A 14-Step Cold Email Marketing Strategy That Doubles My Conversion Rate

This is a guest blog post by Kaela Woods. Kaela is the founder of See Jane Sell and has written articles on content marketing, email marketing, and more. She’s extremely passionate about helping women achieve their dreams online, and she’s here to share her expertise with you!

As a young entrepreneur, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to growing your business.

One strategy that I find myself using, ng, again and again, is cold emailing potential clients (and other businesses). With this tactic, you’re reaching out directly to people who might not even know who you are yet.

So how do you make sure your message stands out from all the other emails they receive? I’ve put it together.

This guide is for anyone looking to double their conversion rate with professional-looking cold emails that are easy enough for anyone (even non-marketers) to use. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Boosting Conversions with Email Marketing – YouTube

Key Takeaways
1. Implement a 14-step cold email strategy for better results.
2. Focus on crafting compelling subject lines.
3. Personalize your emails to resonate with recipients.
4. Provide clear value and benefits in your emails.
5. Follow up strategically to nurture leads.
6. Test and optimize your email content for better engagement.
7. Leverage social proof and testimonials to build credibility.
8. Utilize storytelling to make your emails engaging.
9. Segment your email list for more targeted campaigns.
10. Monitor and analyze metrics to refine your strategy.
11. Use concise and compelling calls to action (CTAs).
12. Experiment with different send times for optimal results.
13. Build a strong email reputation to avoid spam filters.
14. Continuously adapt your strategy based on feedback.

Table of Contents

Step 1. Catch Their Eye With Your Subject Line

The first thing you want to do is make sure that the subject line of your email is short and to the point. If it’s too long, it can be difficult for people to read, and if they can’t read it without having to scroll down, they’re more likely not going to open the email at all.

One way that I like using this technique is by asking a question in my subject line (like: “Do You Need A New Biz?” or “Is Your Website Broken?”).

It works because people like answering questions it makes them feel smart and informed when they do so. Plus, who doesn’t love feeling smart? Asking questions also get people curious about what answers await inside of your email!

When you’re coming up with possible ideas for how to write this part of your cold email marketing strategy.

Think about what words would grab their attention instantly so that they’ll be compelled enough by curiosity alone (even before reading anything else inside) that they’ll want nothing more than to open up whatever message awaits!

Crafting effective cold email templates is crucial for successful outreach. Check out our article on using Cold Email Templates That Convert to improve your communication strategy.

Step 2. Create Curiosity

Here’s how you can create curiosity:

Ask an open-ended question. Don’t give them an answer, but rather ask a question that requires more than a yes or no as the response.

Take this example: “What is your biggest challenge right now?” The answer may be something like, “I don’t think we’re doing enough to grow our business.”

Use humor. Humor is one of the best ways to catch someone’s attention and make them want to read more into what you’re saying because it shows that you’re human and not just another robot trying to sell something (which might turn people off).

So if there’s a funny story in the content of the email, share it!

Ask for advice or feedback on an issue related to what they do or need help with in their work life (i.e., “I’ve been working on finding new clients lately but haven’t had much luck what strategies have worked well for you?”)

Step 3. Create A Sense Of Urgency

Although this is a crucial step, it’s also one of the most overlooked. This is because many people automatically think that urgency will make their email sound too pushy or even spammy.

But if you’ve done your research and created a good product or service, then how can it be spam?

The truth is that this step should be used sparingly and only when it makes sense for your business.

For example, I don’t want to send out an urgent email just because I want to get more subscribers on my list because there are no real benefits for me doing so (except maybe increasing my ego).

However, if I’m offering an exclusive discount code for those who sign up before midnight tonight then by all means let me know how much time we have left!

Looking to optimize your cold email outreach efforts? Dive into The Ultimate Guide to Cold E-Mail Outreach to learn about advanced techniques and strategies.

Step 4. Send Emails From A Real Person

One of the biggest mistakes you can make with your cold email campaign is using a generic, impersonal email address like info@ or sales@. These are fine if you’re reaching out to hundreds of people at once and don’t have time to personalize each message.

But if your goal is to get responses and conversions from your prospects, sending emails from an actual person who cares about their interests is essential! You’ll need an actual email address for this.

So ditch any free accounts (such as Gmail or Yahoo) that may be associated with your business name and think about what name you want people to know when they see it in their inbox.

For example, John Smith from Jane’s Shop would be fine; Jane Smith from Jane’s Shop would be better!

Step 5. Use The Name Of The Person You Are Emailing

You can also use the name of the person you are emailing. For example, if you are writing to a person named Susan Jones at Acme Inc., then your subject line should be something like “Susan, I have a great offer for you today!”

You can also mention their company name in your subject line. You can even write something like “Susan, I have an exclusive offer for Acme Inc. employees only!”

The point is to personalize your email as much as possible so it stands out from all of the other emails that these people receive every day and increases your chances of getting clicked on or opened by them.

Step 6. Use The Name Of The Company You’re Emailing

This is another small but important detail. When you are writing a cold email, don’t just say “Dear Sir/Madam.”

Instead, use the name of the company or person you are contacting in your email and subject line. If they are named John Smith, then use that instead of “Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

There is no need to go overboard here. You can simply write something like “Hello Mr./Ms. Smith!” and it will be fine because they know who they’re dealing with now (and even if they don’t recognize it right away, they will soon enough).

But make sure you do use their real name; otherwise, your email could look incredibly impersonal and unprofessional – which could negatively affect your chances for success!

Startups can benefit greatly from a well-executed cold email strategy. Discover actionable tips and insights in our guide on Cold Email Strategy for Startups to boost your business growth.

Step 7. Make Sure Your Email Looks Handwritten

One of the most important parts of building trust within your email is making it look handwritten. The easiest way to do this is by using a font that looks like it was written with a pen or marker, or even something as simple as handwriting the words yourself.

You want your readers to feel like they’re receiving an actual letter from you, not just some computerized text message that someone else typed up and sent out on their behalf.

Step 8. Give Them Something They Want

You’ve got their attention. You’ve hooked them with an offer that they couldn’t refuse.

Now it’s time to seal the deal by giving them something they want, which in this case is almost always an email address so you can continue your conversation with them (and hopefully convert into a customer). Here are a few ideas:

Offer a free ebook or guide related to what they were looking at on the landing page
Offer a discount code for their next purchase
Offer a coupon code for their next purchase (for example, $10 off your first order)
Let them know about any special offers currently running
Have two price points? Why not offer someone who buys now 20% off their second purchase?

Or even let people know if anyone else from their company purchases within 7 days of signing up and they get 50% off! The possibilities are endless!

Step 9. Use A Personal Signature With Your Contact Info And Links To Your Website, Blog, And Social Media Profiles

Add your name, email, website, and social media links to your signature. You can use this as a way to get in touch with people that are interested in what you have to offer without having to create and send another email.

Make sure it’s clear and easy to read: Your contact information should be at the top of the page before the main content so that it’s visible to all recipients who may not click on every link or open every attachment within an email message.

Also make sure that it doesn’t get lost amongst other elements like graphics or text as they go through their emails each day, keeping it simple and consistent with everything else will help ensure readability.

Make sure it’s relevant: It shouldn’t be difficult for people who receive your emails to find out more about you (and vice versa), so make sure any links are appropriate for each recipient based on previous interactions or interest levels expressed by them in previous messages.

New to cold email marketing? Our guide, 17 Tips for Cold Email Guide for Noobs, offers practical advice to help beginners navigate the world of cold emailing effectively.

Step 10. Craft A Personal Message That’s No Longer Than Three Sentences

When you have finished crafting your cold email, it’s time to write a personal message.

I like to think of this as a brief introduction where I let the prospect know how much I appreciate their time and attention, and why they should read my email. A good rule of thumb is that this message should be no longer than three sentences long.

In addition to being short and simple, there are a few other things that make a personal message stand out:

Be professional. Don’t use slang or cutesy language you want to come across as an authority in your industry, not like an extrovert with low self-confidence trying too hard at networking events (which is what we call “slangy/cutesy language”).

Your readers will appreciate your professionalism and respect you more for it because it demonstrates that you take what you do seriously enough not only to put effort into writing well but also into making sure others see how well written everything about your company is from top-to-bottom!

Be focused on one point per sentence for people reading them quickly to know exactly what kind of offer they’re seeing without having to spend too much time scanning through paragraphs looking for something interesting before deciding whether or not they’re interested enough yet!

Step 11. Tell Them How You Can Help Them In One Sentence (The Big Benefit)

The next step is to tell them how you can help them in one sentence.

This is best done when you’ve got a very clear understanding of the benefits of your product/service and how it solves their problem.

What are the main benefits that need to be highlighted? How does it solve their problem for them, or help them achieve their goals?

The benefit statement should be short and simple, with no more than three sentences. You could even write something like: “I help businesses get more traffic by adding backlinks to their website” or “I help businesses improve sales by creating effective marketing campaigns”

Step 12. Tell Them Why You Can Help Them In One Sentence (The Big Proof))

This is the most important part of your email. In this one sentence, you are telling them why you can help them and how.

You want to give a specific example of how you’ve helped other people just like them and show them how much money it made for their business. This is called “proof” because it proves that there are actual results from what you do.

Tell them exactly what they will get and when they will get it (a time frame). Explain how they can contact you or find out more information about getting started right away so that they don’t hesitate at all!

Exploring cold email strategies across different platforms? Learn about a successful approach in our article about Cold Email Strategy on Reddit, and discover how to engage potential leads on this platform.

Step 13. Close With A Call To Action That Sounds Friendly And Directs Them To Your Website Or Blog

Now that you’ve spent all this time building rapport, it’s time to close with a call to action. You want them to take some sort of action that leads them towards your site or blog.

A simple yes or no question is best here, because it’s easy for people to respond to and doesn’t require much thought.

Examples:

• I would love for you to go check out my website and see if there’s anything that resonates with you! Let me know what you think!

• Would you like me to send over any information about [topic]? Maybe even schedule a meeting with me? Just let me know!

Step 14. End By Making It Easy For Them To Respond With A Simple Yes Or No Question (Like “Can I Send You The Link For That?”)

The final step in the email is to end with a simple yes or no question that will help you move forward in the process. For example, “Can I send you the link for that?” Or, “Do you have time for me to share my ideas with your team next week?”

Or even just “Is this something we could potentially work on together moving forward?” This very simple question sets up an easy decision-making process for them:

A yes or no will determine whether they want to engage further in conversation with you (and therefore potentially become a customer) or not.

Conclusion

I hope this post has given you some ideas for your email marketing strategy. If you want to get the most out of your emails, the key is to be personal, direct, and friendly.

People are busy and they don’t want to waste time reading through long messages that have nothing to do with them or their business. By keeping things short and sweet, you’ll be able to catch their attention quickly! Good luck with your next campaign!

FAQs

How can I improve the effectiveness of my cold email templates?

Crafting personalized and compelling content in your cold emails can significantly enhance their effectiveness. Focus on addressing the recipient’s pain points and showcasing the value you can offer.

What are some key elements of a successful B2B cold email?

A successful B2B cold email should have a concise subject line, personalized introduction, clear value proposition, and a strong call to action that encourages the recipient to take the desired next step.

How can I optimize my website to increase conversion rates?

Optimizing your website for conversion involves improving user experience, creating clear and compelling CTAs, simplifying the checkout process, and ensuring your content is relevant to your target audience.

What role does A/B testing play in conversion rate optimization?

A/B testing allows you to compare different versions of a webpage, email, or other content to determine which performs better in terms of conversion rates. It helps identify the most effective elements and strategies for engaging your audience.

How do I balance email personalization and scalability?

Achieving a balance between personalization and scalability involves segmenting your audience, using dynamic content to tailor messages, and utilizing automation tools to deliver relevant content based on user behavior and preferences.

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.