What is Cold Email? A Simple Definition

People sent almost 182M cold emails around the world in one year, the new lemlist data shows.

The number is not surprising given the fact cold emailing is the backbone of any outreach campaign.

In this article, we give you a clear definition of a cold email so you have to look no further.

What is a cold email?

A cold email is a first-time email sent to a recipient without prior contact.

A cold email is the crucial part of cold outreach, a business development strategy where you reach out to potential customers who haven't had any prior interaction with your company.

Cold emails are the most effective and widely used forms of outreach to generate leads and build relationships with potential customers.

It's inseparable from sales prospecting.

The success of cold email campaigns relies on lead targeting, personalization, and the quality of the message.

Cold email: key features

How to cold email?

• Personalize: Tailor your message to the recipient's interests and needs.
• Strong subject line: Grab attention with a concise and compelling subject line.
• Pack value to your content: Get to the point quickly and offer something of value.
• Clear call to action: Tell the recipient what you want them to do next (e.g., schedule a call, visit your website).
• Follow-up: Don't be afraid to send a polite follow-up email if you don't receive a response. In fact, the data shows that it's best to send between 4 to 9 follow-ups without flagging you as spam.

Cold email: Pros

• Cost-effective: Compared to traditional marketing and advertising, cold email outreach is a relatively inexpensive way to reach a large audience.
• Scalable: With the right tools, you can automate and personalize cold emails to reach a vast number of prospects efficiently.
• Targeted: You can segment your audience based on demographics, interests, or industry, ensuring your message reaches the most relevant people.
• Personalized: While unsolicited, cold emails can be tailored to the recipient's specific needs and interests, increasing the chances of engagement.
• Measurable: You can track open rates, click-through rates, and responses to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven improvements.
• Relationship-building: Successful cold emails can lead to meaningful conversations and lasting business relationships.

Cold Email: Cons

• Low open rates: Many cold emails go unopened or get deleted, as recipients are often wary of unsolicited messages.
• Spam filters: If not carefully crafted, cold emails can get flagged as spam, never reaching the recipient's inbox.
• Legal restrictions: Some countries have strict regulations on unsolicited emails, so it's important to comply with relevant laws.
• Time-consuming: Crafting effective cold emails by yourself and following up requires significant time and effort.

Cold emailing: Where to start?

The success of your cold email mainly lies in the structure you use to create it.

Follow our proven winning cold email formula that will help you get more replies and reach your targets.