Mastering the Art of Cold Emails: 7 Strategies for Maximum Open Rates
Cold emailing is one of the most effective sales tools available to marketers in 2023. A well-crafted cold email has the potential to open doors, forge new connections, and drive opportunities. However, with overflowing inboxes and people’s limited attention spans, it’s crucial to know how to write a cold email that will consistently grab attention and increase open rates.
In this blog we detail some proven tactics that you can use to improve the open rates of your cold emails and convert more people with email marketing:
1. Catchy Subject Line
No one will respond or even see your email campaign if they don’t open your emails. Therefore it is crucial to nail this part of your email. The subject line is what decides if your email gets opened or not. Make it concise, intriguing, and tailored specifically to the recipient, the trick is to provide just enough information to attract the reader’s attention and get them to click to find out more. Click here for our full guide on how to write the perfect subject line.
2. Personalised Messaging
Generic and impersonal emails are often dismissed immediately or sent straight to the trash. In order to capture the recipient’s attention, personalise your cold emails. Addressing the recipient by their name is just the start, demonstrate familiarity with their buying habits, hobbies or interests, and show that you’ve taken the time to research and understand their needs or challenges. Personalisation adds a human touch, making your email more engaging and compelling. Click here to read our blog on the psychology behind personalised marketing to understand why people now expect and crave a fully personalised experience with all the brands they interact with.
3. Short and Easily Readable
Emails with shorter copy consistently perform better than those with longer copy. Research by Sleeknote found that emails with less than 95 words significantly outperform emails with longer copy of 170 words or more. With this in mind keep your cold emails short and concise. Get straight to the point and clearly communicate the purpose of your email ending with a relevant CTA in order to get the reader to act. Avoid overwhelming the recipient with unnecessary details or long-winded explanations. The aim of most cold emails should be to get the reader onto a call where you or your sales team can go into more details about your product or service and how it will benefit that person. Tailor your message to address their specific goals or pain points while highlighting how your proposition can provide value or solve a problem they face.
4. Provide Value, Authenticity and Transparency
Writing engaging informative communications takes time and research as you should be looking to provide value to your customers at every possible opportunity. Providing useful, objective information that addresses common issues and pains your customers are likely to experience is a good starting point and once you get comfortable with providing valuable information that fits your company’s brand values, you will start to find it easy to supplement this info with sales messages. Click here to read our full guide on how to provide value with your email marketing and avoid spamming.
Focus on building trust and showcasing authenticity in your emails. Be transparent about your intentions, and be honest about what you’re seeking from the recipient. By demonstrating genuine interest and authenticity, you can establish a more meaningful connection from the start.
5. Social Proof
Social proof is a term that was coined back in 1984 by author Robert Cialdini. In marketing social proof refers to when people are shopping they look for reviews and recommendations before making their purchase decision.
- 83% of consumers recommend a brand they follow on social media to friends or family
- 95% of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase
- 82% of American shoppers ask for referrals and recommendations from friends and family before making a purchase.
In your email marketing social proof is a highly effective tactic. People don’t care what you have to say about your product, they want to see what other consumers have to say. Be sure to include reviews and testimonials in your content to ease your subscribers minds and make purchasing a no brainer.
6. Incorporate a CTA
A strong call to action (CTA) is essential in any cold email. Clearly state what you want the recipient to do next. Whether it’s scheduling a call, attending a webinar, or exploring a partnership, make it easy for them to take the next step. Use actionable language and provide a clear pathway for them to follow, such as a link to your calendar or a downloadable resource. A compelling CTA increases the chances of your email getting opened and generates a desired response.
7. Follow Up Strategically
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-up emails. Many cold emails go unanswered simply because they get lost amongst the rest. Set up a strategic follow-up sequence to ensure your email stays on the recipient’s radar and your business stays at the forefront of their mind. Craft concise and friendly follow-up messages, spacing them out appropriately to avoid being intrusive. Persistence can pay off, so be patient and persistent in your efforts.
Wrap Up
Writing cold emails that always get opened requires a thoughtful and targeted approach. By personalising your emails, crafting engaging subject lines, keeping your message concise and following the rest of the steps in this guide you will be able to optimise your cold emails and see better results in your email marketing.
If you would rather leave this to the professionals then let us cover all this for you. At Inboxx we provide bespoke direct email marketing solutions for businesses, getting you noticed by the people that matter and boosting your revenue.
