How to Leverage Cold Email for Agencies to Generate Dozens of Clients

Ever wondered how some agencies manage to win over clients and projects seemingly out of the blue? The secret might just lie in their ability to craft compelling cold emails.

Yes, you read that right – cold emails can be a powerful tool for agencies to boost their outreach and expand their clientele. In this article, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of leveraging cold email for agencies.

From mastering the art of personalization to nailing the perfect call to action, we’ve got you covered. We’ll also share practical tips on navigating spam filters and utilizing A/B testing to optimize your campaigns.

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Plus, we’ll delve into building sales teams, solid prospect lists and leveraging social media for even greater impact. And don’t fret – we’ll also cover the legal aspects to keep you on the right side of things.

So, if you’re ready to unlock the true potential of cold email for your agency, let’s dive in together!

Contents

Understanding the Power of Cold Email for Agencies

Why Cold Email?

Cold emailing isn’t just sending random emails hoping for a positive response.

It’s a calculated, strategic method of communication that, when executed correctly, can bring about a substantial return on investment (ROI).

Cold email is a powerful tool in the arsenal of a lead generation agency, facilitating introductions to potential clients who might not even be aware of your company’s existence.

Developing an Effective Cold Email Strategy

The success of cold email campaigns relies heavily on a solid cold email strategy.

In digital marketing, strategies differ based on a company’s goals, target audience, and the specifics of their product or service.

For a cold email agency, the first step is identifying the potential clients within the same industry, preparing a prospect list.

This process of identifying your target group is crucial for the next steps.

Crafting Your Cold Email Template

A significant part of your strategy involves the creation of a cold email template.

An effective template allows you to send multiple cold emails to different prospects while maintaining a sense of personal connection.

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When writing cold emails, it’s essential to remember that personalization can be the difference between a positive response and your email ending up in the spam folder.

Your email template should start with a personalized greeting. A simple “Hey John,” instead of a generic “Dear Sir/Madam” can make a world of difference.

Also, always make sure to address the company name in the email body to reassure the reader that the email isn’t just another mass-sent email.

Your email’s subject line plays an equally crucial role. With inboxes being flooded with emails every day, compelling subject lines are vital to stand out and prompt your recipients to open your email.

Different subject lines can yield different results, so always be ready to test and tweak for the best performance.

The use of social proof, such as mentioning a similar company you’ve worked with, can help increase trust and credibility.

And remember, the goal of a cold email isn’t to make a sale right off the bat, but rather to initiate a conversation, set up a quick call, or at least pique interest.

Know Your Sending Volume

When it comes to how many cold emails to send, this could differ based on various factors.

The size of your target audience, the capacity of your sales team, your domain reputation with email service providers, and even the time of year can influence the optimal sending volume.

Starting with a smaller volume and slowly increasing as you gain more experience and data points makes sense.

Mastering the Art of Personalization in Cold Emails

Connecting with your Target Audience

Cold emailing is all about making connections. However, connecting with your target audience requires more than just writing and sending out emails.

You need to put yourself in their shoes, understand their pain points, and then tailor content marketing and your email content to address these points.

When you identify the pain points of your target audience, your cold emails can resonate more deeply with your prospects.

Mentioning these pain points, and how your agency can alleviate them, in your subject lines, cold email templates, and email body will not only capture their attention but also make them more likely to respond.

Personalizing your Cold Emails

Sending personalized emails, as opposed to generic ones, can significantly boost your response rate.

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A personalized email demonstrates to the recipient that you’ve taken the time to understand their needs and challenges.

In your cold email template, “Hey John, I noticed that your company, [company name], has been achieving great things in [specific area]…” is a great way to start off on a personal note.

Harnessing the Power of Social Proof

Incorporating social proof into your cold emails can significantly increase their effectiveness.

Mentioning a successful campaign that you’ve run for a similar company in the same industry can provide a powerful incentive for the decision-maker at the other end of your email.

A statement such as, “Hey John, we recently helped [similar company] increase their lead generation by 25% in just three months,” can do wonders.

Subject Lines that Capture Attention

Subject lines are arguably the most critical part of your cold emails. They’re the first thing your recipients see, and a good subject line can be the difference between your email being opened or ignored.

Experiment with different subject lines that touch upon the pain points of your prospective clients or tease the benefits that your agency can provide.

Always remember that Mailarrow is your partner in navigating the world of cold email outreach for agencies.

The Power of a Compelling Call to Action and Effective Follow-Ups

The Role of Call to Action in Cold Emails

Your cold email’s call to action (CTA) is what guides your prospects towards the next step you want them to take.

Whether that’s booking a quick call, downloading a free guide, or merely replying to the email, the CTA is vital. But what makes an effective CTA?

A compelling CTA in a cold email is clear, direct, and easy for the prospect to undertake.

Instead of writing, “If you’re interested, I would love to chat,” make it more direct: “Hey John, can we schedule a 15-minute call next Tuesday to discuss how we can help [company name] generate more qualified leads?”

Following Up: An Integral Part of Cold Emailing

If you’re new to cold emailing, you may think that if a prospect doesn’t respond to your first email, it means they’re not interested.

However, that’s far from the truth. Follow up emails are integral to a successful cold email campaign.

People might miss your initial email, forget to reply, or they might be interested but just too busy at the moment.

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By sending follow up emails, you remind them of your proposal and increase the chances of getting a response.

Your follow ups, like your initial cold email, should be personalized and reflect a genuine desire to provide value.

A handy tip is to vary the content and format of your follow ups. If your first cold email was fairly formal, consider making your follow-up a little more casual.

Varying the subject line can also help your follow-up stand out. For instance, you can make reference to the previous emails in your follow-up, “Hey John, following up on my last email about [subject].”

By now, you’ve learned about the critical role of personalization, compelling CTAs, and the importance of follow-up emails in your cold email strategy.

Remember, with Mailarrow, you’re always one step ahead in your cold email outreach efforts.

Navigating Spam Filters and the Importance of A/B Testing

Steering Clear of the Spam Folder

If your cold emails end up in the spam folder, they’re not going to generate any sales.

To avoid the dreaded spam folder, you need to follow some best practices:

  1. Avoid spam trigger words: Words like ‘free’, ‘buy now’, ‘save’, and ‘discount’ can trigger spam filters.
  2. Check your domain reputation: If your domain has been associated with spam in the past, it could impact your future cold email campaigns. Regularly check your domain reputation.
  3. Keep your sending volume consistent: Sending too many emails at once can land you in the spam folder. Spread out your emails and keep your sending volume consistent.
  4. Provide an unsubscribe link: Offering an easy way for recipients to unsubscribe can help improve your reputation with email service providers.

The Role of A/B Testing in Cold Emails

Just as you would with any other digital marketing strategy, it’s crucial to continuously test and optimize your cold emails for better results.

A/B testing different subject lines, email copy, and call to action can help you understand what resonates best with your target audience.

For example, you might find that a more casual tone in your email body gets a higher response rate, or that a specific subject line formulation leads to more opened emails.

Gathering these data points will enable you to refine your cold email templates and improve your cold email agencies and campaign’s effectiveness.

Remember that no two prospects are the same, even if they share similar pain points.

Tailoring your approach to different potential clients can drastically improve your cold email agency’s success rate.

Remember, with Mailarrow, navigating the world of cold emailing becomes a breeze.

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Building a Solid Prospect List and Leveraging Social Media

The Importance of a Well-Curated Prospect List

A well-curated prospect list is the backbone of any successful cold email campaign.

Remember, your goal isn’t just to to generate sales leads; it’s to generate qualified leads that have a higher likelihood of converting into sales.

To build a list of qualified prospects, you first need to define your buyer persona. Who are they? What industry are they in? What’s their role in their company?

The more precise your buyer persona, the easier it will be to identify prospective clients that fit this profile.

From there, you can use various lead generation strategies, such as LinkedIn, industry directories, and even networking events to build your list.

Remember, the more targeted your prospect list, the higher the chance of your cold emails resonating with them.

Using Social Media to Complement Cold Outreach

While cold emailing is a powerful tool in any lead generation agency’s toolkit, it’s not the only method to reach out to potential clients.

Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can be a goldmine for identifying and connecting with prospects.

You can leverage these platforms to gather insights about your prospects – their interests, their challenges, and the discussions they’re having.

This can be valuable information to incorporate into your cold emails, making them even more personalized and targeted.

Furthermore, engaging with prospects on social media can warm them up before you send out your cold emails, making them more likely to respond positively when they do receive your email.

As always, with Mailarrow, you’re equipped with the tools and knowledge to supercharge your cold email outreach.

Analytics and Continuous Improvement in Cold Email Campaigns

The Value of Analytics in Cold Emailing

In the world of cold email for agencies, data is your best friend. Analytics can give you crucial insights about the performance of your cold emails, helping you understand what’s working and what isn’t.

Are your sales emails even getting opened? Are they generating a positive response? How many cold emails lead to a booked call? Are these calls turning into sales? These are the types of questions that analytics can answer.

By tracking key metrics such as open rate, response rate, and conversion rate, you can gain a better understanding of your cold email campaign’s effectiveness and use these insights to drive improvements.

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Continuously Improving Your Cold Email Strategy

The beauty of cold emailing is that it’s not a ‘set and forget’ type of strategy. You should always be testing, learning, and optimizing.

Based on the data you’ve collected from your analytics, make necessary adjustments to your cold email templates, subject lines, and call to action.

For instance, if you find that ‘Hey John, got a minute to chat about [pain point]?’ performs better than ‘Can we help [company name] solve [pain point]?’, then you might want to revise your subject lines in future emails.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches. What works for one company or sales rep might not work for another.

The key is to continuously iterate and refine your cold email strategy until you find what works best for your agency.

The Art of Crafting Cold Emails

Writing Compelling Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing your potential client sees. It can make or break whether your email gets opened. It’s essential to spend time crafting subject lines that incite curiosity and demonstrate value.

Here are a few tips:

  1. Personalize it: Use the prospect’s name or company name to catch their attention.
  2. Keep it short and sweet: Aim for 6-10 words. Long subject lines can get cut off, especially on mobile devices.
  3. Avoid spammy language: Words like “free”, “buy now”, or “guarantee” can send your email straight to the spam folder.
  4. Use different subject lines: Test different subject lines to see what resonates best with your prospects.

Creating Engaging Email Copy

The body of your email should be as compelling as your subject line. It should be clear, concise, and focused on the prospect’s pain points and how your service can solve them.

  1. Start with a connection: Reference a recent blog post they wrote, a mutual connection, or a similar company you’ve helped.
  2. Introduce your value proposition: Explain how your service can help solve their pain points.
  3. Include social proof: Mention companies you’ve worked with or share a testimonial.
  4. End with a call to action: Ask if they’re available for a quick call, or if they’d like more information.

Remember, the aim of your cold email isn’t to close a deal, but to start a conversation.

Mastering Follow Ups in Cold Email Outreach

Understanding the Importance of Follow Ups

In the world of cold email for agencies, sending the initial email is only part of the battle.

A key component often overlooked in cold email campaigns is the follow up email.

Remember, people are busy and they might miss your initial email. Or they might see it, plan to respond, but then forget. That’s where follow ups come in.

Follow ups are crucial in your cold email strategy. They keep your message at the top of your potential clients’ inboxes, increasing the chances of getting a positive response.

If done correctly, follow up emails can help you generate more sales and grow your sales pipeline.

Crafting an Effective Follow Up Email

  1. Timing is key: Don’t follow up too soon or too late. The best practice is to wait for a few days (usually 3-4 days) after the initial email.
  2. Personalize your emails: Just like your first cold email, your follow up emails should also be personalized. “Hey John, just following up on my previous email about [pain point]…” always works better than a generic “Just following up…”
  3. Change the subject line: A different subject line can make your follow up email stand out. You can reference your previous emails by starting your subject line with “Re: …”
  4. Keep it brief: Be respectful of the recipient’s time. Your follow up email should be a gentle reminder, not a lengthy sales pitch.

Utilizing A/B Testing for Effective Cold Emails

The Power of A/B Testing in Cold Emailing

In cold emailing, guessing game doesn’t work. What works is data-backed decision making. That’s where A/B testing comes in.

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A/B testing, also known as split testing, allows you to test different versions of your cold emails to see which one performs better.

You can test almost anything in a cold email campaign – from subject lines and email body to call to action and sending time.

By using A/B testing in your cold email strategy, you can gather valuable data about what resonates best with your target audience and use these insights to make your cold emails more effective.

Implementing A/B Testing in Cold Emails

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to A/B testing in cold emails:

  1. Decide what to test: Choose one element of your email to test, such as the subject line or the call to action.
  2. Create two versions: Write two different versions of the element you’re testing.
  3. Split your prospect list: Divide your prospect list into two groups. Make sure they’re statistically similar to ensure the test is valid.
  4. Send and analyze: Send out your emails and analyze the results. Whichever version gets a higher open rate, click-through rate, or positive response rate is the winner.

Understanding the Legality of Cold Emailing

In today’s digital world, respecting privacy and complying with legal regulations is a must for any business, and cold emailing is no exception.

If you’re wondering, “Is it legal to send a cold email?” The answer is yes, but you must adhere to certain regulations.

In the U.S., the main regulation guiding the use of cold emails is the CAN-SPAM Act. This law doesn’t prohibit the sending of unsolicited or automated emails, but sets certain rules:

  1. Accurate Header Information: The “From,” “To,” and “Reply-To” information, including the domain name and email address, must be accurate and identify the person or business who initiated the email.
  2. Truthful Subject Lines: The subject line must accurately reflect the content of the email.
  3. Identify the Message as an Ad: The law gives leeway on how to do this, but you must disclose clearly and conspicuously that your email is an advertisement.
  4. Location Information: Your email must include your valid physical postal address.
  5. Opt-Out Method: Your email must contain a way for recipients to opt-out of receiving future emails from you.
  6. Honor Opt-Out Requests: Opt-out requests must be honored promptly.

Remember, our software, Mailarrow, can help manage your cold email outreach in a legally compliant manner.

Wrapping Up and Taking Action

There’s no denying that cold emailing is a powerful tool for lead generation when executed correctly. However, it’s more than just drafting an email and hitting send.

From understanding your target audience and crafting the perfect cold email template to personalizing emails, writing compelling subject lines, using email sequences, mastering follow-ups, and adhering to legal guidelines, a successful cold email campaign involves a strategic process.

Remember, consistency is key. Be patient and persistent. Not all cold emails will generate a response, but each email sent is a step closer to that next hot lead, that next sales meeting, that next close.

Embrace the process, learn from each interaction, and continuously refine your strategy.

When it comes to cold emailing, you’re not alone. With Mailarrow, our cold email outreach software, you get an all-in-one platform that empowers you to implement everything discussed in this guide with ease.

From robust personalization and A/B testing features to follow-up automation and spam folder prevention, Mailarrow is your trusted partner in mastering the art of cold emailing.

Thank you for taking the time to read our in-depth guide on cold emailing for agencies. We hope you found it useful and insightful.

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As always, we’re here to support you in your digital marketing journey. Let’s make the most of cold emailing together!

FAQs

How do you cold email an agency?

Cold emailing an agency involves several steps:

  1. Research the agency to understand their business and identify their pain points.
  2. Find the decision-maker’s contact details in the agency. Tools like LinkedIn and company websites can be helpful.
  3. Craft a personalized cold email. The email should highlight how your service/product can solve their pain points.
  4. Make your subject line compelling to maximize the open rate.
  5. End the email with a clear call to action, such as suggesting a meeting or a quick call.

Is it legal to send a cold email?

Yes, it is legal to send a cold email in most countries, including the US and the UK.

However, you must adhere to specific regulations, like the CAN-SPAM Act in the US and GDPR in Europe, which dictate certain practices like having an opt-out option and not misleading the recipient.

How do you write a good cold email for a job?

Writing a good cold email for a job involves:

  1. Researching the company and the role you’re interested in.
  2. Finding the email of the hiring manager or the relevant person.
  3. Crafting a personalized, concise email highlighting your qualifications and how you can add value to the company.
  4. Ensuring your subject line is compelling and reflects the email’s content.
  5. Including a call to action like asking for a meeting or suggesting next steps.

How much does a cold email marketing agency cost?

The cost of a cold email marketing agency can vary significantly based on the scope of the campaign, the agency’s expertise, and other factors.

On average, it could range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

It’s important to discuss your specific needs with the agency to get an accurate quote. These answers should address most of your questions about cold emailing.

For further assistance and to optimize your cold email outreach campaigns, sign up for Mailarrow, our cold email outreach software!

Serge Shlykov is the founder of Mailarrow. Rotterdam Business School graduate and a long-time software engineer he has been running his own agency and SaaS business before realizing how many people are struggling with cold email outreach. This made him create Mailarrow, the cold email outreach software that helps you build great relationships at scale. Find him on Twitter and LinkedIn