Are you struggling to get responses to your cold emails?
Sending cold emails can be tough, but sending follow-up emails is even tougher. That's why we've put together this guide on how to write and send effective cold follow-up emails that will help you break through the noise and get noticed.
Once you've grasped how to write a cold email, and begun your first campaign, you'll want to move on to the next step in the engagement process, follow-ups.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to craft compelling follow-up emails that will increase your response rates.
So, whether you're a sales professional, a marketer, or a small business owner, this guide is for you. Let's dive in and start sending follow-up emails that get results!
What is a cold follow-up email?
A cold follow-up email is an email sent after your first initial email to a customer.
But what is a cold email in the first place? In layman's terms, a cold email is an email that you send to a prospect with whom you haven't had any previous communication or connection.
After your first cold email, a follow-up with most of the same information is sent. Before the days of the Internet, sales teams would do ‘cold calls’, which are now the bane of every landline in America!
Unlike warm emails –which are sent to people who have already shown interest in your business or product– cold emails require you to start from scratch and make a first impression.
Why send cold follow-up emails?
Now, you may be thinking, "Why bother with cold follow-up emails when warm leads are easier to close?" While warm leads certainly have their advantages, there are several reasons why sending cold and cold follow-up emails are important:
1. Build relationships
By sending a well-crafted follow-up email, you can establish a relationship with a prospect, even if they've never heard of your business before. This can help build trust and increase the likelihood of a future conversion.
In fact, according to McKinsey, emails are up to 40% more effective as a marketing tool than social media.
With engagement rates that are too high to ignore, cold emailing and follow-ups are a must-have in your marketing strategy!
2. Increase response rates
While it is true that cold emails typically have a lower response rate than warm emails, following up can help improve your chances of getting a response.
Cold email campaigns with 4 to 7 emails per sequence get three times as many responses compared to campaigns with less than 4 emails per sequence.
Want to learn more about sequences? Check out our post on cold email sequences.
Curious about what a good open rate is? Check out our post on marketing email open rates.
By taking the time to craft effective follow-up emails, you can leave a good impression and even get new customers or clients.
How to Write Effective Cold Emails
There are three important steps you should take before launching a cold email campaign: research, writing and sending the first email, and then the follow-up strategy. Following these steps will get you on the right path to increasing your open and conversion rates.
a) Research and Preparation
When it comes to writing effective cold follow-up emails, research is key. Before hitting send, you need to take the time to research your prospect and their company.
This will help you craft an email that's personalized and relevant and will increase your chances of getting a response.
So, what should you be looking for when researching your prospect? Here are a few key things to consider:
Pain points: What challenges is your prospect facing? Are there any areas that your product or service can help solve? By identifying these pain points, you can tailor your message to resonate with your prospect and demonstrate how you can provide value.
Company information: What is the prospect's company all about? What are their values, mission, and goals? Understanding these things can help you craft your message to align with their company culture and objectives.
Contact information: Who should you be reaching out to? Make sure you have the correct contact information for your prospect, whether that's their email address or social media profiles.
Once you've gathered this information, it's time to determine what value you can provide to your potential client. This could be anything from a helpful resource or article to a personalized demo of your product. By providing value upfront, you can demonstrate your expertise and build trust..
Overall, taking the time to research who you’re emailing and identify pain points and challenges can help you craft a personalized and relevant follow-up email that resonates with your prospect and increases your chances of getting a response.
b) Crafting and Sending Your First Email
Once you've done your research, it's time to craft your cold follow-up email. Here are some key elements to include:
Personalized greeting: Start your email with a personalized greeting, addressing the recipient by name. This shows that you've done your research and are not just sending a generic mass email ‘to whom it may concern’.
Purpose: Clearly state the purpose of your email in the first sentence or two. Let the recipient know why you're reaching out and what you hope to achieve.
Value proposition: Address the pain points or challenges that you identified during your research and explain how your product or service can provide value. Make sure to be specific and highlight the benefits that your prospect will receive.
Call-to-action: Include a clear call-to-action, such as scheduling a call or demo, or asking for a response to a specific question. This helps move the conversation forward and increases the likelihood of a response.
Polite tone: This may go without saying, but be sure to close your email with a polite, professional tone. Thank the recipient for their time and consideration, and let them know that you're available to answer any questions they may have.
Short and simple: While it may be tempting to write about how amazing your offer is and how your services can change your prospects’ lives, it’s important to remember that lengthy emails can scare people away. Keep your emails short and sweet.
Remember, your goal is to make a connection with your prospect and start a conversation, not to make a sale right away. By crafting a personalized and value-driven follow-up email, you can build trust and establish a relationship that will hopefully lead to future conversions.
Need an example? Let’s say you’re a company that provides SEO services to small to medium-sized businesses, and you have identified a prospect that has little to no SEO experience and seems to be trying to gain traction on Google. Here’s what a cold email could look like:
Subject: Improving Your Google Ranking Hello [Prospect's Name], I noticed your website and I wanted to reach out to see if you'd be interested in learning more about improving your Google ranking. As a company that provides SEO services to small to medium-sized businesses, we've helped many businesses like yours gain traction and visibility on search engines. I understand that you may be a beginner in the world of SEO, but that's where we come in. We can help you optimize your website for search engines, target relevant keywords, and create content that resonates with your target audience. Our goal is to help you increase your website traffic and drive more conversions. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, we’d like to invite you to try a 10-day free trial. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about our services. Best wishes, [Your Name] [Your contact information] |
Naturally, you should change this to suit your needs, and a free offering isn’t necessary. Just make sure you have a clear call-to-action, and that it is appealing to your prospect and doesn’t require too much of their time or effort.
Then, it’s time to hit send! The next step is to send a follow-up.
c) Sending a Cold Follow-up Email
After your initial email, it’s time to craft a follow-up. Your follow-up will look a lot like your first email and should include the same tone, personalized, greeting, and call to action.
However, while the first email was more of a casual introduction, your follow-up should be more direct with your offerings or call-to-action.
Here is what a follow-up to our previous example could look like:
Hi [Prospect's Name], I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding improving your Google ranking. I understand that you may be busy, but I wanted to make sure that my previous message didn't get lost in your inbox. As a quick reminder, our company specializes in providing SEO services to small to medium-sized businesses like yours. We've helped many businesses improve their visibility on search engines and drive more traffic to their websites. We believe that we can do the same for your business. If you're still interested in learning more about how we can help you optimize your website for search engines and drive more traffic, let's schedule a quick call. We can discuss your specific needs and goals, and provide more information about our services. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Best, [Your Name] [Your contact information] |
That’s all there is to it!
There are some considerations you should take when sending follow-ups, though. It’s one thing to send some emails, but you must also go about it in the right way.
10 Effective Cold Email Follow Up Templates
After sending that initial email, the real work begins with crafting effective follow-ups that grab attention and encourage action.
If you’re unsure of where to start or what to say, try one of these 10 proven cold email follow-up templates to help you increase your response rates and move prospects further down the sales funnel.
You can use these cold email templates as they are, or put your own flair on them!
Each template uses a mix of formal and informal language, so be sure to use the tone that best fits your brand voice and relationship to your prospect.
1. Gentle reminder
Subject: Just Checking In Hi [Name], I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to circle back on my previous message to see if you had any thoughts or questions regarding [specific topic or offer]. I understand that you're likely busy, so no pressure at all. If you're still interested, I'm here to provide any additional information you may need. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, [Your name and information] |
2. Value reminder
Subject: Exclusive Resource Just for You Hello [Name], I wanted to follow up on my previous email to make sure you didn't miss out on the [ resource or offer] I mentioned when we spoke. We’ve designed specifically to help with [address a pain point or achieve a goal], and I believe it could be incredibly beneficial for [Prospect's Company]. Let me know if you'd like me to resend the details, or we can discuss it further. Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you! Warm regards, [Your name and information] |
3. Mutual Benefit
Subject: Don’t Miss Out on This Win-Win Opportunity! Hi [Name], I've been thinking about our previous conversation and wanted to emphasize how our collaboration could be mutually beneficial. By [specific action or partnership], we can [outline potential benefits or outcomes]. I'm confident that together, we can achieve [shared goal or objective]. Let me know if you'd like to explore this further. Looking forward to your response! Take care, [Your name and information] |
4. Social proof
Subject: Success Stories from [Industry] Hello [Name], I wanted to share some success stories from companies in [shared industry] who have benefited from our [product or service]. These real-life examples show the positive impact [your company] can have on businesses like yours. If you'd like to hear more or discuss how we can make our solution work best for you, I'm available at your convenience. Thanks for considering. Best wishes, [Your name and information] |
5. Limited-time offer
Subject: Time is Running Out! Last Chance to/for [Special Offer] Hi [Name], We wanted to reach out one last time to remind you about our limited-time offer on [product or service]. This exclusive deal ends soon, and we'd hate for you to miss out on the opportunity to [benefit of offer]. If you're interested or have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch. We're here to help get you started! Best regards, [Your name and information] |
6. Follow-up call
Subject: Quick Chat Tomorrow? Hello [Name], How’s everything going since we last talked? I wanted to touch base and see if you'd be available for a quick chat tomorrow to discuss [specific topic or offer]. It would be a great opportunity to clear up any questions or concerns you may have and explore how we can support [their company]. Let me know if this works for you! Looking forward to connecting. Kind regards, [Your name and information] |
7. Personalized question
Subject: Quick Question for You Hi [Name], I've been reflecting on our previous conversation and had a quick question for you. [Insert personalized question related to prospect's business or interests]. Your insights would be greatly appreciated, and I'm eager to hear your thoughts! Thanks for your time. Best regards, [Your name and information] |
8. Additional resource
Subject: Helpful Resource for You Good afternoon [Name], Following up on our recent correspondence, I wanted to share an additional resource that I believe could be valuable for [their company]. It's [description of resource], and I think it aligns well with [specific area of interest or need]. Feel free to check it out, and let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss further. Thank you for your consideration. Best wishes, [Your name and information] |
9. Friendly check-in
Subject: How Are Things Going? Hey there [Name], I wanted to check in and see how things are going on your end this week. If you’ve had a chance to review my previous email, I'd love to hear your thoughts or address any questions you may have. No rush, of course. Just wanted to touch base and see that everything is going smoothly! Looking forward to our next chat. ‘Til next time, [Your name and information] |
10. Solution-oriented follow-up
Subject: Addressing Your Needs Hello [Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to follow up on my previous email and dig deeper into how we can address [specific pain point or challenge] at [their company]. Our [product or service] is uniquely positioned to [solution or benefit], and I'm confident it could make a significant difference for your team. Let's schedule a call to explore this further. Looking forward to hearing from you! Warm regards, [Your name and information] |
With the right approach and a dash of creativity, you can turn missed opportunities into valuable connections and closed deals.
Using these 10 effective follow-up templates can help you not only increase your response rates, but also build stronger relationships with your prospects.
So don't be afraid to hit send and start reaping the rewards of strategic follow-up emails!
Things to Keep in Mind
Please note that not all of these considerations may be applicable to your business or your marketing strategy, but if you aren’t using some of these techniques, you may want to incorporate them and see if there are any changes in your open rates.
Timing
Timing is crucial when it comes to sending follow-up emails.
You don't want to send your email too soon after your initial contact, but you also don't want to wait too long.
A good rule of thumb is to wait 3-7 days before sending your first follow-up email. After that, you can follow up every few days to a week, depending on the urgency of the situation.
Subject line
Your subject line is the first thing that the recipient will see, so it's important to optimize it to increase open rates.
Make sure your cold subject line is clear and relevant to the content of your email.
Avoid using spammy or clickbait-y language, as this can turn off the recipient and decrease the likelihood of them opening your email.
Many studies show that personalized subject lines can have a major impact on your open rates. According to Backlinko, adding a personalized subject line can increase open rates by more than 30%!
Email formatting and design
Keep your email formatting and design clean and simple.
Use short paragraphs, include only between 15 and 20 lines, and, if possible, include bullet points to make your email easier to read.
Avoid using too many images or flashy graphics, as this can make your email look like spam or a virus, which may land you on a blacklist.
Adjust your messaging
Adjust your messaging for subsequent follow-ups, based on the response you receive.
If the recipient didn't respond to your initial email, try to provide additional value or address a different pain point. Be persistent, but not pushy.
Follow-up automation tools
If you're sending a large number of follow-up emails, it may be helpful to use a follow-up automation tool to save time and increase efficiency.
These tools can help you schedule follow-up emails, track responses, and automate certain tasks.
Looking for some good automation tools that will save you time? Here are a few of the most popular ones.
Alternatives to email
Consider using other channels, such as phone calls or LinkedIn messages, as an alternative to email.
Depending on the situation, these channels may be more effective in getting a response.
Overall, sending a cold follow-up email can be a daunting task, but by following these best practices, you can increase your chances of success.
With the right approach, you can turn cold leads into warm prospects and ultimately, happy customers!
How Long to Wait Between Follow-ups
There is, unfortunately, no magic formula that will guarantee a response, but GMass recommends something similar to the following schedule:
1st follow-up: 1-3 days after your first email
2nd follow-up: 4-6 days after
3rd follow-up: 7-10 days after
4th follow-up: 12-15 days after
5th follow-up: 16-20 days after
6th follow-up: 25-30 days after
GMass also states that you will likely experience diminishing returns after every email, but other studies show that responses to later emails can be higher than the first few.
How Many Follow-up Emails to Send
Like with how long you should wait between follow-ups, there is no definitive right number of follow-up emails to send.
But, consider the following when you’re creating your cold email marketing strategy.
Studies revealed that the optimal number of follow-up emails to send is 2-3.
48% of salespeople don’t follow up even once, and 44% give up after just one follow-up call. Meanwhile, 80% of sales require at least 5 follow-ups.
In general, it’s a good idea to send at least one follow-up email after your initial email.
However, the optimal number of follow-up emails may vary depending on your specific situation and audience.
Why Do Your Follow-up Emails Get No Response?
There are many reasons why you may not be getting a response, and it could be that it’s not even your fault, and the prospect just isn’t interested.
Before jumping to that conclusion, however, check to see that you aren’t making one of these common mistakes that can put off potential customers:
Too self-centered: Do your emails only talk about your company and what you’re offering, without recognizing your prospect’s pain points? This can make your emails look copy/pasted and easier to ignore.
Too long and asking too much: Is your email more than a few short paragraphs? Are you asking your prospect to take actions that require too much time? Remember that your prospect is a busy person, and make your emails short, and your call to action simple.
Lack of trust: Without evidence or social proof, accepting an offer from an unknown company or person is unwise, as it could be a scam. Provide links to case studies, websites, or social media to show that you’re the real deal.
Typos and grammar problems: Two of the biggest indicators of a scam email are typos and simple grammar mistakes. No matter what language you use, it’s important to spell and write properly. If writing isn’t your strong suit, you can use services like Grammarly or Quillbot to help!
Writing at the wrong times: It’s also possible that you’re following up too frequently, infrequently, or at the wrong time altogether. For example, if you provide tax filing services, sending cold emails right after tax season has closed won’t get you many replies.
Your offer is not relevant: If you’ve bought an email list, it’s likely that you’re not getting replies because the people you’re emailing have no use for your services. Put in some research and find prospects who will be interested in your offers.
Prep Your Account Before Email Follow-ups
Looking to take your cold email marketing strategy to the next level?
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With WarmupInbox, you can:
Increase your sender reputation and avoid getting flagged as spam
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Boost your open and response rates
Enhance your email marketing ROI
So why wait? Sign up for a free trial of WarmupInbox today and experience the benefits of our powerful tool for yourself!
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Domain & SMTP validation
Spam trap checker
Disposable emails cleaner
Catch-all domains checker
Syntax errors validator
Hard bounce checker
MTA validator
Want to see EmailListVerify in action? Create a free account and try it out!
Tip: If you are preparing a wide-scale email campaign, you can book a 30-minute free consultation. |
For more on the topic of templates, check out - b2b cold email templates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cold follow-up email?
Why are cold follow-up emails important?
How do I research my prospect and their company?
What should I include in my cold follow-up email?
What if the recipient doesn't respond to my initial follow-up email?
Should I use other channels besides email for follow-up?
How can I increase efficiency with follow-ups?