Cold Email Strategy – What Do I Send? How Do I Make Them Care?

It’s not easy to get someone’s attention when you’re reaching out to them for the first time. You know this. 

But maybe it’s because you’ve never been on the receiving end of an email like mine that you don’t realize how hard it can be to read through one of these cold emails and realize they’re actually worth your while.

That’s why I’m here to help you strategize your very own cold email campaign and walk you through exactly what works (and doesn’t) when it comes to connecting with potential clients via email.

Takeaways
– Crafting a compelling cold email strategy requires careful consideration of content and recipient engagement.
– Determine the value proposition of your email and tailor it to the recipient’s needs or pain points.
– Personalization is key; use the recipient’s name and reference their industry or challenges.
– Include a clear call-to-action that guides recipients on the desired next steps.
– Focus on building a relationship rather than a one-time sale, nurturing long-term connections.

Start With A Clean Email List

The first step to a clean email list is ensuring that the people on it have permitted you to contact them. This means allowing them to opt-in.

You should also consider how long your contacts have been on your email list, as well as how many addresses you have in total. 

All of these factors contribute to whether or not your messages are blocked by spam filters and/or if they are opened by the recipients (and even worse – deleted unopened). 

The more likely this is to happen, the more likely it will be that someone will want nothing else to do with you or any other company like yours going forward!

A clean email list will also result in more replies from those who receive them because they were invited without having their personal information removed from the lists (which happens when people get tired of reading too much about things they don’t care about). 

And finally, having a clean mailing list can lead directly to building relationships through sharing content!

When diving into cold email strategies, it’s essential to have those “Aha” moments that guide your approach. Discover the insights that can transform your outreach in our article on 10 Cold Email Aha Moments.

Segment Your Email List

Segmenting your email list is a great way to reach people with similar interests. 

For example, if you’re looking for new customers and don’t have the budget to pay for ads on Facebook or Google, you can use segmenting strategies that might be more cost-effective than paying for ads.

You can segment an email list based on age: all those between 18-24 years old; 25-34 years old; 35-54 years old; 55+ years old. 

Or gender: male/female or male/female/others (you might want to consider adding this one if you’re going after a certain kind of clientele). You can also segment by location: North America (USA), Europe, and Asia Pacific (APAC). And don’t forget your interests!

Focus Like Laser-Beam And Make It Obvious

It’s tempting when you’re sending an email to cover all your bases, but this is a mistake because it can be overwhelming for the recipient. 

Focus on one thing that will help them out (not two or three) and make sure they know exactly how it will benefit them and if possible, why they should care about this particular benefit. 

If you try to sell your product on multiple fronts or give too many reasons why they should care, then the reader will feel overwhelmed and won’t know where to start looking for the info that’s most important for them. 

And don’t be afraid of being bold; let them know what kind of impact this could have on their business by really putting forth a strong case for why yours is the best option out there (rather than trying to softball everything).

Crafting an effective cold email campaign requires careful planning. Learn about the essential tips you need for your next campaign in our guide: 14 Tips for Your Next Cold Email Campaign.

Open A Conversation, Not A Sales Pitch

You’re talking to someone who has never heard of you. You need to open a conversation, not a sales pitch. You can’t assume that your email is the first thing they have seen about you or that they know what you do or what you want from them. 

And most importantly, don’t assume that they know who you are! If this person has no context for knowing who I am, then how will sending them an automatic email from “Bradley” help?

Instead of just having a generic subject line like “Hi”, try something more personalized like:

• What’s going on in your world? (Make sure this question isn’t too broad so it doesn’t seem like an interrogation.)
• Did we meet at the XYZ conference last year? (If yes then ask if there was any interesting news at the conference).
• What do you think about [xyz topic] these days?

Speak In Their Language

One of the best ways to get your message read is to speak in their language. This means using their name (if possible), the company’s name, and industry jargon. 

If you can include any other information that they’ll find useful or interesting such as a link to a relevant news article or blog post that can help too!

Give People Context, Don’t Assume They Know Who You Are Or Why You’re Important

As you’re writing, think about what your reader will be like. Are they busy person who gets hundreds of emails every day? Or do they have some time to spare and might even enjoy reading something interesting in their inbox.

Either way, make sure that you let them know why they should care about what you’re sending them. If possible, try to give them context as to why this email is different than all the others that come across their screen each day.

If someone sends me an email with just an offer or promotion without any explanation, it probably won’t get read or replied to at all. 

But if I can see how this new product might help solve a problem or fulfill a need for me and my business then I’m much more likely to reply and consider purchasing from them.

Templates play a crucial role in converting cold emails into meaningful interactions. Explore our collection of Cold Email Templates That Convert to enhance your outreach efforts.

Don’t Assume People Care About What You Do As Much As You Do

When writing your cold email, make sure that you are clear about what it is that you are offering, and why it is valuable. Don’t assume that people know who you are or why your company/project/app is important. 

If they are interested, then they’ll ask questions. If not, then maybe the value of your offer isn’t resonating with them in any way?

Be Persistent But Not Annoying

There’s a fine line between persistence and annoyance, and if you’re not careful, you might cross it. It’s important to be persistent with your cold emails but also mindful of what type of approach to take. 

If you’re too aggressive, for example, then you’ll probably come across as pushy or desperate; however, if you’re too passive or uninterested in contacting this person again then they might think that your email was just a one-off attempt at outreach without any real intention behind it.

Your email must contain enough information so that the recipient knows why you are contacting them specifically,

Don’t just say “I saw an article about what company X does” – this doesn’t tell them anything about how or why their business might benefit from working with yours!

Remind Your Recipients Of The Benefits Of What You’re Offering And Give Them A Reason To Reply And Get Involved

People are busy, and it’s easy to forget about an email. It may take a while before your recipients respond. You need to give them a reason to reply so that they remember the email, open it and engage with you (and your brand).

A few things that you can consider doing are reminding them of what they get in return for their time or effort (i.e., “we will send you X number of items per month”) or giving value through something else (i.e., “we will let you know about new products before other customers do”). 

This will help make them feel like there is value for them in replying and getting involved with your business/brand.

Crafting a successful email marketing strategy involves a combination of art and science. Dive into our comprehensive insights on Email Marketing Strategy to refine your approach and engage your audience effectively.

Make The First Email Short And Sweet With Zero Attachments. If They Open It, Follow Up To Give Them More Detailed Information With Attachments About Your Service Or Product

The first email in your cold email campaign is the most important, so make it count! It should be short and sweet – no more than one or two sentences. Don’t send any attachments with it, even if they ask you to send more information. 

You want them to open the email in their inbox, which means that you need to give them a good reason for doing so. This can be as simple as telling them what you do and explaining how it could help them solve their problem or achieve their goal.

To get started on your cold email strategy, take some time to think about how you can create an opening line that will grab their attention right away. 

You want someone busy and distracted with work emails constantly coming into their inboxes – so make sure that yours stands out from all of those other messages vying for attention!

Cold email outreach requires a well-informed strategy that goes beyond the basics. For a complete guide to effective outreach, check out The Ultimate Guide to Cold E-Mail Outreach and learn how to make your emails stand out in a crowded inbox.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to write the perfect cold email, you are ready to start the process of reaching out to potential clients. 

Remember to be patient and persistent with your outreach efforts, as it can take some time before you start seeing results. We hope these tips have helped make your job easier!

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources that provide valuable insights into writing effective cold emails:

Flowrite: How to Write a Cold Email Short Description: Learn the essentials of crafting compelling cold emails and making a lasting impression on recipients.

Woodpecker: How to Write a Cold Email That Actually Works Short Description: Discover a six-step tutorial for creating cold emails that resonate with prospects and drive engagement.

SalesHandy: How to Write a Cold Email Short Description: Gain practical tips on writing effective cold emails that capture attention and generate positive responses.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions related to cold email writing:

How can I improve the open rates of my cold emails?

Increasing open rates requires attention-grabbing subject lines, personalized content, and concise messaging that addresses the recipient’s pain points.

What’s the ideal length for a cold email?

Aim for a concise yet informative cold email, typically around 150 to 200 words. Keep it focused on the recipient’s needs and the value you offer.

How do I make my cold email stand out in a crowded inbox?

Craft a compelling value proposition, use personalized details, and focus on the recipient’s interests to create a cold email that piques curiosity.

Is it essential to include a call-to-action (CTA) in a cold email?

Yes, a clear and relevant CTA guides recipients on the desired next steps, whether it’s scheduling a call, visiting a website, or replying to the email.

How can I avoid coming across as spammy in my cold emails?

Personalization, relevancy, and avoiding overly aggressive language are key to ensuring your cold emails don’t appear as spam and resonate with recipients.