Cold email is not just about hitting “send” and hoping for the best. It’s about standing out, making a connection, and providing real value to the person on the other end.

But here’s the good news: with personalization, you can dramatically boost your cold email response rates.

Let me share a real example to illustrate this.

A Cold Email Case Study: Adam’s Outreach

Adam emailed me with this message:

Adam followed up multiple times, asking, “Where shall we go from here?”

While his persistence was commendable, his outreach lacked one key element: personalization.

Why Personalization Matters

People are bombarded with generic emails every day. To get someone’s attention, your email must feel like it was written specifically for them. Otherwise, it’s just noise in their inbox.

When I replied to Adam, I acknowledged his hustle but offered this simple advice:

“Love the cold outreach and hustle. Consider personalizing your outreach. Here’s how to get more responses: blitzmetrics.com/if-youre-cold-calling-dont-do-this/.“

So, how do you personalize effectively? Let’s break it down.

Proven Personalization Techniques to Boost Cold Email Response Rates

1. Do Your Research: Before reaching out, take time to understand your recipient. What are their challenges, goals, or recent achievements? A quick look at their LinkedIn profile, blog posts, or social media can provide valuable insights.
2. Make It About Them: Your email should focus on how you can add value to the recipient, not just promote your services. Use phrases like: “Here’s a resource I think you’ll find helpful…”, “I noticed you…”
3. Add a Personal Touch: Mention something unique to the recipient. Did they recently post an insightful article? Are they passionate about a cause? Acknowledge it. For example: “I loved your recent article on marketing trends—your insights on video ads were spot on.”
4. Keep It Short and Clear: Busy professionals don’t have time for long emails. Get straight to the point, and ensure your call to action (CTA) is simple.
5. Show Credibility Quickly: Use social proof or examples to establish trust. Mention specific results you’ve achieved for similar clients, but don’t overdo it. Example: “We recently helped [Company X] increase their email response rates by 25% in 30 days.”

The Results of Personalization

When you take the time to personalize your cold emails, you’re no longer just another sender in someone’s inbox. You become someone who’s worth their attention.

Adam’s email could have been more effective if he had researched my work, referenced a relevant project, or shared how his services align with my goals. While his offer to donate to puppies was a nice touch, it wasn’t enough to stand out.

Take, for example, Alex Makowski, who sent me a cold message. Before reaching out, he took his time to find out what I do. He then recorded a short, personalized video of four minutes as well. This got my attention, and I responded to him immediately.

The result is that we have become friends, and we have had several Zoom meetings, including the one where I helped him build authority as a lead generation expert.

Final Thoughts

Cold email doesn’t have to be cold. By adding warmth through personalization, you can build connections and boost your response rates.

The next time you send an email, ask yourself: “Does this feel like it was written for the recipient, or could it be sent to anyone?”

Remember, personalization isn’t just a tactic—it’s a way to show you genuinely care about the person you’re reaching out to. And when people feel valued, they’re far more likely to respond.

Start small. Implement one or two of these techniques in your next email, and watch how your results improve. You might just be surprised at the difference it makes.

Dennis Yu

Dennis Yu is co-author of the #1 best selling book on Amazon in social media, The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. He has spent a billion dollars on Facebook ads across his agencies and agencies he advises. Mr. Yu is the "million jobs" guy-- on a mission to create one million jobs via hands-on social media training, partnering with universities and professional organizations. You can find him quoted in major publications and on television such as CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, and LA Times. Clients have included Nike, Red Bull, the Golden State Warriors, Ashley Furniture, Quiznos-- down to local service businesses like real estate agents and dentists. He's spoken at over 750 conferences in 20 countries, having flown over 6 million miles in the last 30 years to train up young adults and business owners. He speaks for free as long as the organization believes in the job-creation mission and covers business class travel. You can find him hiking tall mountains, eating chicken wings, and taking Kaqun oxygen baths-- likely in a city near you.

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