The $1 cold email test

Tom Slocum explains how to improve your cold emails and get better response rates. He highlights key lessons from his own experience and shares actionable tips:

1. Keep it short – Limit your email to 70 words. People don’t have time to read long emails.

2. Focus on relevance – Personalization should be relevant, not just for the sake of it. Make sure the prospect sees why they should care.

3. Be human – Write like you’re talking to a friend. Avoid corporate buzzwords and keep the tone real.

4. Use a strong PS – Adding a quick benefit or reminder in the PS can double your chances of getting a reply.

5. Tell stories – Instead of listing features, share results. Show how you’ve helped others like them.
   

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Avoid generic cold emails

Kyle Asay outlines common mistakes in cold email outreach and offers actionable advice to improve response rates.

1. Avoid generic messaging: Many cold emails sound the same. Don’t just copy what’s on company websites. Make your emails original and memorable.

2. Focus on benefits, not features: Instead of describing what your product does, explain how it helps solve the recipient's specific problems.

3. Back up claims: Avoid exaggerated promises. If you claim big results, provide evidence to support them.

4. Build trust: Phrases like "I’m not trying to sell you anything" make you seem untrustworthy. Every email is a sales effort, so don’t hide that.

5. Engage emotionally: Address the prospect’s pain points. Don’t just rely on logic and statistics; make a human connection.

6. Keep it simple: Avoid long emails. Focus on one pain point and one solution.

7. Personalize your message: Tailor your emails to the recipient. Avoid formal, impersonal language that can seem fake.

8. Use multi-channel outreach: Don’t rely on just email. Use LinkedIn, voicemail, and other methods to increase engagement.

9. Build rapport before video outreach: Sending a video without building rapport first can be off-putting. Start with other methods to create familiarity.

10. Understand key concerns: Frame your email around the recipient’s fears, like what they’re worried about with their boss. Show how you can help.

How to personalize cold emails

Richard Smith provides a cold email framework that has helped him book meetings for eight years.

The structure:

1. Observation – Start by mentioning something specific, like a new hire on their team.

2. Question – Ask a well-informed question based on the observation, showing you’ve done research.

3. Problem – Mention a common issue, such as the challenge of building a pipeline quickly.

4. Low-friction call to action – Offer to exchange a couple of messages before requesting a meeting.

5. PS – Add a personal touch with relevant social proof or a shared connection.

Here’s Richard’s email example:

Subject: Helping your team build pipeline

Email:

John,
Noticed that Sarah has just joined your team as an AE.

Is it safe to say that helping her become self-sufficient in building pipeline quickly is top of mind for you right now?

Other Sales Leaders are often under pressure to make new sales hires build the pipeline to get to their first deal. The problem they have is finding the time to arm them with the skills, behaviors, and accountability to be great at prospecting.

Open to swapping a couple of messages on how we help others tackle this before you commit to a call?

Rich

P.S. Saw you’re connected with Rob J. We’ve just helped his team with exactly this.

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