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Outreach emails can be tough. Really freakin’ tough. There are millions upon million cold outreach emails sent every day, and if you want yours to end up read instead of marked as spam – you have to learn how to stand out.
But, easier said than done, right?
Well, not quite. With the right guidelines (not templates; definitely not templates) you can actually skyrocket your chances of having your email read, and responded to.
Here are 12 tips that will do just that:
1. Get Creative With Your Subject Lines
The first step to getting your email read is by having an interesting subject line. Your potential client will make a split-second decision on whether or not they want to open your email based on the subject line alone. So make it count! Be creative, be witty, be daring – but whatever you do, don’t be like everyone else. “YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS” won’t capture anyone’s attention. It just won’t.
2. Personalize As Much As Possible
Personalization is key when it comes to outreach emails. No one wants to feel like they’re just another name on a list, so take the time to personalize each and every email. This doesn’t mean you have to write a novel – a few sentences will do. But make sure those sentences are tailored to the specific person you’re reaching out to.
3. Use Humor If There’s Room For It
Humor is a great way to stand out from the crowd – but only if it’s done well. If you’re not sure your joke will land, it’s probably best to play it safe. But if you think you can pull it off, go for it! A little bit of humor can go a long way. Just look at Ryan Reynolds.
4. Keep It Short And Sweet
No one likes a rambling email, so make sure you get to the point quickly. Make your case in as few words as possible. Get. To. The. Point. Now, this doesn’t mean your email has to be short, but it does mean that every sentence should have a purpose. You’re not writing a novel. You’re writing an email. Treat it as such. And, if you don’t know how to do that – Norrinradd does. Hit them up.
5. Offer An Actual Solution
A lot of times, cold outreach emails feel like a sales pitch. And while you do want to sell yourself, you don’t want to come across as a salesman so don’t offer every product in your arsenal. Better yet, don’t offer any product or service. Offer a solution to a problem your potential client might be having. If you can show them that you’re not just trying to sell them something, but that you actually have something valuable to offer, they’ll be much more likely to listen.
6. Make An Effort To Get To Know Your Potential Client
Before you even start writing your email, take some time to research your potential client. The more you know about them, the better you’ll be able to personalize your email (see tip number 2). You don’t need to stalk them or anything, but a little bit of research can go a long way. Just find out their name, their pronouns, their title etc. Learn it, and include it in your email.
7. Don’t Sell Yourself Short
When you’re writing an outreach email, it’s important to remember that you are the expert here. You are the one with the valuable skills and knowledge, so don’t sell yourself short! Be confident in what you have to offer, and make sure your potential client knows it too. Keep in mind this is a fine line to walk on, so make sure you don’t come across as arrogant.
8. Have A Strong Hook
Your email needs a strong hook to grab your potential client’s attention and keep them reading. And, the best part about the hook is that it can be anything you want it to be. A joke, a story, a statistic – whatever you want. Just make sure it’s something that will pique their interest and make them want to know more.
9. Don’t Be Generic
A run-of-the-mill email is the quickest way to end up in the trash. If you want your email clicked on, you need to make it different. So, please, whatever you do – don’t follow a template. Most you can get out of a template is a general guideline. Nothing more than that. Just put in a bit of extra effort – it will go a long way.
10. Provide Proof
If you’re making claims about your skills or knowledge, make sure you back them up with proof. This could be anything from testimonials to case studies. The more evidence you have to support your claims, the more credible you’ll be. Too many folks are faking it and making false promises, so unless you can back yours up – don’t expect anyone to bite.
11. Follow Up
One email is (most likely) not going to be enough to get your potential client’s attention. You need to be persistent if you want them to take you seriously. Follow up your first email with a second, and if you don’t hear back, try a third. Just make sure you give them some time in between emails so you don’t come across as too pushy.
12. Include A CTA
Every email needs a CTA or call-to-action. This could be anything from asking for a meeting to requesting more information. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that you actually want your potential client to do. If your CTA is too vague, they won’t know what you want from them and are less likely to take action. And, make your CTA striking. Bold. Visible. Make them click on it.
Final Thoughts – Be Patient
Cold outreach campaigns can take a lot of time and effort, but they’re worth it if you’re able to land even just one new client. The most important thing to remember is to be patient. Don’t expect results overnight, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back from everyone you reach out to. If you keep at it, eventually you’ll find the clients who are the perfect fit for your business.