Email marketing is a core tool for your business in today’s online era. With billions of people using email every day, it’s an effective channel for reaching your target audience and establishing meaningful connections with your clients and customers.
Email marketing allows your business to reach potential customers directly in their inbox, nurture leads, and ultimately increase sales and brand loyalty. Despite other come-and-go digital marketing channels, email continues to deliver an impressive return on investment (ROI) and allows your company to maintain a personal touch with your customers.
We’ve seen that it’s helpful to consider cold email campaigns along with your marketing OKR (objectives and key results), which is effective to get the best results from cold emails as part of your digital marketing strategy.
This email marketing FAQ is based on our years of experience in cold email marketing, and getting real results for our customers. If you any questions of feedback, gladly reach out to us here.
What is Cold Email?
Cold emailing, a specific branch of email marketing, involves reaching out to potential customers who have not previously interacted directly with your company.
So how can we get potential prospects to gain interest in your product or service? While cold emailing is highly effective for generating this interest and new leads, it also raises various questions and concerns – from copywriting and deliverability to best practices and legality.
This article is your comprehensive guide to address these frequently asked questions (FAQ) regarding cold emailing. By the end of this article, you will understand what cold emailing entails and be equipped with practical tips and strategies to take your cold emailing campaigns to the next level.
What is Cold Email Copywriting?
Cold email copywriting refers to the process of crafting persuasive, engaging, and attention-grabbing email content to connect with potential customers who have not previously expressed interest in or interacted with your business.
The primary purpose of cold email copywriting is to capture the recipient’s attention, spark curiosity, and encourage them to take a desired action, such as:
• scheduling a call
• making a purchase
• signing up for a newsletter
How to craft compelling cold email copy
1. Cold email personalization
Address the recipient by their name and make sure to demonstrate that you have done your research on their company or role. Customizing the email content based on the recipient’s specific needs or challenges will help you resonate with them as a person, and thus stand out in their inbox.
2. Clarity and conciseness in cold emails
With the average person receiving dozens of emails daily, it’s essential to be clear and concise in your messaging. Avoid jargon, unnecessary details, or confusing language. Break up long paragraphs and use bullet points to make your email easily scannable.
3. Benefits and value propositions you can share in cold emailing
Rather than focusing solely on your company’s features, emphasize how your product or service addresses your recipients’ pain points and benefits their business. Frame your value proposition in a way that is relevant and appealing to them.
Common cold email mistakes to avoid
1. Generic or salesy subject lines: Your subject line is the first impression your recipient has of your email. Avoid overly generic, misleading, or aggressive sales language, as this may lead to your email being ignored or marked as spam.
2. Excessive self-promotion: While it’s essential to share information about your business, product, or service, avoid making the whole email about you. Instead, focus on providing value and centering the content around the needs and interests of the recipient.
3. Neglecting to proofread: Grammatical errors, typos, and broken links have a significant impact on your credibility and professionalism. Make sure to thoroughly proofread your email and ensure everything is accurate and functioning as intended.
How Many Cold Emails to Send Per Day?
Factors affecting the number of daily cold emails
1. Industry norms: Different industries may have varying expectations and receptiveness to cold emails. Research your specific niche or market to understand what volume of daily cold emails is considered reasonable or effective.
2. Company size: Your business’s size and resources play a crucial role in determining the number of cold emails you will send. We’ve seen that’s it’s important to have the capacity to respond to the increased volume in sales queries which you will get.
A small start-up with limited resources may prefer to keep the volume low and focused, while a large enterprise with larger sales teams may have the capacity to send more emails daily and be able to respond to all the queries.
3. Sales team capacity: The capacity of your sales team to manage responses and follow-ups will impact the number of cold emails you should send each day. Overloading your team with leads will lead to diminished response quality or missed opportunities.
General guidelines for daily cold email volume
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to this problem, many businesses aim for 30 to 60 cold emails per sales representative per day. Think about how many cold emails to send per day as an element in your deliverability results.
From our experience, we recommend to prioritize quality over quantity – sending a smaller number of well-crafted, personalized emails yields better results than sending hundreds of generic messages.
Importance of tracking response rates and adjusting accordingly
Monitoring your cold email campaigns’ success is done by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), such as deliveries, open, click, reply, and conversion rates.
This data allows you to identify areas for improvement and optimize future campaigns. Periodically adjust the content, CTA, and number of daily cold emails sent based on your response and engagement rates, as well as your team’s capacity to manage the generated leads.
We see that continuously testing and refining your email volume lets you achieve the best possible results. You’ll then have a clear understanding of how many cold emails to send per day which works best for your sales success.
How to Manage Cold Email Deliverability?
Factors affecting cold email deliverability
1. Email service provider reputation: The reputation of your email service provider (ESP) plays a critical role in your cold emails’ deliverability. Mailbox providers may flag ESPs with high bounce or spam rates, which will hinder your emails’ ability to reach recipients’ inboxes. This is an element of cold email deliverability which should be proactively monitored.
2. Sender email address and domain reputation: Your email address and domain’s reputation also affect deliverability. Avoid using a newly registered domain or generic email addresses (e.g., sales@ or info@). Instead, create a professional email address using your name or a specific role to improve sender credibility.
3. Email content and formatting: The actual content and formatting of your cold emails will trigger spam filters if not carefully crafted. Avoid using excessive capitalization, exclamation marks, or spam trigger words (e.g., “free” or “guaranteed”) in your subject lines and body content.
Tips for improving cold email deliverability
1. Email list hygiene: Regularly update and clean your email lists to ensure you are not sending to invalid, non-existent, or outdated email addresses. This practice helps maintain a low bounce rate and improves your sender reputation.
2. Proper email authentication: Implement email authentication technologies, such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC). These protocols help validate your emails’ legitimacy and minimize the chance of being marked as spam.
3. Testing and monitoring email deliverability metrics: Use email deliverability tools and monitor essential email deliverability metrics, such as bounce rate, sender score, and email placement (inbox vs. spam folder). Continuously test and optimize your campaigns using this data to ensure optimal deliverability.
Implementing these best practices will increase your cold email deliverability and the likelihood of your cold emails reaching prospective clients. This way, you improve overall campaign effectiveness and sales results.
When to Use a Cold Email Call to Action (CTA)?
Importance of a clear cold email call to action
A call to action (CTA) is essential for any cold email, as it drives the recipient to take the desired action after reading your message. A well-crafted cold email call to action increases engagement, leading to higher reply rates and conversions. Without a clear CTA, your recipients may be unsure of your intentions, rendering your cold emails ineffective.
Tips for creating an effective call to action
1. Be specific and concise: Clearly state what action you want your recipient to take, whether it’s scheduling a meeting, signing up for a webinar, or visiting your website. Use concise language and avoid vague or ambiguous CTAs, which confuse the recipient and lessen the likelihood of them taking action.
2. Use action-oriented language: Encourage recipients to take action by using strong, persuasive verbs like “discover,” “get started,” or “book your spot.” This type of language creates a sense of momentum and makes the reader more inclined to take the specified action.
3. Create a sense of urgency: Encourage recipients to act promptly by creating a sense of urgency with your cold email call to action. You’ll achieve this by offering limited-time incentives or emphasizing time-sensitive opportunities. Be genuine and avoid creating false urgency, which damage your credibility.
By incorporating these tips when crafting your cold email CTAs, you will help guide your recipient towards the desired action, leading to more successful campaigns and better conversion rates.
What Is The Best Time to Send Cold Emails?
General guidelines on the best time to send cold emails
While there is no universally perfect time to send cold emails, several studies have suggested that weekdays during working hours typically yield the best results. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, specifically between 8 a.m. and 12 noon, are often considered the best time to send cold emails.
Factors affecting the ideal time to send cold emails
1. Recipient’s time zone: Be mindful of the recipient’s time zone when scheduling cold emails. Sending an email at 9 a.m. in your time zone may mean it arrives in the middle of the night for the recipient, making it less likely to be seen or opened.
2. Industry trends and habits: The optimal time to send cold emails varies by industry. For example, industries such as finance or healthcare may have different email habits than technology or marketing sectors. Research your target industry’s typical work patterns and communication preferences to determine the best time to send cold emails.
3. Target recipient’s role and work patterns: Tailor your cold emailing sending times to the specific recipient’s role and responsibilities. C-Suite executives may have different daily routines than junior employees, and their peak email engagement times may vary accordingly.
Importance of testing and refining sending times
As no universally ideal time to send cold emails exists, it is crucial to continuously test and refine your cold emailing sending times by monitoring engagement metrics such as open and reply rates. Experiment with different days of the week, times of day, and time intervals between follow-ups to gain insights into what works best for your target audience.
Adjust your campaign strategy based on your findings and continually refine your approach to maximize the effectiveness of your cold email efforts. By considering the factors mentioned above and optimizing sending times, you’ll improve the likelihood of your cold emails being seen, opened, and responded to.
We find that continuous measurement and improvement is the secret to optimizing each campaign’s best time to send cold emails.
How Long Should a Cold Email Be?
Balancing brevity with value delivery
A cold email’s ideal length must strike a balance between conciseness and providing value to the recipient. Keep in mind that attention spans are short, and recipients usually skim through their emails.
Our measurements show that your aim should be to communicate your message effectively and spark the reader’s interest without overwhelming them with information. This will determine how long should a cold email be, and drive your sales results.
Factors affecting Your ideal cold emailing length
1. Complexity of your offering: The product or service you promote will influence the length of your cold emails. A complex or highly technical offering may require additional explanation, while a simple or well-known product could be explained briefly.
2. Target audience: Consider the preferences and habits of your target audience. Some demographics may prefer concise emails, while others might appreciate more detail. Tailoring your email length to your audience’s preferences will help improve response and engagement rates.
3. Purpose and goal of the email: The specific goal of your cold email will also influence its optimal length. A shorter email may suffice if you are simply looking to introduce yourself or make an initial connection. However, if your goal is to provide in-depth information or persuade the recipient to take a specific action, you might need a slightly longer email.
Tips for crafting concise yet effective cold copy in email
1. Prioritize key information: Focus on delivering the most important and relevant information first. Mention the value you offer and the benefits of your product or service, addressing the recipients’ needs and pain points.
2. Utilize formatting: Make your email easily scannable by using short paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text for essential information. This will help recipients quickly digest the content and understand the main points, even with a quick skim.
3. Edit ruthlessly: After writing your initial draft, edit your email to remove any unnecessary information or fluff. Aim for clarity and brevity while still delivering a compelling message. How long should a cold email be is really a question of how short you can make your email copywriting, while keeping it highly effective.
By finding the optimal balance between brevity and value delivery, you’ll create cold emails that effectively capture your recipients’ attention, making them more likely to engage and respond. These are some of the factors on how long should a cold email should be.
Is Cold Emailing Illegal?
Legal aspects of cold emailing
While cold emailing is not inherently illegal, it is subject to various regulations and guidelines that need to be followed to ensure compliance and avoid potential legal or financial consequences.
In the United States, the primary legislation governing cold emails is the CAN-SPAM Act. Other countries have their own regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
We make sure if your cold emailing is illegal or legal by carefully crafting each campaign to meet requirements in the recipient’s country. As well as considering the time zone of your customers, country information affects legality and the best delivery times (see the other sections in this email FAQ).
Compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act (US) or similar regulations in other countries
To ensure legality, businesses must adhere to specific requirements set forth in the applicable legislation. Some of the key requirements under the CAN-SPAM Act include:
1. Accurate sender information: The sender’s email address, name, and physical address must be accurate and clearly identifiable in the email.
2. Transparent subject lines: Subject lines must accurately represent the email’s content and not be misleading in any way.
3. Opt-out mechanism: Recipients must have a clear and easy way to unsubscribe or opt-out of future emails. You must honor opt-out requests within ten business days.
4. Clear identification of promotional content: If the email contains advertising or promotional material, you must clearly identify the email as such.
It is important for businesses targeting recipients in other countries or regions to research and comply with the relevant regulations governing email marketing in those areas.
Is cold emailing illegal when preserving marketing effectiveness?
Is cold emailing illegal isn’t just a compliance issue, it’s also a marketing issue. Because now that you’re legal, by adhering to legal requirements for all your cold email campaigns, balancing compliance with marketing effectiveness is the next step.
Focus on providing value to your recipients, personalizing each email, and maintaining high professionalism. Doing so builds trust and credibility with your target audience while ensuring that your cold emailing practices remain legal and ethical.
How Does SocialBloom Facilitate Email Services?
SocialBloom is a service platform which grows your business by building and managing your cold email campaigns for you.
Running email campaigns with effective results takes lots of experience, like we did with this campaign which generated almost a million dollars per month in sales pipeline value.
SocialBloom will deliver solid results for your next email campaign as well, with seamless integration of various email services, advanced features, and friendly staff who manage all the technical details for you.
Features for optimizing cold email campaigns
1. Email template library: SocialBloom offers a comprehensive library of customizable, pre-designed cold email templates that adhere to email marketing best practices. Users select a suitable template, then personalize it to cater to the specific needs of their target audience, saving valuable time and effort.
2. Advanced segmentation and personalization: SocialBloom’s robust segmentation features enable users to categorize and target their audience based on various attributes such as the recipients’ industry, job title, location, and more. With these segments, users further personalize their cold emails to resonate with the recipients, increasing engagement and effectiveness.
3. Analytics and reporting: SocialBloom provides real-time analytics and reporting that offer insights into the performance of your cold email campaigns. You’ll track critical metrics, including open, click-through, and reply rates, and then make data-driven decisions to improve future email efforts.
4. A/B testing: SocialBloom’s built-in A/B testing capabilities allow us to experiment with different elements of cold emails, such as subject lines, body text, and calls to action, to determine which variations yield the best results with your target audience.
Ensuring compliance with legal aspects of email marketing
SocialBloom is designed to help businesses comply with legal requirements, such as the CAN-SPAM Act and GDPR, by facilitating easy opt-out options and ensuring accurate sender information. The platform’s built-in compliance features allow users to maintain their cold email campaigns’ legality without compromising their effectiveness.
SocialBloom is an all-inclusive solution which streamlines the process of connecting with email services, optimizing and personalizing campaigns, and staying compliant with relevant regulations.
By leveraging SocialBloom’s powerful features, your business will have effective cold email campaigns, resulting in successful signups and a high return on investment. Book a call with us and we’re happy to show you how.
Other Cold Email Questions Not Covered in this Email Marketing FAQ
For any questions not covered in this email marketing FAQ, which you may have about cold email marketing, or email marketing as a whole, the team here at SocialBloom is happy to share our experience with you. We’ve added millions of dollars in value to our customers sales pipelines, and we’re happy to show you how.