Avoid Spam & Boost Your Cold Email Open Rates

Cold emailing is a crucial part of many marketing strategies, but it can be tricky. You need to ensure your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders. The key to success lies in a well-defined cold email checklist.

• Craft compelling and deliverable messages that resonate with your target audience.
• Boost your cold email open rates by understanding what works and what doesn't.

Cold Email Copywriting Checklist

The first step is to ensure your cold email copy is engaging, concise, and avoids spam triggers. Let's dive into the key elements:

• Avoid Images in the First Email: Images can trigger spam filters, so stick to plain text in your initial outreach. Images are better suited for follow-up emails once the recipient is familiar with your email address.
• Limit Links: Spam filters are wary of too many links, so stick to a single link (your own) in your first email. Multiple links dilute the call to action and can confuse the reader.
• Keep Emails Short (under 150 Words): No one wants to read walls of text. Be concise, introduce yourself, provide social proof, and highlight the benefits of connecting with you.
• Avoid Repetition in Follow-ups: If your first email didn't get a response, rephrase your pitch in follow-up emails. This keeps things fresh and prevents spam triggers.
• Use Clear Language: Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Avoid jargon and complex phrases. Your message should be accessible to everyone.
• Avoid Spam Trigger Keywords: Don't use words or phrases like "SALE!" or write your subject line in all caps. These tactics can trigger spam filters and harm your deliverability.
• Focus on Building a Connection: Cold emails should feel like conversations, not sales pitches. Would you say what you're writing to a stranger in person? If not, revise your copy.
• Don't Ask for a Sale in the First Email: The goal of your first email is to start a conversation, not close a deal. Aim for a demo or meeting, and save the sales pitch for later.
• Avoid HTML-Heavy Emails: Keep your emails simple and personalized. HTML templates are for newsletters and subscriptions, not cold outreach.

Cold Email Technical Checklist

Technical aspects play a vital role in ensuring your emails reach the inbox. Let's explore the key elements to optimize your email deliverability:

• Use Complementary Domains: Never send cold emails from your primary domain. Buy additional domains and redirect them to your main domain to protect your email sending reputation and avoid spam traps.
• Don't Use Alias Accounts: Alias accounts don't have separate reputations and can harm your main account's deliverability.
• Use Spintax to Improve Deliverability: Spintax replaces words with synonyms to make each email slightly different, preventing spam filters from flagging your emails.
• Test Different Copies for Deliverability: A/B testing different email versions can help you discover which messaging performs best and improve your deliverability.
• Set Up DKIM, DMARC, and SPF: These security protocols verify that you're the actual sender, preventing spoofing and boosting your email reputation.
• Warm Up Your Domains: Use warm-up engines to gradually build your domain's reputation and improve deliverability.
• Limit Daily Sending Volume: Avoid sending too many emails per day (less than 50). Sending too many emails too quickly can harm your domain's reputation.
• Randomize Email Sending: Send emails at intervals and with gaps to mimic human behavior and prevent spam filters.
• Ramp Up Your Warm-Up Emails: Gradually increase the number of emails you send daily to give your domain time to build its reputation.
• Use Unsubscribe Texts: Ask recipients to reply with "not interested" if they don't want to receive future emails. This boosts your reply rate and improves deliverability.
• Set Up Custom Domain Tracking: Use your own domain for tracking clicks and open rates to avoid potential deliverability issues that can occur with shared tracking domains.
• Maintain Time Gaps Between Emails: Space out your emails by at least 20 minutes to avoid sending bursts and maintain your email reputation.
• Create a Do Not Contact (DNC) List: Keep a list of bounced emails and those who have opted out to prevent further messages and protect your reputation.
• Send to Business Emails: Target company emails instead of personal Gmail accounts to improve deliverability and reach the intended recipient.
• Utilize Inbox Rotation: Spread your emails across multiple domains and accounts to avoid sending too many emails from a single source, preserving your reputation.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of cold emailing requires a strategic approach. By using a comprehensive checklist and focusing on the key elements of copywriting and technical optimization, you can increase your chances of reaching the inbox, avoiding spam filters, and boosting your email open rates. Remember, the most crucial factor is treating your emails as conversations, not sales pitches.

FAQs

Why Do I Need a Cold Email Checklist?

A cold email checklist helps you create effective emails that avoid spam filters, improve deliverability, and increase your chances of getting a response.

What Should I Include in My Cold Email Checklist?

Your checklist should cover both copywriting and technical aspects, including avoiding images and links, using clear language, setting up DKIM, DMARC, and SPF, and warming up your domains.

What's the Best Time to Send Cold Emails?

Weekdays, particularly Tuesday to Thursday, between 9 AM and 11 AM or 3 PM and 4 PM are generally considered good times to send cold emails, but tailor your timing to your target audience's time zone.

How Long Should Cold Emails Be?

Keep your cold emails concise, typically under 150 words. However, the length may vary based on your purpose. Brevity is key.

How Many Cold Emails Should I Send?

Start with a manageable volume, like 50 emails per day per account, and gradually increase as your domain reputation improves. Focus on quality over quantity.