Instead of blaming unreliable prospects, view no-shows as a failure of your pre-meeting process. By implementing a systematic, multi-channel confirmation runway (invites, video, voicemail), you take control and increase the probability of attendance by design, not by luck.
After sending a calendar invite, record and email a brief, personal video expressing excitement for the meeting. This personal touch makes it psychologically harder for the prospect to no-show because they've seen your face and heard your enthusiasm, creating a social obligation to attend.
Generic invites like "Meeting with Jeb" are easily ignored or deleted from a busy calendar. Structure the title to include your name, company, the prospect's name, and the meeting's purpose. This provides immediate context and perceived importance, drastically reducing the chances of a no-show.
Instead of guessing whether a day-of confirmation email helps or hurts, treat it as a variable to test. Send the email to one cohort of prospects and not to another, then track the show rates for each group. Even a small percentage increase can be significant, providing data-driven validation for your process.
Instead of a direct confirmation call that can be easily dismissed, leave an enthusiastic voicemail the afternoon before the meeting, when you know the prospect has likely left. This ensures they receive a positive, pressure-free reminder that reinforces your excitement without giving them an easy opportunity to cancel on the spot.