm the link still works before sending the follow-up. Save your own screenshot or export separately so the email can stay concise.
If the client later reappears, stay with the record. Reply with the invoice details and the payment date you need. Do not restart the whole project discussion unless they raise a concrete item that needs a concrete answer.