What does it mean to cold email someone?

If you're looking for some inspiration on writing the perfect cold email, then this article will help you out! We've compiled several cold email templates and examples from industry leaders like LinkedIn's Leemlist, KlentySoft's PersistIQ, and Gmelius' SalesHandy app so you can learn exactly which parts of an effective cold email work best. You'll also find answers to common questions such as "what should my first sentence be?" and "how long should my sales pitch last?"

Cold emails are one of the most important tools you have at your disposal if you want to become successful with business development. They allow you to reach out to people who may not know much about your brand or product but could potentially buy into them later.

A lot of times, though, we see people struggle with sending their very own cold email. What many marketers don't realize is that they need to include certain key components in order to make sure those cold emails actually go through.

Below we've laid out six things you absolutely must put into every single cold email you send -- even if you think it just might never get read. If you follow our advice, you'll increase your chances of getting replies by 20%+.

So without further ado, here are the six tips you need to keep in mind before hitting send on any cold email...

1) Include a clear call-to-action (CTA).

This is probably the biggest mistake people new to cold emailing often make. In fact, studies show that only 30 percent of all cold emails end up being opened. This means that 70 percent of all cold emails are ignored entirely, which is why including a CTA is essential.

Here's what you need to remember: A CTA should direct readers towards taking action. It doesn't matter whether you're asking your reader to sign up for something, visit a website, download a file, or anything else. Just make sure whatever you ask for is directly related to what you're selling. For example, if you're trying to sell a course, your CTA needs to say, "Sign Up Now" instead of simply saying "Buy My Course." The former phrase forces your visitor to take immediate action while the latter leaves more room for interpretation.

2) Make sure your name stands out.

It sounds simple enough, right? But many people forget to add their names anywhere in their messages. That way, there's no chance anyone will ever recognize who sent the email. Instead, make sure you use your full legal name wherever possible. Also, try to avoid using generic terms like "Dear Sir/Madam," "Mr./Ms.," etc. These phrases sound impersonal and unprofessional, which is definitely not going to win over any hearts.

3) Use proper grammar and spelling.

You wouldn't expect to receive an email from someone whose English was terrible, would you? Of course not. So why would you assume others won't notice poor grammar or misspelled words? Bad grammar and bad spellings will instantly turn off anyone reading your email. And since cold emails rarely get read unless they lead to actual conversions, this is incredibly detrimental. Always proofread everything you send before pressing Send button.

4) Keep your sentences short and sweet.

The same goes for cold emails. While there's nothing wrong with a lengthy paragraph once in awhile, it's better to stick with shorter paragraphs whenever possible. Not only will this give your email a cleaner look, but it'll also ensure that it gets read quickly. Longer sentences tend to lose attention faster than short ones.

5) Mention relevant facts in each section.

One thing that will really stand out in cold emails is personalization. People respond well to information that's tailored specifically to them. When you mention specific details about yourself, or tell stories based around your products, customers will feel connected to your brand.

6) Personalize your email.

Personalizing your email is crucial because it shows that you care about your target audience personally. There's no point in reaching out via email if you're not interested in helping them solve their problems. By adding details about yourself or your team members, you demonstrate that you understand their struggles and appreciate their time. Plus, it helps build trust between you and your customer base.

Now that you've got a few cold email templates down pat, let's talk about how to approach different types of recipients.

How do you send a cold email to a company?

When approaching companies, you usually want to make sure to start with a warm introduction letter. One of the easiest ways to do this is to reference other clients you've worked with in the past.

For instance, if you had a recent relationship with Company X, then you could reference that connection in your introductory email. Your next step would be to introduce yourself professionally (don't worry, we've provided plenty of sample introductions below), explain why you're contacting them now, and offer to provide additional info upon request.

Then, you can close the contact by explaining why you'd love to connect again. After doing so, you can move onto your main topic--the reason behind wanting to speak with them. Be prepared, however, to spend a bit of time building rapport. You need to create interest and trust during every conversation. Don't rush it either. Take your time to answer questions and listen carefully before moving forward.

How do I send cold email to HR?

HR departments typically don't deal with cold emails too often, especially outside of job applications. However, they still deserve to be treated properly. To begin, make sure to address the person by name. Then, you can focus on introducing yourself and providing context as to why you're contacting them.

Make sure you stay away from using vague statements like "I'm contacting you regarding..." or "As part of my research..." As mentioned above, personalization is hugely beneficial when speaking with HR. Once you've built up some kind of rapport, you can continue talking about your goals, challenges, desires, etc. At the end of the day, you want to leave them feeling heard and understood.

Finally, wrap up your email by thanking them for listening and offering to schedule a meeting if needed.

How do you cold email a colleague?

Colleagues are another type of recipient worth targeting in your cold emails. Because they already know you and are likely familiar with your strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits, you'll be able to more easily establish connections with them.

Since you already know them, you shouldn't have any trouble starting conversations with ease. All you need to do is strike up a friendly chat with them and ask for feedback. From there, you can discuss your mutual interests and concerns.

Once you've successfully established a connection, you can dive deeper into your project. Try mentioning specifics about your idea, your process, and your vision. Ask for suggestions and insights, and make sure to acknowledge their input.

Lastly, wrap up your email by letting them know that you value their opinions and want to hear back from them soon.

What makes a good email subject line?

Your subject lines are arguably the most important element of your entire cold email campaign. Without strong subject lines, you run the risk of losing followers along the way. Here's what you should aim for:

* Write the exact title of your email in the subject line. Don't use abbreviations or numbers.  

* Focus on keywords that describe the content within the body of your email.  

* Avoid using emotional language, such as "urgent", "important", "urgently".  

* Use punctuation sparingly.  

Remember, the goal isn't necessarily to get a response immediately. Rather, you want to convince your reader that your email deserves their attention. Therefore, you want to set the tone early on by creating a sense of urgency. This can be done via bolded text, capitalized letters, exclamation points, etc.

Keep in mind that the ideal cold email length ranges from 50 to 100 characters. Anything longer tends to come across as spammy, whereas anything less seems rushed and disorganized.

In addition to learning how to compose a cold email, you'll also benefit from a number of resources online. Our favorite place to start is Sales Handy, where you can check out dozens of free samples for various industries.

You can also watch our video walkthrough on how to craft a great cold email that converts.

Cold email. The term has become synonymous with "sales" or "marketing". It's also known as non-personalized direct mail (NP DM), which means sending an unsolicited sales pitch via email rather than snail mail.

When you send out a cold email, the recipient doesn't know who sent them the email. This can be hard on some people, but there are other benefits too. Cold email is a good way of getting leads without breaking any rules. For example, if you're looking for work, you could use this method to find new clients instead of applying through LinkedIn or something similar.

However, many companies frown upon cold email because they don't want employees spamming their inboxes. But cold email isn't always bad. You may have been asked by a friend or colleague to help out with a project - maybe you've got experience they need from another industry. If so, would you prefer to apply directly to the person themselves or go through the usual channels? Maybe you'd like to offer your services free of charge in exchange for a referral. In each case, cold email might be best.

In this article we'll explain exactly what cold email is, why people love it, and show you some great examples to copy. We'll discuss different ways to approach cold email, including tips for writing successful messages. Let's take a look...

What is cold email and warm email?

Before we delve into cold email ideas, let's first define what both terms actually represent. Warm email refers to regular contact between two parties, usually friends, colleagues, family members, etc. On the other hand, cold email is more formal and impersonal, often involving strangers.

Warm emails tend to happen naturally over time, while cold emails require personalization and persistence. They aren't meant to build relationships, just ask for information.

The key difference between warm and cool is that hot emails involve emotional attachments. People connect emotionally with others close to them, such as loved ones, relatives, and friends. As a result, warm emails feel intimate and personal, whereas cold emails aim to create value for the reader and avoid being perceived as pushy or desperate.

If you're unsure whether to include emotions in your correspondence, remember that warmth matters. Don't forget that you should treat every individual differently. While one person will appreciate a heartfelt note, another won't care at all. Personalizing your email helps make sure everyone gets something useful back.

Also keep in mind that not everybody likes receiving emails. Some people hate them, while others simply ignore them. However, if you still want to try to persuade them, consider using a template that makes them less likely to delete your message. Here are several options:

Use plain text only -- no images or formatting whatsoever.

Send your email from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail. These providers allow you to customize your signature line, making it easier for recipients to identify your name.

Keep your subject line short and sweet. Try to stick to fewer than 10 words.

Add numbers to the end of your address, like myname@hotmail.com. Numbers help recipients easily distinguish between multiple emails coming from the same sender.

Avoid using emoticons unless your correspondent specifically asks for them. Many people see smileys as annoying, especially if they come across as forced or fake.

Don’t call yourself “I” or “me”. Instead, say “we” or “our” whenever possible. That avoids creating a sense of distance between you and your prospect.

Be careful not to sound too eager or desperate. Make sure you present your request politely, even though it feels uncomfortable. After all, you're asking for permission!

Remember that you shouldn't pressure anyone. Just state your intentions clearly, then wait patiently for a reply. If necessary, follow up after a few days until you hear back. Then, thank the person for taking the time to read your email.

As mentioned earlier, cold email involves a higher level of professionalism compared to a simple greeting card. Use templates in Excel or Google Docs, then customize them according to your needs. Take advantage of automation tools like TemplateMonster to save time.

Finally, don't worry about losing touch once you start working together. A friendly relationship built on trust is much better long-term anyway.

What is cold email for job?

Whether you're seeking employment or trying to sell your own product, cold email works well. Consider using it to fill a position opening within your organization, promote a service, or secure a contract.

For instance, if you were offered a job at a company where you currently work, you could reach out to current co-workers or superiors with an informal email requesting feedback on your application. Or perhaps you're selling a product online and want to gather honest opinions before promoting it further. There are plenty of opportunities here.

You could also try cold emailing recruiters to solicit interest in a specific role. Recruitment agencies typically receive hundreds of applications per day, so having a compelling reason to choose yours over the competition could give you an edge.

Lastly, cold emailing customers to request testimonials could be beneficial. Ask users for genuine reviews at the end of the sale process or during the post-purchase period. By doing so, you demonstrate that you really cared enough about your customer to ask them for feedback.

Is cold emailing OK?

Some people believe that cold emailing is against corporate policy. Others think it's unethical and rude. So, what's the verdict? Is cold email okay?

It depends on whom you're contacting, what kind of business you're in, and on whose behalf you're engaging. If you're targeting small businesses and individuals, most employers wouldn't object to hearing from you. Otherwise, it's probably best to check with your boss beforehand.

On the flip side, some corporations prohibit it altogether. Microsoft forbid its employees from sending cold emails to customers, partners, and prospects. Likewise, Facebook prohibits its staff from sending emails to prospective candidates.

Nevertheless, some experts argue that cold email is perfectly acceptable and encouraged. For example, Mark Schaefer believes that cold emailing can lead to increased productivity. He says that he sends cold emails to his team almost daily, encouraging them to share knowledge and expertise freely.

He thinks that this practice encourages collaboration and results in superior products. According to him, the secret lies in the fact that "the world's largest companies started out as startups."

Others disagree. Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner, claims that cold email is a waste of time and resources. He argues that cold emailing is inefficient and ineffective, since it takes longer to respond to the message than if you had followed the typical path of communicating with the intended party personally.

As far as I'm concerned, I agree with Mr. Stelzner. Sending a cold email requires extra effort, yet it rarely generates positive results. And besides, why bother? Why not spend your time building rapport and strengthening connections with those closest to you?

How do you cold email someone at a company?

Most people are familiar with how to cold email someone at home, but what about when you're dealing with a stranger? How do you compose a message that stands out and grabs attention?

Here are seven essential points to bear in mind when crafting a cold email that gets replies:

Try to stay away from phrases like "urgent", "important", or "time sensitive". Keep your tone polite and professional.

Personalize your message by addressing it to the right person.

Always add a link to your website/social media profile so that readers can learn more about you, your background, and what you specialize in.

Make sure the content aligns with the purpose of the message. Your goal is to gain valuable insights regarding the position advertised, not merely to sell a product.

Write concisely. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and unnecessary details. Focus on the main point.

Ask questions throughout the body of the message. Be curious and attentive.

Take advantage of templates provided by websites like Marketo, HubSpot, and PersistIQ. Each contains dozens of readymade messages to help you get started quickly.

Never assume that people will automatically recognize your name. Always put it at the top of your email. Also, consider adding numbers or special characters to make it easy to spot.

To conclude, cold emailing can certainly improve communication between you and your target audience. At the very least, it can serve as an alternative solution to conventional methods of outreach, allowing you to bypass bureaucracy and focus on cultivating deeper bonds with your contacts.

But before you jump straight in, remember that you should never abuse cold emailing, regardless of whether the recipient agrees to talk to you or not. Treat it respectfully, show respect for the receiver, and always act professionally.

Cold emailing has been around for decades and still many people don't know the best way to approach it. Most of us have received an email from our boss or some other senior employee asking if we could meet up with them at 9am tomorrow morning. That's not exactly "cold" but it's also not something we'd normally say yes to.

There are certain rules to follow when writing a cold email (as opposed to saying hello). The idea behind this article isn't to teach you all the tricks to writing effective cold emails – there are plenty of resources out there to help with that – but rather to give you tips on how to compose one so they're more likely to get replies.

If you want to learn more about how to use cold email effectively then check out my articles on the topic here. If you prefer video content then you'll find lots of great videos on YouTube covering both sides of the equation too.

We've got loads of free guides available for anyone interested in learning how to grow their business using cold email as well. You can view those by clicking on the links below.

How long should a cold email subject line be?

The first thing most people put into their cold email is the subject line. This is where you need to make sure you capture attention quickly before sending your message. In fact, the average open rate for cold emails is only 5%. It doesn't matter whether you send yours via Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail or any other service provider, the key point remains the same.

You need to grab their interest immediately. So how long should your subject lines be? Well, just like everything else, there's no hard-and-fast rule. Some experts recommend keeping things under 50 characters while others suggest going even longer than that. Whatever you decide to go for, remember to keep it short enough to fit within the space given on each recipient's inbox. Don't worry though, if you break the limit you won't lose points! Just add another word or two until you reach the maximum length allowed.

The longer you take with your opening sentence, the less chance you will have of getting a response. But if you want to try anything different, why not go for a longer title? A recent study found that the optimum length is between 33 and 40 words. For example, instead of "Hi John," opt for "John, hope you're having a good day."

It may seem counterintuitive but sometimes shorter is better. Think about it. How often would you read through an entire page full of text before deciding to continue reading? Probably never, right? Because it takes time to digest information and digesting information takes time. And once you start looking at your watch, you might think twice about reading further...

So always aim to keep it simple. Your goal is to hook readers and get them excited about what you have to offer. To achieve that, you'll want to include relevant keywords, phrases and names throughout your body copy.

How can I cold email without being blacklisted?

A lot of businesses claim to have a 100% success rate when it comes to cold email marketing but few really deliver. Why? Blacklisting is the biggest problem facing modern marketers who rely heavily upon automation. People love to complain about spam but very little action is taken against spammers because everyone wants to avoid being added to their own list.

This means that every single company is at risk of receiving dozens of automated messages from people who aren't interested in buying their product or services. As soon as you become known as a'spammy' marketer, you're instantly placed on a blacklist. All companies now have to deal with hundreds of thousands of such emails per month.

That's why it's important to understand the importance of building relationships with clients. When you build rapport with customers, you create trust which leads to increased sales conversions. Cold emailers who focus solely on selling products rarely succeed because they lack experience working with real humans. They end up resorting to spamming techniques because they haven't learned how to work with human beings.

Instead, look for ways to engage your audience. Use humor, ask questions, provide value, share stories and advice, etc. These strategies are designed to show that you care about your prospects as individuals and not just as numbers. By doing so, you increase the likelihood that your customer will respond positively to your next communication.

How do you write a cold email that actually works in 6 steps?

Writing a successful cold email starts off with knowing your target audience. Who are they? What problems do they face? How much money do they spend on advertising? Is there a particular industry sector they belong to? Once you've answered these basic questions, you can move onto developing a strategy for reaching out to them.

Don't waste time trying to figure out who your ideal prospect is. Instead, identify the people who fall somewhere in the middle of your spectrum. Let's say you sell software solutions to small businesses. Then you could choose to contact entrepreneurs who run medium sized enterprises. Or even larger corporations that are worth over $1 million dollars. There are endless possibilities.

Once you've identified your primary targets, you can develop a plan for approaching them. Keep it lighthearted and fun. Ask yourself, "what would make me smile?" and answer honestly. Do you enjoy talking about sports, cars, politics or whatever other topics come easily to mind? Does your personality resemble theirs in any way? Are you passionate about the same issues they are?

Think carefully about the language you use. Avoid jargon and technical terms unless you truly understand them. Also, stick to conversational language whenever possible. Try to sound natural and speak slowly. Finally, make sure you address the person directly. Call him/her by name and say something along the lines of, "I'm sorry to bother you with this request..."

Next, craft your introduction paragraph. Here's where you introduce yourself and explain why you contacted them. Give reasons for wanting to connect with them, and mention specific benefits you expect them to gain from meeting with you. Make sure you leave room for conversation after you finish speaking. Be ready to listen and act accordingly.

Now it's time to dive into the meatier part of your letter. Start with a strong headline that includes your keyword phrase. Include a compelling call to action and link back to your website. At this stage, you're aiming to establish credibility by showing proof of expertise and knowledge.

Include testimonials from satisfied customers and add relevant statistics to support your claims. Always strive to make your content personal and relate it to the individual reader. Show empathy and respect. Tell them what you believe they want to hear. Talk about how you solved similar challenges and what made you realize that there was a solution.

Finally, wrap up with a polite closing statement thanking them for taking the time to talk with you. End on a positive note and sign off warmly. Above all, maintain a sense of humility. Never forget that you are dealing with actual live human beings, not robots.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you learn how to write a cold email that gets results. We're always happy to receive feedback so please feel free to let us know what worked for you and what didn't.