How to Build a Cold Email Sequence that Gets Sales

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Creating a cold email sequence that actually gets you new customers doesn’t have to be complicated.
Creating a cold email sequence that actually gets you new customers doesn’t have to be complicated. You just have to avoid the same pitfalls people have fallen into for years. Save yourself all the trial and error by learning the main elements of successful cold email campaigns.

Here’s What We’ll Cover

For a cold email campaign to be successful, you need to take a hard look at the following things:

  • Getting Your Emails Delivered
  • Know Your Audience
  • Segment Your Lists (Because One Size Never Fits All)
  • Personal Sender Name
  • Nail Your Subject Line
  • Powerful Value Proposition
  • Engaging Email Copy
  • Follow Up Like a Pro
  • Email Automation Tools
  • Test, Learn, Repeat
  • The Bottom Line

Now, let’s look at how you can make each of those things as effective as possible.

Getting Your Emails Delivered

Look, the best copy in the world won’t matter if your emails are living in spam-folder-land

Here’s the deal with deliverability:

Key Requirements

  • Your emails need proper authentication (think SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records)
  • Your sending domain needs a solid reputation
  • You’ve got to pace your sending (no firing off 1000 emails in 5 minutes!)
 

Pro Tip: Email deliverability can get complex. Consider using a platform or consultant to guide you through the technical setup so you can focus on crafting great messages.

Good Deliverability

Segment Your Lists (Because One Size Never Fits All)

Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, break your contacts into groups that make sense. 

Example Segments

  • C-level execs at enterprise companies
  • Marketing managers at mid-size businesses
  • Founders at startups
 

 Best Practice: Each group gets their own sequence. Trust us, it’s worth the extra effort!

Know Your Audience

Here’s where most people mess up – they blast the same message to everyone with a pulse and a business email. Don’t be that person! 

What to Research

  • Get crystal clear on who you’re targeting (job titles, company size, industry)
  • Figure out their biggest headaches and challenges
  • Understand what makes them tick (and what ticks them off)
 

Ask Yourself: Would you open and respond to your own email if you were in their shoes?

Personal Sender Name

Want to know a secret? People like talking to people, not faceless companies.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s:

  • Your actual name (e.g., “Sarah Smith”)
 

Don’ts:

  • “John from Company X”
  • Just your company name
  • Generic addresses (e.g., “[email protected]”)

Nail Your Subject Line 

Your subject line is like the cover of a book – make it intriguing enough to open.

Winning Formula:
  • Keep it short and sweet (3-5 words max)
  • Make it relevant to their business
  • Add a dash of intrigue
 
Example Subject Lines

“Question about [Company]”
“Loved your recent [Achievement]”
“[Mutual Connection] suggested we chat”

 Key Point: Never disclose exactly what’s in the email. Give just enough to spark curiosity.

Powerful Value Proposition

Here’s the million-dollar question: Why should they care about your email?

Focus Areas
  • Saving time
  • Making more money
  • Solving a specific problem
  • Beating their competition

 

Power Move: Back up your claims with real numbers and case studies whenever possible.

Email Automation Tools

Sending cold email sequences manually at scale is almost impossible. So, you will need a cold email sequence software to automate the sending. 

 

That’s where Parakeet comes in. We help users with their automation through:

  • MailHub manages all their activity in one place
  • Smart throttling gives better delivery
  • Campaign builder sending emails based on what your prospects do

 

Deliverability has become extremely important because, with recent changes in spam filters, many businesses are failing to reach inboxes after investing time and resources into the wrong tools.

Test, Learn, Repeat

The secret sauce to cold email success? Testing everything:

What to Test
  • Subject lines
  • Value propositions
  • Sending times
  • Email copy variations
 

Testing Tip: Start small, measure results, then scale what works.

The Bottom Line

Cold email doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on being genuine, providing value, and respecting people’s time. Keep testing and tweaking until you find what works for your audience.

And hey, don’t get discouraged if your first attempts aren’t home runs. Even the best cold emailers started somewhere!

Want to level up your game? Start with one segment of your audience, craft a sequence just for them, and optimize based on the results. Before you know it, you’ll be the one teaching others how to nail their cold email campaigns.

Don't let poor deliverability mess with your business mojo

Try it for FREE today

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