Email marketing is still a great way to get in front of prospective clients. It’s not as easy as it used to be, however. When I was first getting started with my business, I sent out email blasts every week.
The response rate was abysmal! So much so that it didn’t warrant the time and effort required to send out those emails on a regular basis.
Nowadays, email marketing is more about sending targeted messages to people who have expressed interest in your services before they have visited your site or downloaded an eBook or whitepaper from you before.
That said, there are still plenty of people out there who haven’t made contact yet but would like some information about what you do and how you can help them with their specific needs or desires. These cold emails can be just as effective if they’re written well enough…
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Crafting personalized subject lines is crucial for grabbing recipients’ attention. |
| 2. Clearly communicate the value proposition and benefits of your offer within the email body. |
| 3. Use a concise and engaging writing style to maintain the recipient’s interest. |
| 4. Include a specific call to action that guides the recipient on the desired next steps. |
| 5. Test and iterate on your cold email copy to optimize for better conversion rates. |
1. Use Action Words And Compelling Visuals
You want to engage your audience with your copy by using action words and compelling visuals. Action words get the reader to take action, which means they’re more likely to buy from you.
Meanwhile, compelling visuals help them understand what you are saying and sell your product or service.
In order to get this process started, make sure that your email signature is filled up with text links (for example: [link text](https://exampleurl) ) instead of just an image link.
You can also use CTA buttons throughout the email so that readers know exactly how they can take action at any given point in time.
When diving into the world of cold email, a solid foundation is crucial. Our Simple Guide to Cold Emailing walks you through the essentials, helping you build effective communication strategies.
2. Get To The Point Quickly
It’s very tempting to write a long-winded email, especially if you have something important to say. But remember: the people on your list are busy, and if your emails are longer than about three paragraphs, they might not read it.
It’s better to keep it short and sweet with an attention-grabbing subject line and lead in paragraph (see below).
If there is one thing I learned from being an entrepreneur for several years, it’s that people don’t like reading long emails especially cold ones.
When you’re writing a cold email or trying to convince someone else to buy into whatever product or service you’re selling, make sure what you write is easy for readers to digest quickly.
The trick here is keeping things short but impactful; leave out unnecessary details (like how many years of experience your company has) and get right into the meat of what makes them relevant (such as rates).
The more concisely written an email is — especially when it comes from someone they don’t know — the more likely they will be open-minded toward reading further into its contents.
In addition, sending something short yet meaningful gives off an impression of confidence in yourself as well as confidence in whatever product/service/idea that needs promoting at hand.”
3. Constantly Test Your Copy
If you’re going to write cold emails, it’s important to constantly test your copy. You want to make sure that it’s converting the way you want it to convert, and that means testing on a lot of different people.
You should test your copy on different people because not everyone will respond in the same way. Some people have been burned by cold emails before, while others are more open-minded about them.
Some people might be more likely to engage with an informal tone than others; some might not like getting emails at 3 am when they’re asleep (or vice versa).
You should also test your copy on different devices and locations so that you know whether or not your subject lines perform better as text messages or emails; if one is significantly better than another at reaching its target audience (i.e., converting).
Then you’ll want to use that device/location more often in the future! If no one clicks through from one subject line, consider changing up what it says before sending another message out there – maybe try “Hey [name]! Just wanted to be let know about our new [product]” instead?
This goes back into thinking about what kind of person would benefit most from reading this email.
If they’re busy during work hours but always checking their phone during breaks then perhaps sending text messages will get results faster than emailing them directly from home every day!”
New to cold emailing? Get started with our Cold Emailing 101: A Beginner’s Guide. Explore fundamental principles and tactics for crafting compelling emails that get noticed.
4. Make Sure Your Copy Gets In Front Of The Right People
“Getting your email in front of the right people” means knowing who your customer is and how to reach them.
Mailchimp has several tools that can help you do this, from a robust segmentation function that lets you target specific customers with their permission, to polls and surveys that let you find out what it is they’re looking for.
If you’ve ever had a hard time writing copy for your emails, testing can be one way to overcome those difficulties. You can test different subject lines and calls-to-action (CTAs) on your emails to see which ones are most likely to get clicked on by recipients.
If there’s something about your copy that doesn’t work well at all, try changing some words around until it does!
5. Use Subheadlines To Grab The Reader’s Attention
Use subheadlines to grab the reader’s attention. Subheadlines are a great way to break up your copy and make it easier to read. They’re also an important element in grabbing your prospect’s attention and prompting them to continue reading.
Make them short, but not too short avoid “fluff” words like “absolutely”, “incredible”, or “amazing”. Instead, use action verbs such as “grows”, “doubles”, and “increases by 300%.”
If possible, make sure that you can answer the question: what does this headline mean for my business? You should also use numbers when possible (especially if those numbers speak to how much money or time something saves).
Elevate your cold email campaigns with expert advice. Our article on 14 Tips for Your Next Cold Email Campaign offers valuable insights to boost engagement and achieve better results.
6. Spell Out Your Value Clearly
You need to spell out your value. You should be able to explain what you can do for the reader in just a few sentences. If you can’t, then you haven’t done enough work on the backend of your business.
It’s important to avoid making assumptions about who your audience is and how they might respond to your product or service if you haven’t asked them directly.
If you have done that research, then put it into practice by being very clear in explaining exactly how they will benefit from whatever it is that you’re selling (or offering).
7. Tell A Story With Your Email Subject Line
It’s the first thing people see and it should tell them what they’re getting into. You can use a number, date, or question to make it interesting; something surprising that will pique their interest;
Or a call to action (like “Click Here” or “Buy Now”) if you want them to purchase immediately using the link in the email.
Your headline should be relevant to your audience and specific about what you want them to do next for instance if you’re writing about yoga mats: “Yoga Mat Reviews: 5 Things You Should Know Before Buying One.”
If you’re selling a financial product like life insurance, try using something like, “How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?”
8. Keep Things Short And Sweet
Keep It Short
If you have more than a couple of paragraphs to say, your copy is probably too long. Readers won’t read more than two or three lines without deciding whether to keep reading.
If they don’t find what you’re saying compelling, they’ll skip over the rest of your email (or worse yet, choose not to open it at all).
Make sure each paragraph has just one idea in it and then move on. If there’s no natural break between paragraphs, make one any way you can use an ellipsis or a period instead of a new sentence if necessary.
You will also want to avoid being overly wordy because that can be off-putting too!
Crafting impactful cold email templates is an art. Discover the power of effective templates in our guide: Cold Email Templates That Convert. Learn how to create emails that resonate with your recipients.
9. Look For Opportunities To Use Free Tools Like Lead Magnets, Lists, And Social Media Sharing Buttons
Lead magnets are gifts that you give to people who opt-in to your email list. For example, if you’re selling a product or service that helps people optimize their website, you might provide them with an ebook on the topic of “Website Optimization”.
That way they can use it right away even if they aren’t ready yet to purchase your product or service!
Lists are a way of organizing your email contacts so that information can be shared easily and efficiently between members on the list (or with third-party vendors).
You can also use social media buttons in place of links which may prevent users from unsubscribing because they don’t want the post showing up in their timeline or other privacy settings issues that may come up otherwise if using traditional links instead!
10. Sell An “Add-On” Or An “Extra” Within Your Offer
Think about the products you buy. Do you ever purchase something because it’s a bargain, or because it comes with something extra? We’ve all done it, and this is called an “add-on.” An add-on can be anything from a bottle of wine to an extra pair of shoes in your shoe box.
It’s something that complements your original purchase but isn’t as important to you as the main item itself.
Add-ons are great for cold email copywriting because they allow you to increase your profit margins and offer more value to potential customers at once. If someone is interested in purchasing your product or service.
But needs help getting there (i.e., they need some assistance with installing the software or figuring out how their new device works), selling them an add-on could be what tips them over into actually making a purchase decision right now!
11. Compliment People With TLC, Not Sales Advice Or Demands For Immediate Action
One of the most effective ways to win someone over is to offer sincere compliments. Don’t just tell them they are doing a good job say what you like about their work.
Be specific: Avoid generalizing and use phrases like “I love how you….” Then share examples of why you enjoy it so much. Your compliment mustn’t be an obvious sales pitch or demand for immediate action on the part of your recipient (e.g., “I’d love to get started right away!”).
While this might seem counterintuitive at first glance, it works well because it offers value without being pushy or spammy!
12. Follow Up Without Being Pushy Or Spammy
Don’t be pushy: This one’s pretty basic. You should never, under any circumstances, email a prospect more than once in one day or follow up with the same person too soon after they’ve ignored you (we’ll talk more about that later).
If they don’t respond within 24 hours of your first email, wait at least 48 hours before reaching out again. And even then, only if it’s necessary and you’ve done everything else right to this point.
Don’t be spammy: Your prospects will feel like they’re being harassed if they get over three emails from you in a single day asking them questions or making requests without any warning beforehand.
It also makes them think less of the company that hired you a big mistake on their part!
So make sure everyone knows what message they’re sending off when hiring someone new by keeping things professional from start to finish.
Instead of showing up unannounced asking personal questions about their kids’ names or pet peeves about coworkers who aren’t even present at home anymore…if those topics even exist at all!
Looking for practical examples of cold email templates? Explore our collection of 13 Cold Email Templates You Can Use Today and find inspiration for crafting persuasive messages that drive results.
Conclusion
Remember that these tips should be used in conjunction with good old-fashioned research. The best way to ensure that you’re writing emails that will get opened is to test, test, and then test again.
You can do this by sending out different versions of your email campaigns to small groups of people and monitoring the results.
Not only will this help you identify what types of content resonate with your audience (and which don’t), but it also allows them to engage with what they see or read without being inundated with too many messages at once!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources that delve deeper into the world of cold email copywriting:
PeerToPeer Marketing: Cold Email Copywriting Learn advanced techniques for crafting compelling cold emails that resonate with your target audience.
Daniel Doan: Cold Emails Explore practical tips and strategies for writing effective cold emails that grab attention and generate responses.
QuickMail.io: Cold Email Copywriting Discover expert insights on how to optimize your cold email copy for maximum impact and engagement.
FAQs
What are the key components of a successful cold email?
A successful cold email typically includes a personalized introduction, a clear value proposition, a specific call to action, and a concise yet engaging writing style.
How can I improve my cold email open rates?
To improve open rates, focus on crafting compelling subject lines that pique curiosity and address the recipient’s pain points or interests.
What’s the importance of personalization in cold email copywriting?
Personalization helps build a connection with the recipient and demonstrates that the email is tailored to their needs, increasing the likelihood of engagement.
Are there any common mistakes to avoid in cold email copywriting?
Yes, avoid sending generic mass emails, using overly formal language, and neglecting to research your recipient’s background and preferences.
How do I maintain a balance between being persuasive and not sounding too pushy in cold emails?
Aim to showcase the value your offering provides while respecting the recipient’s time and preferences. Be transparent about your intentions and focus on building a relationship rather than pressuring for an immediate response.
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.