How to do cold email A/B/C testing?

A/B/C testing in cold emails involves creating and testing three different variations of a specific email element (e.g., subject line, opening line, call to action) to identify which performs best. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Define your goal

• Start with a clear objective, like increasing open rates, click-through rates, or reply rates. Knowing what you want to improve will guide your testing focus (e.g., subject lines for open rates, body content for engagement).

2. Choose a single element to test

• Test only one variable per A/B/C test to keep results clear. Common elements to test include:
  • Subject line: Try different approaches, such as curiosity-driven, question-based, or benefit-focused subject lines.
  • Opening line: Test personalized openings, direct questions, or value propositions.
  • Call to action (CTA): Experiment with soft asks (e.g., “Would you like more info?”), direct CTAs (e.g., “Can we schedule a call?”), and conversational CTAs.

3. Create three variations (A, B, C)

• Draft three unique versions of the chosen element. For example, if testing subject lines, write three options that vary in tone, approach, or focus. Keep the rest of the email content consistent to ensure the test results are accurate.

4. Segment your audience equally

• Divide your email list into three equal groups and send each group one of the variations. To reduce bias, use random assignment or ensure your segments are similar in characteristics like industry or job role.

5. Set a testing period and monitor performance

• Run the test over a period long enough to gather significant data (e.g., a few days to a week). Track metrics like open rates, response rates, and click-through rates, depending on the element tested.

6. Analyze results and choose a winner

• Once the test period ends, compare the performance of each variation. The version with the highest engagement on your chosen metric is your “winner” and can be used as your main approach going forward.

7. Iterate with further testing

• Use the winning version in your next campaign or as a baseline for further A/B/C testing. If you initially tested subject lines, you could then move on to testing different openings or CTAs to continue optimizing.

By running A/B/C tests regularly, you can systematically improve your cold email approach, focusing on the elements that resonate most with your audience.Note: A/B/C tests required a lot of volume. If your email database is less than 5k, focus on A/B test instead. Testing only 2 variable will help you iterate faster.