If you're like most people, the thought of writing a cold email makes you cringe. After all, who wants to reach out to complete strangers and try to sell them something?
But what if I told you that cold emailing could be one of the most effective marketing tools in your arsenal?
With the right approach, a cold email can help you land new clients, connect with influencers, and even score a job interview.
In this article, we'll show you how to write a cold email that gets results. We'll also share some templates and examples from successful entrepreneurs who've used cold emailing to achieve their goals.
Let's get started!
What Is A Cold Email?A cold email is an email sent to a recipient who doesn't know you. Unlike a warm email, which is sent to someone you have a connection with, or a hot email, which is sent to someone who has already expressed interest in your product or service, a cold email is sent completely out of the blue.
While cold emailing can be daunting, it can also be extremely effective. In fact, according to a study by The Harvard Business Review, cold emailing is 10 times more effective at acquiring new customers than Facebook ads.
Of course, not all cold emails are created equal. To get results from your cold emailing campaign, you need to know how to write a cold email that actually gets read (and doesn't end up in the recipient's spam folder).
How To Write A Cold EmailWhen it comes to writing a cold email, there's no one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are certain elements that all successful cold emails share.
In general, your cold email should be:
- Short : Keep your email short and to the point. The average person only spends a few seconds reading an email, so you need to make sure your message is clear and concise.
- Keep your email short and to the point - The average person only spends a few seconds reading an email, so you need to make sure your message is clear and concise. Personalized : Take the time to personalize your email. A generic, mass-produced email will immediately turn off your recipient. Instead, address the recipient by name and write as if you're speaking to them directly.
- Take the time to personalize your email - A generic, mass-produced email will immediately turn off your recipient. Instead, address the recipient by name and write as if you're speaking to them directly. Relevant : Make sure your email is relevant to the recipient. Before you hit "send," ask yourself whether the person you're contacting would actually be interested in what you have to say.
- Make sure your email is relevant to the recipient - Before you hit "send," ask yourself whether the person you're contacting would actually be interested in what you have to say. Value
- Driven - Your email should offer value to the recipient. Whether you're sharing helpful information, offering a discount, or simply introducing yourself, make sure there's something in it for them.
- Your email should offer value to the recipient - Whether you're sharing helpful information, offering a discount, or simply introducing yourself, make sure there's something in it for them. Professional - Even if you're writing to a friend or acquaintance, keep your email professional. This means avoiding slang, emojis, and other informal language.
- Even if you're writing to a friend or acquaintance, keep your email professional - This means avoiding slang, emojis, and other informal language. Polite : Be polite and courteous in your email.
- Be polite and courteous in your email - Remember, you're reaching out to someone who doesn't know you, so it's important to come across as friendly and respectful. Take the time to proofread your email before you hit "send." A few typos or grammatical errors can make you look unprofessional and damage your credibility.
Following these guidelines will help you write a cold email template that actually gets read. However, to really capture your recipient's attention, you need to go one step further.
The Subject LineYour subject line is the first (and sometimes only) thing your recipient will see, so it's important to make a good impression.
