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I have received hundreds of cold emails in the last few weeks.
99% of them stink. 🤢
5 examples of what NOT to do in your cold emails (plus, how to actually get a response):
99% of them stink. 🤢
5 examples of what NOT to do in your cold emails (plus, how to actually get a response):
Example #1
❌ Starts off by reminding me of why I should be annoyed to receive this email.
❌ Gives me ZERO context of what his company does or why it's "interesting and valuable" for CPG brands
❌ Starts off by reminding me of why I should be annoyed to receive this email.
❌ Gives me ZERO context of what his company does or why it's "interesting and valuable" for CPG brands
Example #2
❌ Following up on their initial email in a new email thread where I have zero context of the first email.
❌ "...helping to innovate in a rapidly changing ecosystem" and "innovate cross platform"
Huhhhh? No clue what this means. Innovate how?
❌ Following up on their initial email in a new email thread where I have zero context of the first email.
❌ "...helping to innovate in a rapidly changing ecosystem" and "innovate cross platform"
Huhhhh? No clue what this means. Innovate how?
Example #3
❌ Clearly did ZERO research for this email.
"I noticed you aren't marketing in the email channel yet."
This one is straight-up insulting. 😂
I send millions of emails every month and we have email collection forms plastered all over the site.
❌ Clearly did ZERO research for this email.
"I noticed you aren't marketing in the email channel yet."
This one is straight-up insulting. 😂
I send millions of emails every month and we have email collection forms plastered all over the site.
Example #4
❌ This email is so long, that I couldn't fit it all in one screenshot.
Are you going to read all of that?
Yeah... me neither.
❌ This email is so long, that I couldn't fit it all in one screenshot.
Are you going to read all of that?
Yeah... me neither.
Example #5
❌ Do not give your leads a project to do.
Two callouts here:
1/ A 2-minute LinkedIn search would answer their question of who the right person is.
2/ If any of their previous emails were remotely interesting, I would've already forwarded them to the right person.
❌ Do not give your leads a project to do.
Two callouts here:
1/ A 2-minute LinkedIn search would answer their question of who the right person is.
2/ If any of their previous emails were remotely interesting, I would've already forwarded them to the right person.
Bonus example for laughs:
❌ "Joe, are you there?"
Me: "No. No I am not."
❌ "Joe, are you there?"
Me: "No. No I am not."
Now that we know what a bad cold email looks like, let's go over what actually works.
Here's how you send cold emails that get replies: 👇
Here's how you send cold emails that get replies: 👇
1/ Keep it short
Everyone is strapped for time.
Get right to it.
Ideally, your recipient should be able to read your entire email and take action without having to scroll on their phone.
Everyone is strapped for time.
Get right to it.
Ideally, your recipient should be able to read your entire email and take action without having to scroll on their phone.
2/ Create urgency
The main reason a qualified lead will not take action on your email is they believe they can do it later.
Get them to take action today:
• Poke at pain points you know they need to solve asap.
• "We're only onboarding 3 more clients this quarter."
The main reason a qualified lead will not take action on your email is they believe they can do it later.
Get them to take action today:
• Poke at pain points you know they need to solve asap.
• "We're only onboarding 3 more clients this quarter."
3/ Remove objections
Make the offer irresistible.
Responding to your email should be a no-brainer.
• "You only pay when you see ROI."
• "Get set up in less than 10 minutes."
• "[Reputable clients] saw an average increase of xx% on [key metric]."
Make the offer irresistible.
Responding to your email should be a no-brainer.
• "You only pay when you see ROI."
• "Get set up in less than 10 minutes."
• "[Reputable clients] saw an average increase of xx% on [key metric]."
4/ Provide value
• Offer a solution to a problem you know they're facing.
• Provide analytics or research reports that give them an edge over competitors.
• Share a success story of one of your clients that provides unique insights they can apply to their business.
etc.
• Offer a solution to a problem you know they're facing.
• Provide analytics or research reports that give them an edge over competitors.
• Share a success story of one of your clients that provides unique insights they can apply to their business.
etc.
5/ Do your research
Show that you understand their:
• Goals (show them the expected results they will see with your help).
• Business (show success helping competitors in their industry).
• Pain points (show how you can remove their most nagging problems).
Show that you understand their:
• Goals (show them the expected results they will see with your help).
• Business (show success helping competitors in their industry).
• Pain points (show how you can remove their most nagging problems).
Here's an A+ example that I replied to.
✅ Creates Urgency
• Identifies a problem we need to fix.
✅ Remove Barriers
• Plugs into our existing tech and works automatically.
✅ Social Proof
• Name drops relevant brands that currently use their service.
✅ Creates Urgency
• Identifies a problem we need to fix.
✅ Remove Barriers
• Plugs into our existing tech and works automatically.
✅ Social Proof
• Name drops relevant brands that currently use their service.
Thanks for reading!
If you found this thread valuable:
Follow me @joe_portsmouth for more marketing and creator tips.
And retweet the first tweet to share with others!
If you found this thread valuable:
Follow me @joe_portsmouth for more marketing and creator tips.
And retweet the first tweet to share with others!
TL;DR - How to actually get responses from your cold emails
1/ Keep it short
2/ Create urgency
3/ Remove objections
4/ Provide value
5/ Do your research
1/ Keep it short
2/ Create urgency
3/ Remove objections
4/ Provide value
5/ Do your research
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