Marketing

How Personal Should Cold Emails Be?

11 min read

Marketing

How Personal Should Cold Emails Be?

11 min read

Marketing

How Personal Should Cold Emails Be?

11 min read

[og: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/]

Cold emails are a vital tool for business outreach, but striking the right balance of personalization is crucial. Here's what you need to know:

  • Personalization increases open rates, builds trust, and boosts sales

  • Finding the right level of personalization is key:

    • Too little: emails get ignored or look like spam

    • Too much: can be creepy or time-consuming

Personalization levels:

Level

Details Used

Effectiveness

Basic

Name, company, job title

Good starting point

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows research effort

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Highest impact

Key factors to consider:

  • Target audience

  • Industry norms

  • Email purpose

  • Time and list size

To personalize effectively:

  1. Research your audience

  2. Craft engaging subject lines

  3. Create strong opening lines

  4. Customize the email body

  5. Personalize the call-to-action

Remember:

  • Keep it genuine

  • Don't be creepy

  • Measure and improve your results

By following these guidelines, you can create cold emails that are personal enough to engage recipients without crossing boundaries.

Related video from YouTube


The Problem: Finding the Right Balance

Making cold emails personal is tricky. It's important to get it right, but there are challenges.

Difficulties in Personalization

Making emails personal takes work. Here are the main issues:

Challenge

Explanation

Time

Looking up info and writing unique emails takes long

Big Numbers

Hard to make many emails personal and still good

Correct Info

Making sure personal details are right and new

What Matters

Finding info that really matters to each person

Risks of Too Much Personalization

Being too personal can cause problems:

  • Creepy: Too much personal info can make people uncomfortable

  • Slow: Spending too long on each email means fewer sent

  • Mistakes: More personal details mean more chances for errors

  • Too Far: Using very private info can seem rude

Risks of Too Little Personalization

Not being personal enough also has downsides:

  • Ignored: Plain emails are easy to skip or delete

  • Looks Like Spam: Not personal enough can make emails seem like junk

  • Miss Chances: Not talking about specific needs means fewer sales

  • Bad Start: Basic messages can make your company look lazy

The key is to find the middle ground. Be personal enough to show you care, but not so much that it's weird or takes too long.

Levels of Personalization

Cold emails can be personalized in different ways. Let's look at these levels and how they affect email success:

Basic Personalization

Basic personalization uses easy-to-find info about the person you're emailing. This includes:

  • Their name

  • Their company name

  • Their job title

Even these simple things can make emails work better. A Mailchimp study found that emails with names in the subject line get 10.64% more clicks.

Basic Info

What It Does

Name

More people open the email

Company name

Shows it's for them

Job title

Shows you know what they do

Medium Personalization

Medium personalization adds more details like:

  • New company news

  • Problems in their industry

  • Shared contacts or interests

This shows you've done some research. You might mention an article they wrote or a project their company just finished.

Example: "I saw [Company Name] just opened an office in Asia. Since you're growing worldwide, our language services might help."

Advanced Personalization

Advanced personalization is very specific and can include:

  • Problems they might have in their job

  • Things you both like or have done

  • How your product can help them

This takes a lot of research but can work really well. Hubspot found that personalized calls-to-action work 202% better than general ones.

Ways to do advanced personalization:

  1. Talk about issues they've posted about on social media

  2. Change your offer based on their company's money reports

  3. Mention something you have in common (like going to the same school)

Personalization Level

What You Use

How It Helps

Basic

Name, company, job

Gets attention

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows you did homework

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Makes a strong connection

Factors Affecting Personalization Level

When deciding how personal to make your cold emails, think about these key points:

Target Audience

Who you're emailing changes how personal you should be:

Audience

How Personal to Be

Top bosses

Very personal, do lots of research

Middle managers

Focus on their job and industry

General leads

Basic personal touch, talk about general benefits

Industry Norms

Different jobs expect different kinds of emails:

  • Tech companies: Like new ideas and data

  • Banks: Prefer formal emails

  • Creative jobs: Might like unusual personal touches

Match your email style to what works in their field.

Email Purpose

Why you're writing affects how personal to be:

1. Getting a meeting: Show why it's worth their time

2. Selling something: Explain how it helps them

3. Making connections: Find things you have in common

Make your email personal in a way that fits your main goal.

Time and List Size

Balance being personal with getting emails out:

List Size

How to Personalize

Under 100 people

Spend time to make each email very personal

100-1000 people

Group similar people and personalize for each group

Over 1000 people

Use tools to add personal details automatically

Choose how much time to spend on each email based on how many you're sending.

How to Personalize Cold Emails Effectively

Here are ways to make your cold emails more personal and effective:

Research and Group Your Audience

Good research helps you personalize emails. Here's what to do:

  1. Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers

  2. Look into market trends and problems in your industry

  3. Group people with similar jobs, company sizes, and needs

This helps you write emails that fit each group.

Research Step

What It Does

Make buyer personas

Helps you write better messages

Look at market trends

Shows you industry problems

Use data tools

Tells you how customers act

Check social media

Shows what people are talking about

Ask customers

Tells you what they need and like

Write Good Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing people see. To make it work:

  • Write like you're talking to a friend

  • Use lowercase letters and emojis if it fits your audience

  • Don't use words that sound like spam

  • Add the person's name or company (but not too much)

Example: "{{First_name}}, I thought you might like this"

Create Strong Opening Lines

Look up the person you're emailing. Check their LinkedIn, blog, or social media. Use this info to start your email.

You could:

  • Talk about an article they wrote

  • Mention someone you both know

  • Talk about something good they did at work

  • Ask a smart question about their job

Example: "I liked your article about AI in marketing. Your ideas on..."

Customize the Email Body

Write about problems or goals the person might have. Use data to sort people into groups and write different emails for each group.

When you show how your product helps, use examples from similar companies. If you're emailing a tech startup, talk about how you helped other tech startups.

Personalize the Call-to-Action

Your call-to-action (CTA) should fit what the person needs. Don't use general CTAs. Focus on their problems and goals.

CTA Type

Example

General

"Want to see a demo?"

Personal

"Want to sell 4 times more?"

Use only one clear CTA in each email. Make the next steps easy to understand and right for that person.

Getting Personalization Right

Decide How Much to Personalize

Choose how personal to make your cold emails based on who you're writing to and what you want to achieve. Think about:

  • Who you're emailing: Big bosses need more personal emails. For lots of people, use less personal info.

  • How many emails: If you're sending a few, spend more time on each. For many emails, use less personal details.

  • What you want: Change how personal you are based on if you want a meeting, a sale, or just to say hello.

How Personal

Best For

Example

A little

Lots of emails

Talk about what's new in their job

Some

Medium-sized groups

Mention something good their company did

Very

Important people

Talk about their specific work problems

Keep It Real

Make your emails sound like you're talking to someone:

  1. Write like you speak.

  2. Use new info about the person or their company.

  3. Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.

  4. Share helpful ideas that match what they care about.

Remember, you want to start a chat, not show off what you know about them.

Don't Be Creepy

Be careful not to seem too nosy. Follow these rules:

  • Only use info anyone can find online about their work.

  • Don't talk about personal stuff not related to their job.

  • Focus on what they've done at work lately.

  • Use no more than three personal details in each email.

Do

Don't

Mention a recent company award

Talk about their family

Discuss an article they wrote

Use info from private social media

Ask about a new product launch

Bring up personal hobbies

Measuring and Improving Personalization

Key Metrics to Watch

To check how well your personal cold emails work, look at these numbers:

Metric

What It Means

Good

Very Good

Open Rate

How many people open your email

15-25%

Over 25%

Click-Through Rate

How many click links in your email

2-5%

Over 5%

Reply Rate

How many answer your email

5-10%

Over 10%

Conversion Rate

How many do what you want (like book a meeting)

1-3%

Over 3%

A/B Testing

A/B testing helps you make your emails better:

1. Subject Line Test: Make two different subject lines. Send each to some people and see which gets opened more.

2. Email Body Test: Try emails with different amounts of personal info. See which one people like more.

3. Call-to-Action (CTA) Test: Compare personal CTAs with general ones. Check which gets more clicks.

4. Signature Test: Try different email endings, like with or without social media links.

To do good A/B tests:

  • Change one thing at a time

  • Send to at least 1000 people per version

  • Run the test for 1-2 weeks

  • Use math to make sure your results are real

Keep Making Emails Better

To keep improving your personal cold emails:

  1. Look at your numbers often to see what's working

  2. Group people better to make emails more personal

  3. Keep your contact list up to date

  4. Learn new ways to make emails personal

  5. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked about them

Step

What to Do

Check numbers

See which emails work best

Group contacts

Make emails fit each group better

Update info

Keep contact details fresh

Learn new tricks

Find new ways to be personal

Get feedback

Ask what people liked in your emails

Conclusion

Making cold emails personal is important but tricky. Here's how to do it well:

Main Points

What to Do

Why It Matters

Add 3 personal details

Makes emails work better

Research who you're emailing

Helps you write better messages

Balance being personal with sending many emails

Saves time while still being effective

Talk about their work or articles

Shows you care about what they do

Ask good questions

Makes them want to answer

Don't use fake personal info

People can tell it's not real

Focus on their work problems

Shows how you can help

Have one clear next step

Makes it easy for them to respond

What to Do Next

  1. Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix

  2. Try different versions to see what works best

  3. Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails

  4. Group people by what they do or need

  5. Try different levels of personal info for each group

  6. Keep your contact list up to date

  7. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked

  8. Learn new ways to make emails personal

FAQs

What do numbers say about making cold emails personal?

Making cold emails personal can help a lot:

Stat

Percentage

More people click links

Up by 81.5%

B2B customers expect personal messages

86%

Customers willing to share more info

83%

Marketers who make emails personal

Only 37%

How can you make your cold email personal?

Here are ways to make cold emails feel more personal:

Method

Example

Say where you found them

"I saw your post on LinkedIn"

Write for your ideal customer

Focus on their job problems

Use recent news

Mention a new product launch

Talk about their goals

"I heard you want to grow sales"

Bring up competitors

"I see you compete with Company X"

Give real praise

"Your recent article was helpful"

Mention shared contacts

"Our mutual friend John suggested I reach out"

Talk about their interests

"I noticed you're into rock climbing"

What's a cold email without personal touches?

A cold email that's not personal:

  • Sounds the same for everyone

  • Doesn't work as well

  • Doesn't think about what the reader needs

  • Is less interesting to read

  • Often gets ignored or deleted

Emails that are personal feel special to each reader and work much better.

[og: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/]

Cold emails are a vital tool for business outreach, but striking the right balance of personalization is crucial. Here's what you need to know:

  • Personalization increases open rates, builds trust, and boosts sales

  • Finding the right level of personalization is key:

    • Too little: emails get ignored or look like spam

    • Too much: can be creepy or time-consuming

Personalization levels:

Level

Details Used

Effectiveness

Basic

Name, company, job title

Good starting point

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows research effort

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Highest impact

Key factors to consider:

  • Target audience

  • Industry norms

  • Email purpose

  • Time and list size

To personalize effectively:

  1. Research your audience

  2. Craft engaging subject lines

  3. Create strong opening lines

  4. Customize the email body

  5. Personalize the call-to-action

Remember:

  • Keep it genuine

  • Don't be creepy

  • Measure and improve your results

By following these guidelines, you can create cold emails that are personal enough to engage recipients without crossing boundaries.

Related video from YouTube


The Problem: Finding the Right Balance

Making cold emails personal is tricky. It's important to get it right, but there are challenges.

Difficulties in Personalization

Making emails personal takes work. Here are the main issues:

Challenge

Explanation

Time

Looking up info and writing unique emails takes long

Big Numbers

Hard to make many emails personal and still good

Correct Info

Making sure personal details are right and new

What Matters

Finding info that really matters to each person

Risks of Too Much Personalization

Being too personal can cause problems:

  • Creepy: Too much personal info can make people uncomfortable

  • Slow: Spending too long on each email means fewer sent

  • Mistakes: More personal details mean more chances for errors

  • Too Far: Using very private info can seem rude

Risks of Too Little Personalization

Not being personal enough also has downsides:

  • Ignored: Plain emails are easy to skip or delete

  • Looks Like Spam: Not personal enough can make emails seem like junk

  • Miss Chances: Not talking about specific needs means fewer sales

  • Bad Start: Basic messages can make your company look lazy

The key is to find the middle ground. Be personal enough to show you care, but not so much that it's weird or takes too long.

Levels of Personalization

Cold emails can be personalized in different ways. Let's look at these levels and how they affect email success:

Basic Personalization

Basic personalization uses easy-to-find info about the person you're emailing. This includes:

  • Their name

  • Their company name

  • Their job title

Even these simple things can make emails work better. A Mailchimp study found that emails with names in the subject line get 10.64% more clicks.

Basic Info

What It Does

Name

More people open the email

Company name

Shows it's for them

Job title

Shows you know what they do

Medium Personalization

Medium personalization adds more details like:

  • New company news

  • Problems in their industry

  • Shared contacts or interests

This shows you've done some research. You might mention an article they wrote or a project their company just finished.

Example: "I saw [Company Name] just opened an office in Asia. Since you're growing worldwide, our language services might help."

Advanced Personalization

Advanced personalization is very specific and can include:

  • Problems they might have in their job

  • Things you both like or have done

  • How your product can help them

This takes a lot of research but can work really well. Hubspot found that personalized calls-to-action work 202% better than general ones.

Ways to do advanced personalization:

  1. Talk about issues they've posted about on social media

  2. Change your offer based on their company's money reports

  3. Mention something you have in common (like going to the same school)

Personalization Level

What You Use

How It Helps

Basic

Name, company, job

Gets attention

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows you did homework

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Makes a strong connection

Factors Affecting Personalization Level

When deciding how personal to make your cold emails, think about these key points:

Target Audience

Who you're emailing changes how personal you should be:

Audience

How Personal to Be

Top bosses

Very personal, do lots of research

Middle managers

Focus on their job and industry

General leads

Basic personal touch, talk about general benefits

Industry Norms

Different jobs expect different kinds of emails:

  • Tech companies: Like new ideas and data

  • Banks: Prefer formal emails

  • Creative jobs: Might like unusual personal touches

Match your email style to what works in their field.

Email Purpose

Why you're writing affects how personal to be:

1. Getting a meeting: Show why it's worth their time

2. Selling something: Explain how it helps them

3. Making connections: Find things you have in common

Make your email personal in a way that fits your main goal.

Time and List Size

Balance being personal with getting emails out:

List Size

How to Personalize

Under 100 people

Spend time to make each email very personal

100-1000 people

Group similar people and personalize for each group

Over 1000 people

Use tools to add personal details automatically

Choose how much time to spend on each email based on how many you're sending.

How to Personalize Cold Emails Effectively

Here are ways to make your cold emails more personal and effective:

Research and Group Your Audience

Good research helps you personalize emails. Here's what to do:

  1. Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers

  2. Look into market trends and problems in your industry

  3. Group people with similar jobs, company sizes, and needs

This helps you write emails that fit each group.

Research Step

What It Does

Make buyer personas

Helps you write better messages

Look at market trends

Shows you industry problems

Use data tools

Tells you how customers act

Check social media

Shows what people are talking about

Ask customers

Tells you what they need and like

Write Good Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing people see. To make it work:

  • Write like you're talking to a friend

  • Use lowercase letters and emojis if it fits your audience

  • Don't use words that sound like spam

  • Add the person's name or company (but not too much)

Example: "{{First_name}}, I thought you might like this"

Create Strong Opening Lines

Look up the person you're emailing. Check their LinkedIn, blog, or social media. Use this info to start your email.

You could:

  • Talk about an article they wrote

  • Mention someone you both know

  • Talk about something good they did at work

  • Ask a smart question about their job

Example: "I liked your article about AI in marketing. Your ideas on..."

Customize the Email Body

Write about problems or goals the person might have. Use data to sort people into groups and write different emails for each group.

When you show how your product helps, use examples from similar companies. If you're emailing a tech startup, talk about how you helped other tech startups.

Personalize the Call-to-Action

Your call-to-action (CTA) should fit what the person needs. Don't use general CTAs. Focus on their problems and goals.

CTA Type

Example

General

"Want to see a demo?"

Personal

"Want to sell 4 times more?"

Use only one clear CTA in each email. Make the next steps easy to understand and right for that person.

Getting Personalization Right

Decide How Much to Personalize

Choose how personal to make your cold emails based on who you're writing to and what you want to achieve. Think about:

  • Who you're emailing: Big bosses need more personal emails. For lots of people, use less personal info.

  • How many emails: If you're sending a few, spend more time on each. For many emails, use less personal details.

  • What you want: Change how personal you are based on if you want a meeting, a sale, or just to say hello.

How Personal

Best For

Example

A little

Lots of emails

Talk about what's new in their job

Some

Medium-sized groups

Mention something good their company did

Very

Important people

Talk about their specific work problems

Keep It Real

Make your emails sound like you're talking to someone:

  1. Write like you speak.

  2. Use new info about the person or their company.

  3. Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.

  4. Share helpful ideas that match what they care about.

Remember, you want to start a chat, not show off what you know about them.

Don't Be Creepy

Be careful not to seem too nosy. Follow these rules:

  • Only use info anyone can find online about their work.

  • Don't talk about personal stuff not related to their job.

  • Focus on what they've done at work lately.

  • Use no more than three personal details in each email.

Do

Don't

Mention a recent company award

Talk about their family

Discuss an article they wrote

Use info from private social media

Ask about a new product launch

Bring up personal hobbies

Measuring and Improving Personalization

Key Metrics to Watch

To check how well your personal cold emails work, look at these numbers:

Metric

What It Means

Good

Very Good

Open Rate

How many people open your email

15-25%

Over 25%

Click-Through Rate

How many click links in your email

2-5%

Over 5%

Reply Rate

How many answer your email

5-10%

Over 10%

Conversion Rate

How many do what you want (like book a meeting)

1-3%

Over 3%

A/B Testing

A/B testing helps you make your emails better:

1. Subject Line Test: Make two different subject lines. Send each to some people and see which gets opened more.

2. Email Body Test: Try emails with different amounts of personal info. See which one people like more.

3. Call-to-Action (CTA) Test: Compare personal CTAs with general ones. Check which gets more clicks.

4. Signature Test: Try different email endings, like with or without social media links.

To do good A/B tests:

  • Change one thing at a time

  • Send to at least 1000 people per version

  • Run the test for 1-2 weeks

  • Use math to make sure your results are real

Keep Making Emails Better

To keep improving your personal cold emails:

  1. Look at your numbers often to see what's working

  2. Group people better to make emails more personal

  3. Keep your contact list up to date

  4. Learn new ways to make emails personal

  5. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked about them

Step

What to Do

Check numbers

See which emails work best

Group contacts

Make emails fit each group better

Update info

Keep contact details fresh

Learn new tricks

Find new ways to be personal

Get feedback

Ask what people liked in your emails

Conclusion

Making cold emails personal is important but tricky. Here's how to do it well:

Main Points

What to Do

Why It Matters

Add 3 personal details

Makes emails work better

Research who you're emailing

Helps you write better messages

Balance being personal with sending many emails

Saves time while still being effective

Talk about their work or articles

Shows you care about what they do

Ask good questions

Makes them want to answer

Don't use fake personal info

People can tell it's not real

Focus on their work problems

Shows how you can help

Have one clear next step

Makes it easy for them to respond

What to Do Next

  1. Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix

  2. Try different versions to see what works best

  3. Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails

  4. Group people by what they do or need

  5. Try different levels of personal info for each group

  6. Keep your contact list up to date

  7. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked

  8. Learn new ways to make emails personal

FAQs

What do numbers say about making cold emails personal?

Making cold emails personal can help a lot:

Stat

Percentage

More people click links

Up by 81.5%

B2B customers expect personal messages

86%

Customers willing to share more info

83%

Marketers who make emails personal

Only 37%

How can you make your cold email personal?

Here are ways to make cold emails feel more personal:

Method

Example

Say where you found them

"I saw your post on LinkedIn"

Write for your ideal customer

Focus on their job problems

Use recent news

Mention a new product launch

Talk about their goals

"I heard you want to grow sales"

Bring up competitors

"I see you compete with Company X"

Give real praise

"Your recent article was helpful"

Mention shared contacts

"Our mutual friend John suggested I reach out"

Talk about their interests

"I noticed you're into rock climbing"

What's a cold email without personal touches?

A cold email that's not personal:

  • Sounds the same for everyone

  • Doesn't work as well

  • Doesn't think about what the reader needs

  • Is less interesting to read

  • Often gets ignored or deleted

Emails that are personal feel special to each reader and work much better.

[og: https://app.seobotai.com/profitable.agency/webinars-a-dying-trend-or-lead-generation-lifeline/]

Cold emails are a vital tool for business outreach, but striking the right balance of personalization is crucial. Here's what you need to know:

  • Personalization increases open rates, builds trust, and boosts sales

  • Finding the right level of personalization is key:

    • Too little: emails get ignored or look like spam

    • Too much: can be creepy or time-consuming

Personalization levels:

Level

Details Used

Effectiveness

Basic

Name, company, job title

Good starting point

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows research effort

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Highest impact

Key factors to consider:

  • Target audience

  • Industry norms

  • Email purpose

  • Time and list size

To personalize effectively:

  1. Research your audience

  2. Craft engaging subject lines

  3. Create strong opening lines

  4. Customize the email body

  5. Personalize the call-to-action

Remember:

  • Keep it genuine

  • Don't be creepy

  • Measure and improve your results

By following these guidelines, you can create cold emails that are personal enough to engage recipients without crossing boundaries.

Related video from YouTube


The Problem: Finding the Right Balance

Making cold emails personal is tricky. It's important to get it right, but there are challenges.

Difficulties in Personalization

Making emails personal takes work. Here are the main issues:

Challenge

Explanation

Time

Looking up info and writing unique emails takes long

Big Numbers

Hard to make many emails personal and still good

Correct Info

Making sure personal details are right and new

What Matters

Finding info that really matters to each person

Risks of Too Much Personalization

Being too personal can cause problems:

  • Creepy: Too much personal info can make people uncomfortable

  • Slow: Spending too long on each email means fewer sent

  • Mistakes: More personal details mean more chances for errors

  • Too Far: Using very private info can seem rude

Risks of Too Little Personalization

Not being personal enough also has downsides:

  • Ignored: Plain emails are easy to skip or delete

  • Looks Like Spam: Not personal enough can make emails seem like junk

  • Miss Chances: Not talking about specific needs means fewer sales

  • Bad Start: Basic messages can make your company look lazy

The key is to find the middle ground. Be personal enough to show you care, but not so much that it's weird or takes too long.

Levels of Personalization

Cold emails can be personalized in different ways. Let's look at these levels and how they affect email success:

Basic Personalization

Basic personalization uses easy-to-find info about the person you're emailing. This includes:

  • Their name

  • Their company name

  • Their job title

Even these simple things can make emails work better. A Mailchimp study found that emails with names in the subject line get 10.64% more clicks.

Basic Info

What It Does

Name

More people open the email

Company name

Shows it's for them

Job title

Shows you know what they do

Medium Personalization

Medium personalization adds more details like:

  • New company news

  • Problems in their industry

  • Shared contacts or interests

This shows you've done some research. You might mention an article they wrote or a project their company just finished.

Example: "I saw [Company Name] just opened an office in Asia. Since you're growing worldwide, our language services might help."

Advanced Personalization

Advanced personalization is very specific and can include:

  • Problems they might have in their job

  • Things you both like or have done

  • How your product can help them

This takes a lot of research but can work really well. Hubspot found that personalized calls-to-action work 202% better than general ones.

Ways to do advanced personalization:

  1. Talk about issues they've posted about on social media

  2. Change your offer based on their company's money reports

  3. Mention something you have in common (like going to the same school)

Personalization Level

What You Use

How It Helps

Basic

Name, company, job

Gets attention

Medium

Company news, industry issues

Shows you did homework

Advanced

Specific problems, shared interests

Makes a strong connection

Factors Affecting Personalization Level

When deciding how personal to make your cold emails, think about these key points:

Target Audience

Who you're emailing changes how personal you should be:

Audience

How Personal to Be

Top bosses

Very personal, do lots of research

Middle managers

Focus on their job and industry

General leads

Basic personal touch, talk about general benefits

Industry Norms

Different jobs expect different kinds of emails:

  • Tech companies: Like new ideas and data

  • Banks: Prefer formal emails

  • Creative jobs: Might like unusual personal touches

Match your email style to what works in their field.

Email Purpose

Why you're writing affects how personal to be:

1. Getting a meeting: Show why it's worth their time

2. Selling something: Explain how it helps them

3. Making connections: Find things you have in common

Make your email personal in a way that fits your main goal.

Time and List Size

Balance being personal with getting emails out:

List Size

How to Personalize

Under 100 people

Spend time to make each email very personal

100-1000 people

Group similar people and personalize for each group

Over 1000 people

Use tools to add personal details automatically

Choose how much time to spend on each email based on how many you're sending.

How to Personalize Cold Emails Effectively

Here are ways to make your cold emails more personal and effective:

Research and Group Your Audience

Good research helps you personalize emails. Here's what to do:

  1. Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers

  2. Look into market trends and problems in your industry

  3. Group people with similar jobs, company sizes, and needs

This helps you write emails that fit each group.

Research Step

What It Does

Make buyer personas

Helps you write better messages

Look at market trends

Shows you industry problems

Use data tools

Tells you how customers act

Check social media

Shows what people are talking about

Ask customers

Tells you what they need and like

Write Good Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing people see. To make it work:

  • Write like you're talking to a friend

  • Use lowercase letters and emojis if it fits your audience

  • Don't use words that sound like spam

  • Add the person's name or company (but not too much)

Example: "{{First_name}}, I thought you might like this"

Create Strong Opening Lines

Look up the person you're emailing. Check their LinkedIn, blog, or social media. Use this info to start your email.

You could:

  • Talk about an article they wrote

  • Mention someone you both know

  • Talk about something good they did at work

  • Ask a smart question about their job

Example: "I liked your article about AI in marketing. Your ideas on..."

Customize the Email Body

Write about problems or goals the person might have. Use data to sort people into groups and write different emails for each group.

When you show how your product helps, use examples from similar companies. If you're emailing a tech startup, talk about how you helped other tech startups.

Personalize the Call-to-Action

Your call-to-action (CTA) should fit what the person needs. Don't use general CTAs. Focus on their problems and goals.

CTA Type

Example

General

"Want to see a demo?"

Personal

"Want to sell 4 times more?"

Use only one clear CTA in each email. Make the next steps easy to understand and right for that person.

Getting Personalization Right

Decide How Much to Personalize

Choose how personal to make your cold emails based on who you're writing to and what you want to achieve. Think about:

  • Who you're emailing: Big bosses need more personal emails. For lots of people, use less personal info.

  • How many emails: If you're sending a few, spend more time on each. For many emails, use less personal details.

  • What you want: Change how personal you are based on if you want a meeting, a sale, or just to say hello.

How Personal

Best For

Example

A little

Lots of emails

Talk about what's new in their job

Some

Medium-sized groups

Mention something good their company did

Very

Important people

Talk about their specific work problems

Keep It Real

Make your emails sound like you're talking to someone:

  1. Write like you speak.

  2. Use new info about the person or their company.

  3. Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.

  4. Share helpful ideas that match what they care about.

Remember, you want to start a chat, not show off what you know about them.

Don't Be Creepy

Be careful not to seem too nosy. Follow these rules:

  • Only use info anyone can find online about their work.

  • Don't talk about personal stuff not related to their job.

  • Focus on what they've done at work lately.

  • Use no more than three personal details in each email.

Do

Don't

Mention a recent company award

Talk about their family

Discuss an article they wrote

Use info from private social media

Ask about a new product launch

Bring up personal hobbies

Measuring and Improving Personalization

Key Metrics to Watch

To check how well your personal cold emails work, look at these numbers:

Metric

What It Means

Good

Very Good

Open Rate

How many people open your email

15-25%

Over 25%

Click-Through Rate

How many click links in your email

2-5%

Over 5%

Reply Rate

How many answer your email

5-10%

Over 10%

Conversion Rate

How many do what you want (like book a meeting)

1-3%

Over 3%

A/B Testing

A/B testing helps you make your emails better:

1. Subject Line Test: Make two different subject lines. Send each to some people and see which gets opened more.

2. Email Body Test: Try emails with different amounts of personal info. See which one people like more.

3. Call-to-Action (CTA) Test: Compare personal CTAs with general ones. Check which gets more clicks.

4. Signature Test: Try different email endings, like with or without social media links.

To do good A/B tests:

  • Change one thing at a time

  • Send to at least 1000 people per version

  • Run the test for 1-2 weeks

  • Use math to make sure your results are real

Keep Making Emails Better

To keep improving your personal cold emails:

  1. Look at your numbers often to see what's working

  2. Group people better to make emails more personal

  3. Keep your contact list up to date

  4. Learn new ways to make emails personal

  5. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked about them

Step

What to Do

Check numbers

See which emails work best

Group contacts

Make emails fit each group better

Update info

Keep contact details fresh

Learn new tricks

Find new ways to be personal

Get feedback

Ask what people liked in your emails

Conclusion

Making cold emails personal is important but tricky. Here's how to do it well:

Main Points

What to Do

Why It Matters

Add 3 personal details

Makes emails work better

Research who you're emailing

Helps you write better messages

Balance being personal with sending many emails

Saves time while still being effective

Talk about their work or articles

Shows you care about what they do

Ask good questions

Makes them want to answer

Don't use fake personal info

People can tell it's not real

Focus on their work problems

Shows how you can help

Have one clear next step

Makes it easy for them to respond

What to Do Next

  1. Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix

  2. Try different versions to see what works best

  3. Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails

  4. Group people by what they do or need

  5. Try different levels of personal info for each group

  6. Keep your contact list up to date

  7. Ask people who liked your emails what they liked

  8. Learn new ways to make emails personal

FAQs

What do numbers say about making cold emails personal?

Making cold emails personal can help a lot:

Stat

Percentage

More people click links

Up by 81.5%

B2B customers expect personal messages

86%

Customers willing to share more info

83%

Marketers who make emails personal

Only 37%

How can you make your cold email personal?

Here are ways to make cold emails feel more personal:

Method

Example

Say where you found them

"I saw your post on LinkedIn"

Write for your ideal customer

Focus on their job problems

Use recent news

Mention a new product launch

Talk about their goals

"I heard you want to grow sales"

Bring up competitors

"I see you compete with Company X"

Give real praise

"Your recent article was helpful"

Mention shared contacts

"Our mutual friend John suggested I reach out"

Talk about their interests

"I noticed you're into rock climbing"

What's a cold email without personal touches?

A cold email that's not personal:

  • Sounds the same for everyone

  • Doesn't work as well

  • Doesn't think about what the reader needs

  • Is less interesting to read

  • Often gets ignored or deleted

Emails that are personal feel special to each reader and work much better.

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Get a free

business audit

Book a quick call and fill out the short form to get a tailored audit on the specific problems you are facing.

It's time to actually achieve your revenue forecast

Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.

Profitable Agency

New York

London

© 2024 Profitable Agency

All rights reserved.

It's time to actually achieve your revenue forecast

Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.

Profitable Agency

New York

London

© 2024 Profitable Agency

All rights reserved.

It's time to actually achieve your revenue forecast

Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.

Profitable Agency

New York

London

© 2024 Profitable Agency

All rights reserved.