10 Tips For Sending Cold Emails

The art of the cold email is a delicate one it’s all about striking the right balance between being engaging and memorable, while not coming off as spammy or too eager. If you want to send your own cold emails, here are 10 tips to help you get started:

How To Cold Email Clients – Best Cold Email Templates

Takeaways
1. Personalize subject lines for better engagement.
2. Research and understand your target audience.
3. Craft a concise and compelling email message.
4. Focus on the recipient’s pain points and needs.
5. Include social proof to build credibility.
6. Provide a clear and actionable call to action.
7. Experiment with different send times and days.
8. Implement follow-up emails strategically.
9. Test and optimize email subject lines and content.
10. Keep your email list updated and relevant.

Table of Contents

1. Treat It Like A Normal Conversation

Treat your cold email like a normal conversation. Don’t write a cold email as if you were writing a formal business letter. You want to be friendly and personable.
Use a friendly tone, polite and respectful language, and use friendly greetings like “Hi [their name],” or “Hello [their name].”
Use a friendly closing such as “Thank you so much for your time,” or “I look forward to hearing from you soon!”
Be sure to include your signature block at the end of your emails so that the reader knows who they are corresponding with; this is also where you could include links back to other relevant content on your website (like blog posts).

If you’re new to the world of cold emailing, our comprehensive guide on Cold Emailing 101 can provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to start your outreach journey successfully. From crafting compelling subject lines to understanding recipient psychology, this guide covers it all.

2. Use Relevant Data

Be sure you’re using relevant data.

This may seem obvious, but too many people overlook it. If you have no idea what the recipient’s interests are and/or don’t know which of their emails will be most likely to resonate with them, it’s unlikely that a cold email will be effective.

If possible, try to use data from previous interactions or content: for example, if you’re trying to reach a journalist at a publication you want coverage in, look up their recent articles or even some of their old ones (if they’ve been writing for the same publication for some time).

You should also take note of how long ago those were and whether anything has changed since then (such as the publication changing editors).

These details can help inform how familiar they might be with your brand’s products/services and also give an indication as to what kind of content might interest them now.

3. Don’t Sell In The First Email

It’s a good idea to avoid selling in your first email. This can be hard, especially if your product or service is something that benefits the person you’re emailing but don’t sell!

Instead, focus on building trust and making it clear that you have their best interests at heart. When you do begin talking about what you offer and why they should buy from you, keep it short and sweet so that it feels like an extension of what came before.

Crafting the perfect cold email is an art, but it’s one that can be mastered. Discover a collection of Cold Email Templates That Convert and learn how to tailor your messages for maximum impact, increasing the likelihood of getting responses from your recipients.

4. Send Multiple Emails, Just Not Too Many

One of the best rules of thumb is to send your emails in batches. It’s generally best not to send all of them at once, because you’ll be coming on too strong and it can be difficult for a person or company to process all of your requests at one time.

Instead, try sending your emails in groups or waves perhaps two weeks apart from each other, spaced out over the course of a month. This approach will help showcase how valuable and persistent you are without being overly pushy or desperate.

If you’re serious about making connections and building relationships through cold emailing, then don’t take any rejection personally!

There’s nothing worse than someone who thinks that being rejected means that they aren’t good enough and need to improve themselves before attempting again.

Always remember: rejection isn’t personal; it’s just business (or maybe even personal…but only if they have something against you).

5. Make It Easy For The Recipient To Say Yes

You should never ask someone for something if you don’t think they’re going to agree. Make sure that you are asking for something that is reasonable and within the scope of what they can give you.

For example, if your email asks for a contact’s time, be clear about how long the meeting will take, who else will be there, and what the expected outcomes are before asking them to schedule it in their calendar.

Remember: nobody wants an extra commitment or task added onto their plate without any context around why and how much time they need to invest in this project/thing/idea/etc., so always make sure that requests are reasonable!

6. No Shortcuts To Personalization

Personalization is a crucial part of any cold email, but it’s not enough to simply mention the person at all. You want to make sure that you’re actually using their name and not some other piece of information.

For example:

If you know someone’s name, use it!
If you don’t know his or her name but know where they work, use that instead!
Even if you don’t know anything about this person other than what they write in their Twitter bio (or anywhere else online), he or she will still appreciate the fact that you took the time to find out something about them.

7. Keep It Simple

When you’re sending out an email, make sure it’s to the point and doesn’t contain any extra information that isn’t relevant.

You don’t want to risk your reader getting lost in the message or struggling to understand what you’re trying to say. In addition, try not to use fancy fonts or colors in your emails as these can make them more difficult for people with visual impairments (like a blind person).

8. Stick To Your Niche

One of the most important things you can do when sending cold emails is to stick to your niche.

If your business is an online shop that sells dog toys, don’t send an email pitch to a project manager at a big-name company asking them if they want to buy some of your latest products. They won’t be interested in what you have to sell and will likely mark you as spam.

If you’ve done your research properly, then the person whose inbox you’re targeting should be someone who has something in common with what it is that you do and who can help promote it (or at least provide insight into how best to market it).

Need ready-to-use templates for your cold email campaigns? Look no further. Our resource featuring 13 Cold Email Templates You Can Use Today offers a variety of templates for different scenarios, helping you save time while ensuring your emails are engaging and effective.

9. Don’t Send Attachments Unless You Really Need To

Email attachments can be risky. Not only does it make your email lengthier, but it also increases the chances that your message will get caught in spam filters. It’s not unheard of for a recipient to accidentally open an attachment and unleash a virus or malware onto their computer.

And although many people would argue that they don’t mind receiving attachments with confidential information (like resumes), you never know who might be reading your emails besides the intended recipient especially if you’re sending mass emails.

In short, attachments can cause problems if not handled carefully, so it’s best to avoid them entirely unless you absolutely have to send one (which you probably won’t).

Take your cold email outreach to the next level with insights from The Ultimate Guide to Cold E-mail Outreach. From building targeted lists to personalizing your messages, this guide provides a comprehensive overview of strategies and techniques to enhance your email outreach efforts.

10. Follow Up On The Email, But Don’t Spam Them

Another way to follow up on your cold email is by sending a handwritten letter, or even recording a video. These will make you stand out from the crowd and give you another opportunity to get your message across.

If you do decide to follow up with something more personal, make sure it’s still professional you don’t want to come off as overly persistent or desperate.

You should also avoid mentioning that it was sent as a follow-up; referencing the original email will only serve to remind them how much time has passed since they last heard from you.

Crafting a successful cold email marketing campaign requires careful planning and execution. Dive into our guide on 17 Tips for Creating a Strategic Cold Email Marketing Campaign to learn about segmentation, follow-up strategies, and other essential tactics that can help you achieve better results from your campaigns.

Conclusion

Sending cold emails can be a great way to get your foot in the door with prospective clients. The key is to remember that these people are busy and don’t want to be bothered, so it’s important that you treat them like friends rather than just another number on a list.

Another thing we’ve learned from our experience is that there isn’t any magic formula for writing an effective email you just have to keep practicing until it feels natural!

FAQs

How can I write cold emails that receive higher response rates?

Crafting cold emails that yield better response rates involves using personalized subject lines, addressing pain points, and offering clear value propositions. Remember to keep the message concise and relevant to the recipient’s needs.

What are some proven strategies for improving cold email effectiveness?

Effective cold emails often include social proof, specific benefits, and a clear call to action. Personalization and segmentation based on recipient characteristics can also significantly enhance the impact of your cold outreach.

Is there a recommended structure for cold emails?

Yes, a concise structure typically includes a compelling subject line, a personalized opening, a brief description of value, social proof or relevant examples, and a clear closing call to action.

How can I avoid common mistakes in cold email campaigns?

To avoid mistakes, steer clear of overly aggressive language, excessive self-promotion, and sending mass, unpersonalized emails. Instead, focus on building a genuine connection and offering value to your recipients.

How do I handle follow-up emails effectively?

Following up is crucial. Send a polite follow-up email if you don’t receive a response after the initial message. You can provide additional information or offer assistance, showing genuine interest in establishing a conversation.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.