Email outreach is the most effective channel for revenue generation for 59% of B2B marketers. (Content Marketing Institute)
Email marketing yields a $38 return for every $1 spent in B2B. (HubSpot)
73 percent of B2B buyers prefer receiving communications via email. (MarketingSherpa)
The Anatomy of a High-Converting Cold Email
When considering a cold email strategy, it’s easy to get caught up in the trendy tech and happening how-to guides, but there’s more to cold email marketing than tools and tactics. It’s important to understand each element—from the subject line to the call to action—and how they work together to transform your outreach from ordinary to impactful.
This short section below is your anatomical chart of a cold email so you can write messages that raise open rates and drive conversions.
Subject Line
The subject line is the email element that has the most effect on your open rates. That’s because the title of your email shapes the first impression cold prospects will have about your brand as a whole.
A winning subject line is concise, direct, and intriguing but must also be curiosity-enhancing. It should hint at the topic of your email and why you’re reaching out to the prospect out of the blue.
Want to steal our catchiest subject lines? Check out our dedicated subject line guide. Greeting
The greeting is the first sentence in your email body that includes the recipient’s name. For example, “Hello {{first_name}}. It’s crucial to include the cold lead’s name here to make it personal. This simple step shows that you’ve done your basic homework of researching them, and it will also help you avoid spam filters.
Custom First Line
Including a custom first line in your email is an excellent way to grab attention right off the bat. It helps you establish a strong connection with the prospect and keep them reading. And it’s also a great technique for avoiding spam filters as you’ll be personalizing a good portion of your email body.
The way to write custom first lines is simple! You could mention australia cell phone number database something relevant to the target company in a short sentence or two. For example, you can congratulate them on any good news they’ve shared recently. Or comment on why you admire their brand.
The one caveat: it has to be genuine. Prospects can see through fake personalization like a parent can see through a false promise. If your first impression is a fabrication, you’ll have gained even less trust than if you had sent out a cookie-cutter template.
Quick Introduction
Your introduction should be brief and on-point. Talk about your business and what you do in one short, concise sentence — and be sure not to promote any products or services at this point. You should give a general overview of your company and how it’s serving clients similar to the prospect.
Social Proof
Providing social proof in the first email isn’t aimed at making a conversion. However, showing off your achievements early on is crucial for establishing trust and giving cold prospects a reason to respond or at least consider your company.
It’s best to highlight social proof for B2B cold emails through relevant case studies. Summarize what you did and the results achieved in a few sentences — without attaching a PDF file or link to an external page.