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:
Research your audience
Craft engaging subject lines
Create strong opening lines
Customize the email body
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:
Talk about issues they've posted about on social media
Change your offer based on their company's money reports
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:
Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers
Look into market trends and problems in your industry
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:
Write like you speak.
Use new info about the person or their company.
Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.
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:
Look at your numbers often to see what's working
Group people better to make emails more personal
Keep your contact list up to date
Learn new ways to make emails personal
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
Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix
Try different versions to see what works best
Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails
Group people by what they do or need
Try different levels of personal info for each group
Keep your contact list up to date
Ask people who liked your emails what they liked
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:
Research your audience
Craft engaging subject lines
Create strong opening lines
Customize the email body
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:
Talk about issues they've posted about on social media
Change your offer based on their company's money reports
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:
Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers
Look into market trends and problems in your industry
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:
Write like you speak.
Use new info about the person or their company.
Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.
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:
Look at your numbers often to see what's working
Group people better to make emails more personal
Keep your contact list up to date
Learn new ways to make emails personal
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
Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix
Try different versions to see what works best
Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails
Group people by what they do or need
Try different levels of personal info for each group
Keep your contact list up to date
Ask people who liked your emails what they liked
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:
Research your audience
Craft engaging subject lines
Create strong opening lines
Customize the email body
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:
Talk about issues they've posted about on social media
Change your offer based on their company's money reports
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:
Make buyer personas to understand your ideal customers
Look into market trends and problems in your industry
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:
Write like you speak.
Use new info about the person or their company.
Don't use too many fill-in-the-blank spots.
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:
Look at your numbers often to see what's working
Group people better to make emails more personal
Keep your contact list up to date
Learn new ways to make emails personal
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
Look at your current cold emails and see what to fix
Try different versions to see what works best
Check how many people open, click, and answer your emails
Group people by what they do or need
Try different levels of personal info for each group
Keep your contact list up to date
Ask people who liked your emails what they liked
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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Book a quick call and fill out the short form to get a tailored audit on the specific problems you are facing.
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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.
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It's time to actually achieve your revenue forecast
Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.
It's time to actually achieve your revenue forecast
Attract new clients and unlock new business growth with our proven acquisition funnels and resources.