Want to increase your cold email response rate?
If you've ever been on either end of a cold email response — that is, either waiting for a reply or being the one who's replying — then you know how it goes.
When you're the one writing a cold email, it can get frustrating waiting for a reply even after a few follow-ups.
But remember what it's like to be on the other end?
A study by Backlinko found that the cold email response rate is around 8.5%. Admit it: You too probably haven't answered all the cold emails you've received.
It's okay! You're only human.
And that's the point.
You might not realize it, but the cold emails you did answer probably had a different approach. A special touch that made you go: “Huh, that does actually sound interesting”.
If you are a job seeker and you've now found yourself on the other end of the line wondering how you can spark that attention from whoever is receiving your cold email, I'll let you in a little secret: there's a trick you can use to triple your cold email response rate.
It's called the “Exit Clause”.
Stick with me throughout this article and you will learn:
Let's get started!
What Is A Cold Email?
A cold email is a personalized message you send to someone you haven't connected with previously. This message aims to introduce both you and the work you are involved with, and possibly find a fit between what you are offering and their needs.
In the job-seeking universe, you might want to cold email recruiters, hiring managers, and people within your industry to:
- Ramp up your network
- Seek for business advice
- Apply for a job opening at their company
And so on!
The thing is many people face low cold email response rates. That is, they send dozens, even hundreds of cold emails, and get close to no replies.
Luckily, you've stumbled across this article that will help you triple your cold email response rate!
How To Cold Email For a Job
If you're a job seeker and you're struggling to write a cold email for a job, here are a few tips to get started:
#1 Properly address the email and introduce yourself
Begin by properly addressing the e-mail with the contact's name, explain why you are reaching out to them, and then introduce yourself. Maybe you are a graphic designer and recently saw an opening on the Design team. This is how you could begin your cold email:
Hey, Jasmine,
I recently came across a LinkedIn post that mentions Creators Inc. is looking for a new Graphic Designer to join the team. As a Graphic Designer with 10+ years of experience leveraging Adobe Creative Suite to create unique designs, I feel like my skill sets fit perfectly with the role.
Notice how, in the example above, the sender addresses the receiver by their name, and then they explain the reason why they're reaching out. Then, they smoothly introduce themselves using two high-value pitches.
Much better than starting with “My name is…”, right?
#2 Share your work
Now that you've introduced yourself, it's time you show your best work.
As you know, people usually skim through cold emails, so you'll have to keep things concise, but interesting. The secret to doing this is using measurable results and relevant, eye-popping keywords. We've already done that in the introduction, so you will basically repeat the formula.
Picking up on our example, here's how you might structure the second part of your cold email:
In my previous role at BlueTech, I managed a team of 5 designers and coordinated a re-brand campaign that contributed to a 40% YoY increase in online engagement.
See? A simple sentence can showcase a lot of your experience!
#3 Ask them a question that is easy to answer
Now that you've grabbed their attention, ask them an easy-to-answer question. If you are aiming for an interview, don't go simply with something like “Are you available for a call?”. Instead, use something like this:
I would love to discuss more about the challenges of the role and how I can contribute to the Design team. Would you be available for a quick chat this week within the next weeks? Here are a couple of options I'm proposing:
- Monday, March 25th, from 4 – 4:30 pm
- Friday, March 29th, from 10 – 10:30 am
Also, I'm happy to work around your schedule if none of these options work!
This way, you are doing two things: first, you are giving them an A or B option to choose from, instead of making them run to their calendar and seek available slots. You're making things a lot easier for them! And, second, you are reassuring them this is supposed to be a quick, half-hour call.
#4 Wrap up with the Exit Clause to increase cold email response rate
The “Exit Clause” is a copywriting trick that acknowledges the receiver's time and attention to your email. This is where you will win them over and increase your cold email response rate.
For starters, you will want to avoid things like:
- “Looking forward to your reply”
- “Let's schedule a call, here's my Calendly”
- Or, my least favorite: “Thanks in advance” (Yikes!)
Notice what all of these three have in common?
They all are demanding an action from the receiver. These statements convey the expectation of the next step as if it's already a certain thing.
That puts a lot of pressure on the person who received this message, and it can make them feel uncomfortable. Their next step could be one out of three:
- They ignore your email
- They delete your e-mail
- If you're lucky, they kindly reply after a few follow-ups.
Instead, include a statement that shows you appreciate their time and tell them they don't have to say yes.
For example:
Lastly, I know your time is valuable and I know this is a big ask coming from a stranger. If it's too much right now, that's totally fine! Either way, hope you're staying safe and healthy.
What's magical about this wrap-up is that it takes the pressure off and it actually makes people more likely to reply.
Why?
Because you are treating them like a human being.
You're recognizing and respecting their time.
You're making the note about them.
That's how you start relationships on the right note!
Pro Tip: Want 6+ tips to help you increase your cold email response rate? Run over to this article for a thorough guide on how to write a killer cold email!
Bonus Tips (With 2+ Networking Resources)!
Before you go, there are a few additional resources I want to share to help you ramp up your networking and land the job you deserve!
#1 Use Mailscoop.io to find anyone's email in seconds (for free)
You can't cold email without an email address. That's why we created Mailscoop.io, a free online tool that easily helps you find the email addresses of the people you want to reach out to! All you need to provide is a name and a website address. Head over to Mailscoop.io and get started!
#2 Check out this Job Search Email Playbook
The Job Search Email Playbook is a comprehensive guide with 25+ plug-and-play email templates, real-world examples, and expert guidance for every situation in the job search. Click here for instant access.
Good luck out there!
